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mejms
Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 390
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Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 6:14 pm Post subject: |
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amaranto wrote: |
My advice in this respect is to bring everything possible and have it notarized and apostilled, if applicable. And this advice goes for pretty much any procedure in Mexico. Of course, you won't have to take your college diplomas to the bank to open up an account or to Telcel to get a phone plan Be overprepared; it will save you a lot of hassle. |
I second that. |
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Prof.Gringo

Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 2236 Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 7:33 pm Post subject: |
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tideout wrote: |
tjteachin wrote: |
Personally, I lived in Tijuana with its cheaper cost of living than San Diego. I taught in Tijuana while working in San Diego as a security guard. Financially, it works well.
I've also considered taking off to Asia or the Middle East for a year or so to quickly save up and come back with cash in my pocket. |
Interesting way of working the Mexican teaching life. Must have been a drag with the border crossing stuff though? |
If you're working the swing or night shift in SD, crossing over is a breeze.
I lived in TJ for a year and also taught in TJ untill realizing that even a fast-food job offered better pay and more hours than ANY EFL job in TJ. |
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amaranto
Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 133 Location: M�xico, D.F.
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Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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Here's the promised update on my earlier post about renewing my FM3. Everything went through fine as submitted, though in order to do an express renewal, you have to present your materials at least 2 weeks prior to your FM3's expiration date. So, I guess I'll be waiting those 20 days. |
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mejms
Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 390
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Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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amaranto wrote: |
Here's the promised update on my earlier post about renewing my FM3. Everything went through fine as submitted, though in order to do an express renewal, you have to present your materials at least 2 weeks prior to your FM3's expiration date. So, I guess I'll be waiting those 20 days. |
I just submitted my paperwork yesterday for my FM-2 renewal, nearly a month before its expiration date. I haven't heard of any express anything, even with my established connections at MIGRA...
If all goes well, it should be ready in 2 weeks. Maybe that's express. |
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tjteachin
Joined: 22 Jan 2011 Posts: 32
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Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 9:49 pm Post subject: |
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Prof.Gringo wrote: |
tideout wrote: |
tjteachin wrote: |
Personally, I lived in Tijuana with its cheaper cost of living than San Diego. I taught in Tijuana while working in San Diego as a security guard. Financially, it works well.
I've also considered taking off to Asia or the Middle East for a year or so to quickly save up and come back with cash in my pocket. |
Interesting way of working the Mexican teaching life. Must have been a drag with the border crossing stuff though? |
If you're working the swing or night shift in SD, crossing over is a breeze.
I lived in TJ for a year and also taught in TJ untill realizing that even a fast-food job offered better pay and more hours than ANY EFL job in TJ. |
From 1999 when I first got there to 2001, it was easy to cross the border into San Ysidro and SD beyond. They didn't even ask for I.D. back then. Of course, after 9/11, it backs up in the daytime and the weekends (not as busy at the Otay Mesa crossing).
But I worked the graveyard shift as a security guard. It really was a breeze getting across, particularly once I got my passport.
And, yes, I remember thinking the teens working at the McDonald's across the border made more than I did teaching English in TJ. What's interesting now is that I'm making more at my current Oaxaca university (full-time) than I did at any school in TJ (about 3/4 what I made in the much less satisfying position in security), even though salaries and the cost of living are higher there than here in the south. |
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Enchilada Potosina

Joined: 03 Aug 2010 Posts: 344 Location: Mexico
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Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 10:38 pm Post subject: |
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mejms wrote: |
amaranto wrote: |
Here's the promised update on my earlier post about renewing my FM3. Everything went through fine as submitted, though in order to do an express renewal, you have to present your materials at least 2 weeks prior to your FM3's expiration date. So, I guess I'll be waiting those 20 days. |
I just submitted my paperwork yesterday for my FM-2 renewal, nearly a month before its expiration date. I haven't heard of any express anything, even with my established connections at MIGRA...
If all goes well, it should be ready in 2 weeks. Maybe that's express. |
4 days in SLP... thought Queretaro would be just as quick if not quicker. |
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tideout
Joined: 05 Feb 2011 Posts: 213
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Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 3:43 am Post subject: |
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amaranto wrote: |
Quote: |
Complicating the picture more I'm afraid, I had the distinct impression from other gringos who'd worked around Mexico that despite what sounds like an obviously federal-like procedure that different state immigration offics sometimes handle things differently. Some are notariously easy (DF) some are notoriously difficult (Oaxaca)
I just want to make sure I've got all the 'ingredients' for getting it done right w/o having to turn around and get something from the States. I may have to get this done with minimal family support I'm afraid.
The express option sounds pretty good though. Hell, 50 bucks to, getter' done, so to speak. Just my way of supporting a neighboring country Very Happy |
My advice in this respect is to bring everything possible and have it notarized and apostilled, if applicable. And this advice goes for pretty much any procedure in Mexico. Of course, you won't have to take your college diplomas to the bank to open up an account or to Telcel to get a phone plan Be overprepared; it will save you a lot of hassle. |
Not to belabor the point but I have, for example, my birth certificate and the dated apostille (raised stamp)etc from February of 2010.
Does anyone now if the Apostille goes bad or is it good for a number of years? Thanks..once again! |
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Enchilada Potosina

