Job Discussion Forums

jessicah632 · Joined: 12 Jun 2005 Posts: 36 Location: Texas, USA

How many of you out there are working "under the table"? I'll be coming to Latin America (starting out in Ecuador) to teach in Feb. and I'm curious about visas. I know it's tough (maybe impossible?) to get a working visa....so how many of you out there are just working (illegally) on a tourist visa? If you get caught, is it a big deal? Or can you just leave the country and come back again? I'm asking specifically about Ecuador, but I am curious about how many of you in all countries are working without the proper visa b/c I'm a little worried!

Thanks!

--Jessicah

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I'm legal

I'm on a one year volunteer visa for the second year, multiple entries, no prob. Though it is common, I've been told, to work illegally here in Latin AMerica

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

It depends a lot on the country...there are many threads on this topic - if you look back a bit.

In Costa Rica, it is very, very difficult to get working papers, so most TEFLers do border runs to Panama every 90 days, or pay a 50-60 usd fine when they leave.

In Mexico, it appears to depend on the particular immigration office and school to sponsor for an FM3. Many, many people teach on the tourist visa, good for up to 180 days.

Argentina is another common border-run country over to Uruguay every 90 days.

Ecuador is JT's domain...he will shortly pipe in.

While it's always advisable to get legal working papers, the reality is such that many do work illegally. I've only heard of one case of a 'kindly leave within 30 days' notice being issued to a teacher in Mexico. No fine.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Actually, that was more of an invite to others to post horror stories if they have em.

This was the only case I've ever heard of, for immigration taking action on a teacher working illegally.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 7:31 pm Post subject:

Hey there,
Depends on how long you want to stay. I have never heard of specific action taken against people for teaching illegally in Ecuador. But the fines for overstaying your tourist visa have just gone up again. If you stay too long on a tourist visa, it'll cost you more than you're likely to save as a teacher.

So if you're planning to stay for a few months as you travel around, no big deal, there are many people managing that on tourist visas. But according to the law, and exceptions are getting rarer, a tourist visa can only cover six months out of any given twelve. This means that the "border run" philosophy is risky. They may not let you back in, or if you demonstrate a compelling reason to do so, they may give you a get out within 2 weeks (or less) stamp if your six months are up.

Overall, the situation in Ecuador is: if you plan to stay for 6 months or less, then head off to another part of SA, the tourist visa is what most people would do. If you're hoping to stay for longer, do yourself a favour, and find a job and visa before you get here. It's the only sure way.

Justin

Raymundo · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Posts: 10 Location: Korea

I just finished the TEFL course at Vancouver Language Centre in Guadalajara. A teacher there told me that Mexican immigration came to the center and demanded to see all the teachers' work visas. Ahem, a lot had tourist visas. The center was fined so much money they almost had to close down. No mention of what, if anything, happened to the teachers. Mexico is better than most Latin American countries in granting work visas (FM3); any decent employer can get you one.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I'm surprised...VLC has a stellar reputation.

clean_sanchez · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 7:26 pm Post subject:

Thanks for this thread... I was just about to ask the same questions

Do you know, and specifically in Ecuador, if anybody has gone down with a volunteer visa and worked under the table? naturegirl, you say you're doing this... whats your situation

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 7:55 pm Post subject:

Working on a volunteer visa, or a cultural exchange visa, which is what our teachers usually have, is not really under the table. It's not taxed, salaried "work," but we are an intercultural organisation, and our teachers are working in cultural education. As such, they are entitled to receive a living stipend. So if you call it a stipend, and file all your paperwork, it really is legal.

For it to be legal, whatever kind of visa you have will have to be sponsored by your school, and you'll probably have to get it before you come. So look around for schools before you get here. Working for any other school (than your visa sponsor) or teaching privately is technically not legal, but welcome to Latin America. Nobody cares. (As long as you are in the country on a legal visa. If you don't get a visa, overstay a tourist visa, or for whatever reason are not legally supposed to be in the country, most schools won't touch you. Because that's when the real problems start.)

Justin

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home