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First, some basic
ground rules:
1. To work legally in
Mexico you must have an FM-3 visa which must be endorsed authorizing
you to work at a specific job for a specific employer. You cannot change
jobs or employers, legally, without getting a new endorsement.
If you are caught working without a permit, you will be deported –
usually with just enough notice to get your personal belongings before
you are forced out of the country. You are very likely to get caught;
somebody will turn you in to immigration. It happens every day.
2. The rate of unemployment is very high
in Mexico, so the government will not grant a work permit to a foreigner
if it is for a job that a Mexican can do. This means that, for the most
part, one can get a permit only for a job that requires fluency in
English, such as selling vacation time shares or
teaching English.
3. Every year a bunch of young people (and some not so
young) come to Mexico expecting to enjoy a working vacation, sans
permits. For most it turns into a great disappointment, for some
it becomes a disaster. Hotel, bar and restaurant pay is so low
that you would have a hard time making it. By the time you pay your
rent and basic food, there will be nothing left over for enjoying your
time in Mexico -- even if you don't get caught by La Migra.
4. The law says
that you must provide proof of your ability to do the job for which you
are requesting a work permit. The nature of this proof will vary
depending on the job as well as local requirements by your INM office.
In general, this includes college degrees (diplomas), professional
certificates (TEFL for teachers), etc. These will need to be
notarized and have an apostille
attached. They may need to be translated into Spanish. The
INM office will tell you where to take the documents if they want a
translation.
If you don't already have an FM-3:
Take the following documents to INM office serving the city where you
will be living:
1. Your passport with a copy of every page, including blank
pages
2. Your FM-T visa (tourist permit) and a copy
3. A letter in Spanish (and a copy) from your employer, on his letterhead,
which states why he needs to hire you, what your job title is to be,
what your earnings are expected to be, his RFC number (if you're being
hired by a legal foreigner, his FM-3 number, too), and requesting that
you be issued a FM-3 visa with the correct endorsement.
4. Four identification photographs (credentiales), which any photo
shop will make for you, in the correct size, at a very reasonable cost.
Migración will tell you all of the rest of the steps you must take --
what forms must be filled in and submitted, where to pay the Migración
fee (approx. $1200 pesos; it changes by a small amount each year.)
Many larger employers will handle this process for you (some even paying
the fee) so that you only have to go to Migración twice; once to
initiate the process, and once to finalize the process and get your
visa.
If you need to do it yourself, the folks at INM are usually very helpful,
and they sometimes speak English. If you feel that you can't do it
yourself, there are people who will handle it all for you, for a fee,
usually in the $150 USD range. Just ask around among folks in the expat
community and they will steer you to someone reliable.
When you get your FM3
with a working endorsement, you are not required to present proof of
income as is the case when getting a non-working FM3.
If you already have an FM-3:
Take the following documents to your INM office:
1. Your passport with a copy of every page, including blank pages
2. Your FM-3 visa with a copy of every page, including blank pages
3. A letter in Spanish (and a copy) from your employer, on his letterhead,
which states why he needs to hire you, what your job title is to be ,
what your earnings are expected to be, your FM-3 number, his RFC number
(if you're being hired by a legal foreigner, his FM-3 number, too), and
requesting that your FM-3 visa be given the correct endorsement.
Migración will tell you all of the rest of the steps you must take --
what forms must be filled in and submitted, where to pay the Migración
fee (approx. MX$1200, but changes by a small amount each year.)
Many larger employers will handle this process for you (some even paying
the fee) so that you only have to go to Migración twice; once to
initiate the process, and once to finalize the process and get your
endorsed visa.
If you need to do-it-yourself, the folks at INM are usually very helpful,
and they sometimes speak English. If you feel that you can't do it
yourself, there are people who will handle it all for you, for a fee,
usually in the $150 USD range. Just ask around among folks in the expat
community and they will steer you to someone reliable.
When you originally got your FM3,
you were required to present proof of an income of about US$1,200 per
month. After you get the working endorsement, you will not be
required to show this US$1,200 income upon renewals.
IMSS and Taxes
You also must be registered with IMSS (social security)
and in some
circumstances, with Hacienda -- Mexico's IRS. This is necessary so your taxes will get paid properly. If
you cannot prove that your taxes have been paid, you will not be
allowed to renew your FM-3 visa. Most employers will
take care of this for you. If you have to do it
yourself, you will need the help of a local registered accountant, as the IMSS
registration and reporting procedures are complicated -- it is not a do
it by yourself task. The accountant will not be expensive.
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