Joined: 03 Aug 2010 Posts: 344 Location: Mexico
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Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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tideout wrote: |
Does anyone now if the Apostille goes bad or is it good for a number of years? Thanks..once again! |
I don't think it expires. Just make sure you have the thing that justifies your visa apostilled - usually a tefl cert. If you don't have a tefl cert and your degree is relevant to teaching then get that apostilled. This is what immigration want to see. |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Posts: 1520 Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 5:27 am Post subject: |
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Getting back to renewing FM3s, tomorrow morning I'm off to INM in Mexico City and hope everything goes smoothly. In past years, I would go a month before the expiration date, but now I�m going just two weeks before the expiration date. I hope they don't give me a hard time. Please wish me luck, everyone! |
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BadBeagleBad

Joined: 23 Aug 2010 Posts: 1186 Location: 24.18105,-103.25185
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Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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Isla Guapa wrote: |
Getting back to renewing FM3s, tomorrow morning I'm off to INM in Mexico City and hope everything goes smoothly. In past years, I would go a month before the expiration date, but now I�m going just two weeks before the expiration date. I hope they don't give me a hard time. Please wish me luck, everyone! |
One of my teachers commented to me a couple of days ago that she went three days before her FM3 expired and it wasn�t a problem. She had her new one in FOUR days, in Mexico City. Let us know how it goes. |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Posts: 1520 Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 2:03 pm Post subject: |
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BadBeagleBad wrote: |
Isla Guapa wrote: |
Getting back to renewing FM3s, tomorrow morning I'm off to INM in Mexico City and hope everything goes smoothly. In past years, I would go a month before the expiration date, but now I�m going just two weeks before the expiration date. I hope they don't give me a hard time. Please wish me luck, everyone! |
One of my teachers commented to me a couple of days ago that she went three days before her FM3 expired and it wasn�t a problem. She had her new one in FOUR days, in Mexico City. Let us know how it goes. |
That's encouraging news! |
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Phil_K
Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own
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Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 6:26 pm Post subject: |
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I win! Last year I went on the final day, without problems. |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Posts: 1520 Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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I got back a little while ago from INM in Mexico City. Things went pretty smoothly, and I was told it would be ready in a week. Details to follow after my siesta . . . |
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Guy Courchesne

Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City
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Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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A week? Very nice...did you need to bring in photos? I assume they issue a completely new photo ID card?
Did you go through the ventanilla express? |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Posts: 1520 Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 11:39 pm Post subject: |
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Guy Courchesne wrote: |
A week? Very nice...did you need to bring in photos? I assume they issue a completely new photo ID card?
Did you go through the ventanilla express? |
I arrived with all materials needed: the filled-out Formato Migratorio para Tr�mites de Estancia, which I'd downloaded from the INM website, a photocopy of the photo page of my passport, a copy of proof of payment of Mexican taxes for April, and a cover letter I copied from Silencio 820's helpful post and modified to suit my situation. I hadn't had the photos taken yet and hadn't paid the "derechos" fee at the bank.
After telling me I would have to return with the photos and bank receipt, the young woman helping me gave me a copy of the Formato B�sico, with a bunch of personal questions: including height and weight, religion, and monthly salary of last job held before moving to Mexico. She wasn't able to give me a copy of the form you take with you to the bank, but she told me I needed 7 infantil-size photos, 5 full-face and 2 of the right profile.
At the photography place, I had the photos taken (for $80) and got the bank form I needed (for $10). The photo place was crowded and hot and seemingly disorganized, but somehow I was in and out in about 15 minutes. I paid the fee at the bank, had two copies made of the receipt and returned to INM, which by now was more crowded than when I had first arrived around 10:15 am.
There were about 20 people ahead of me in the Express Line (for pr�rrogas and some other tr�mite whose name I can't remember), which moved slowly but steadily, so I was out of there in about 30 minutes. I was told everything was in order and was given a Comprobante de Registro de Solicitud and told to return next Friday to receive my card.
And that's that! |
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