Job Discussion Forums

deIturbide · Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 2 Location: U.S.

Hi all. I have been reading the posts on this forum for some time and they have been very helpful, for which I thank everyone.

I will be moving to Mexico City June 1, and am about to begin the apostillization process. For those of you who have undergone the process of applying for an FM3, I was wondering if it would be absolutely necessary to have my diplomas (Bachelor's and Master's) translated and apostilled (the translation as well as the diploma itself, or just one or the other), or simply bring apostilled diplomas. I'm assuming that the translation would be necessary, as immigration officials aren't required to learn English, but I have encountered ambiguity concerning this issue.

If these documents need to be translated, will it be necessary to find a certified translator to do the job, or may I do it myself (I am fluent in Spanish, will have a Master in Hispanic Studies in May, and have been doing freelance translation for a year)? Also, what is the required format of the translation? I'm assuming it will not look exactly like the original document.

I'm also wondering if this applies to a birth certificate.

MO39 · Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 4:32 pm Post subject:

I came down here with my university diplomas and birth certificate apostilled, but not translated. Today I have an appointment to see the lawyer who's going to get me my FM-3. I'll let you know if he tells me I also need to have them translated.

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

I almost positive that you have to have the apostilled diploma translated by a government certified translator. I was in Merida, Yucatan with my a. diploma and was told very specifically by immigration that one and only one person in the city had the capability to do this and that he was a notaria.
The cost was 200 pesos for his services. His usual price was 200 but had tried to get an additional 150 from me. I reminded him that my friends had only paid him his usual fee.
The translation service comes with a seal on the document which is something that you will not able to provide as it is government issued.

MO39 · Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:11 pm Post subject:

That's what I was afraid of. I've heard that these "peritos autorizados" don't always do such a fantastic job and charge sizeable fees, which is annoying to those of us (like Phil_K and the OP and me) who could do a much better job of it ourselves!

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

When I told Tim Mueller, aka Ben Around the Block, that the translation of my diploma was completed, he commented that others had told them there had been one translation error noted in theirs. Merida`s translator is not well liked in Merida but does the job and in a timely manner. He`s an ornery sourpuss. People don`t like doing business with him, but he`s efficient.

notamiss · Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:29 pm Post subject:

The list of requirements for getting perito translator certification starts with #1: Mexican nationality. That considerably reduces the possiblities for native speakers of the respective foreign languages to get their certification.

sarliz · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 198 Location: Jalisco

I brought down apostilled degree and birth certificate, and when I applied for my FM3 in Oaxaca, was just told that I needed a traslated version of my degree. A guy who worked at my school helped me to do it, and I just typed it up using the same fonts and layout as the original.

I think the consistent message about the FM3 process is that immigration offices vary from state to state, so it's difficult to say with any certainty what you'll encounter. I would say to wait to do any translating until you get here, though, because it will most likely end up cheaper than paying someone in the states or Canada, if you do need to pay someone to do it.

MELEE · Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:36 pm Post subject:

As you can see the easy answer is the usual answer: it depends.

Each immigration office operates as it sees fit.

Don't get it done in advance because you never know what they will require until you get where you are going.

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

I have never translated anything. But I have always had lawyers from the school I work for take care of the process. I don�t know if that means that they also had it translated (although I never received/saw such documents) or if they simply had a "friend" in the office who overlooked the issue.

deIturbide · Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 2 Location: U.S.

Thanks so much for all of your prompt replies. I believe I'll wait on the translation till I get there.