Job Discussion Forums

[marowan]

Ok, I'm not actually THE Miss Ireland, but thought that might grab your attention. I am, in fact, a newby to the site. And I'm Irish.

I'm in Ireland at the moment, and will be moving to Aguascalientes in early October, so am looking for advice re. getting a teaching job there, and the whole process around visas, etc. I'm not completely lazy, - I have done a bit of research myself, but I'm new to teaching (just qualified in TEFL since June, so will only have had a couple of months' teaching experience in Dublin before I go).
My boyfriend is Mexican and currently working in the city and my plan is to move over there for a year (and see what happens...).

Specific information I'm looking for is in relation to getting visas, as I have come across conflicting info in relation to this.
So, Is it ok for an Irish citizen to enter the country on a tourist visa and then apply for a FM3 when in the country? As far as I'm aware, when I'm offered a job, the school/company can then apply for a visa for me... Will this cost me money, and if so, how much should I expect to pay? Is there any way I can apply for the visa myself?
Also, I'm a bit worried that it might be difficult to get a job (especially because I have so little experience)... So I want to know: What are the chances of being offered a job over the telephone/e-mail, or is it more likely that I'll have to wait til I'm over there, and get a job in person (by wooing them with sheer charm)??
Also, which documents do I need to get stamped by the Mexican consulate here? (TEFL Certificate?, Leaving Cert (High School) Results?, my degree (occupational therapy) results)...

Thanks for reading this far, it's very easy to be turned off when a message looks so long, and needy, I know!
I'd really appreciate any tips/advice/warnings...
Cheers!

[Phil_K]

I will tell you about the visa and leave the stamping of certificates to someone who know more than I do.

You will enter on a tourist visa (FMT) which gives you 90 days, but you can extend it to 180. Do it before it expires or they will add a fine to your fee. The working visa (FM3) can be obtained (again, before the 90 or 180 days expires) at the local immigration office. If you are very lucky, a company offering a job will do it for you and if you are very,very lucky, even pay for it! In the more likely case that you have to do it yourself, asked in the immigration office at the information desk, and they will give you a sheet with the list of requirements. The cost goes up every year, but it is currently around $1800 - 2000 (pesos).

Regarding getting jobs, with your certification, there should be no problem getting some kind of job in a private institution. Maybe with little experience it could be harder in a school or uni... if so, it is better to take what you can get, for the experience. In a private company, the fact you are a native speaker is a plus, and even better, from what they will see as Britain, even if you are from Eire!!! In fact they think every country in the British Isles is England.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

[MikeySaid]

Hahaha you're going to be hanging out with the hidrocalidos.

[marowan]

Phil K - thank you very much.
And I know, even many British people think us Irish are Brits!

Mikey(Said) - hidrocalido - does that mean a native Aguascalienten?
- And is that a bad thing?!

[Phil_K]

My pleasure!

As no one has replied about the certificates, I will tell you what I think I know. I am sure that you need the TEFL certificate stamped, as for the others, I guess the Mexican consulate can tell you. It's better to have too much documentation than not enough... especially in burocratic Mexico!!

[marowan]

Muchas gracias

[Gregor]

http://www.juliaferguson.com/apostille.html
FOLLOW THAT LINK. Yes, I'm shouting. This is very important. The government in your home country or the country where the diplomas, degrees, whatever this is to be done to were issued has to give you this.
It's the dreaded apostille, and it is very important to get BEFORE COMING TO MEXICO. If you do not heed my advice on this, you WILL be sorry.
That's not a threat, it's a promise.

[marowan]

Thanks Gregor,

That really does sound and look VERY IMPORTANT! - I'll get onto it. You really helped me out there.

[Gregor]

Yeah, It is important, and it can be VERY complicated.
I'm American, I earned my licentiate diploma from Trinity College, London (England) while I was in CHINA! ho gives me the apostille? England. And I'd never even been there before.
Immigration just laughed and said, "Yes, I can see where that might be a problem." No actual HELP at all.
Eventually they gave me an FM3 based on the one they had given me eight years ago.