Job Discussion Forums

Not St Louis · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 38 Location: Asia

Hello!

I am looking at making the move to Mexico. Lived there before, about 7 years ago when I first got out of the US Army, yes I am a gringo. Enjoyed my time there and got my feet wet teaching.

In the intervening time, I went to college, got a Bachelor's degree and went to Asia to teach English. I have been in Asia teaching for the better part of 2 years now, the last year has been teaching high school math. I have managed to pick up a TEFL Certificate, a Teaching Business English Certificate and a Teaching Young Learner's Certificate.

I want to get back to Mexico, still correspond with some friends there and know I would have some great opportunities. I know the best way is to just get on a plane and head back to Mexico and find a job on the ground. Sounds great but in my case it isn't so easy. I managed to get attached to my wife and son while over here, imagine that?

In short, Mexico doesn't like to give visas to Asians, and if she got a tourist visa, they wouldn't let her change from tourist visa to dependent visa without leaving the country. I am not particularly worried about the salary since we have sizeable savings, I just want a job that will give me a work visa before I arrive there.

Will I have any luck? I am looking at going over there a year from now, but I am flexible.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

With your credentials, you would have no problems with finding decent work here. There's plenty of work in private schools and language schools, but if you have a bit of luck you might land a university TEFL job. Your credentials and experience aren't much different from mine, and I managed to find a university job over the internet before I arrived in Mexico. It's just a matter of luck and good timing, I guess....

I'm surprised by your comment that Asians have trouble getting visas to Mexico. One of my co-workers has a common-law partner who is Japanese, and they've had no troubles with visas.

MELEE · Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 3:56 pm Post subject:

We had a teacher with a Turkish wife. They did have a lot of problems, mostly because she was in the US, not Turkey. She could only get a Mexican TOURIST visa from the Mexican Consulate in Turkey. Once he was working, he could put in for her dependent visa, no problem, but the needed the Mexican consulate in Turkey to legalize their Turkish marriage certificate. I think they had some other personal problems and in the end, she never came to Mexico.

You didn't say what part of Asia. I imagine that China would be the most difficult. Mexico and China are not on the best of terms, mostly having to do with trade issues and Mexico blames China on ruining its shoe industry (which is partially true). If you are willing to come first while they stay in their homecountry, it shouldn't be a problem.

Not St Louis · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 38 Location: Asia

Japan and Singapore are considered first world countries so no visa is required. Most other Asian countries are looked down upon.

We had a Mexican exchange student here last semester. He liked his time here. It was Rotary International Exchange Program. The local rotary decided to send a local student to Mexico on exchange. They ran into loads of trouble, even though the student had a US visa already and had been to the US several times. Eventually it got approved because when the Mexican exchange student's father came to visit, he visited the embassy on behalf of the local rotary. The visa was approved.

Ls650, you mentioned about teaching at a university, do you know any universities that are currently looking? What website did you use to find the position?

MELEE · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 3:23 pm Post subject:

I'd like to refer you to this post
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=33102

Cdaniels

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

Interesting question. Taiwan might be first world, but is it even a country? Wouldn't Mexico have to deal with China for issuing visas to Taiwanese?

Not St Louis · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 38 Location: Asia

Taiwan is part of China, it is kind of first world but because Mexico and Taiwan do not have "diplomatic" relations, visas are required but more easily granted from what I heard.

I don't think Mexico and China have that bad of relations. I remember last year they had several high level talks and dialogues. For instance, they signed an agreement starting direct charter flights from Hong Kong to Mexico City so that Mexicans and Chinese could visit the other country without going through the US. A lot of agreements have been signed lately.

Problem isn't that Mexico wants to protect itself, rather it wants to help the US control its borders.

My wife and I have been bopping around from Korea to Thailand and we plan on going to China for 6 months to a year. My wife is ethnic Chinese before we go over to Latin America, we both would prefer to move to Mexico but if we can't arrange something beforehand, we will choose another country to live in.