Itsahobby
05-02-2006, 11:00 AM
Got this from an attorney friend of mine. Intresting reading.
Subject: Working in Mexico
From the other side of the fence.....
Received the following from (Tom O'Malley) who was a Director with SW BELL in Mexico City.
I spent five years working in Mexico.
I worked under a tourist Visa for three months and could legally renew it for three more months. After that, I was working illegally. I was technically illegal for three weeks, waiting on the FM3 approval.
During that six months, our Mexican and US Attorneys were working to secure a permanent work visa called a FM3. It was in addition to my US passport, that I had to show each time I entered and left the country.
Barbara's was the same, except her's did not permit her to work. To apply for the FM3, I needed to submit the following notarized original (not copies)
documents:
1. Birth certificates for Barbara and myself.
2. Our Marriage certificate.
3. High school transcripts and proof of graduation.
4. College transcripts for every college I attended and proof of graduation.
5. Two letters of recommendation from supervisors that I had worked for, at least one year.
6. A letter from the ST. Louis Chief of Police, indicating that I had no arrest record in the US, no outstanding warrants, and that I was "a citizen in good standing."
7. Finally, I had to write a letter about myself, that clearly stated why there was no Mexican Citizen with my skills, and why my skills were important to Mexico. We called it our "I am the greatest person on Earth" letter. It was fun to write.
All of the above were written in English, that had to be translated into Spanish, and that had to be certified as legal translations, with our signatures notarized. That produced a folder about 1.5 inches thick, with English on the left side, and Spanish on the right.
Once they were completed, Barbara and I spent about five hours, accompanied by a Mexican Attorney, touring Mexican Government office locations, and being photographed and fingerprinted at least three times.
At each location, and we remember at least four locations, we were instructed on Mexican tax, labor, housing, and criminal law, and that we were required to obey their laws or face the consequences. We could not protest any of the Government's actions or we would be committing a felony. We paid out four thousand dollars in fees and bribes to complete the process. When this was done, we could legally bring in our household goods, that were being held by US customs in Laredo, Texas. This meant that we had to rent furniture in Mexico, while awaiting our goods.
There were extensive fees involved here, that the company paid. We could not buy a home, and were required to rent, at very high rates, and under contract and compliance with Mexican law. We were required to get a Mexican drivers license. This was an amazing process. The company arranged for the Licensing agency to come to our Headquarters location with their photography and finger print equipment, and the laminating machine.
We showed our US license, were photographed and fingerprinted again, and issued the license instantly, after paying a six dollar fee. We did not have to take a written or driving test, and never received instructions on the rules of the road. Our only instruction was, never give a policeman your license if stopped and asked. We were instructed to hold it against the inside window away from his grasp. We were told that if a policeman should get his hands on our license, that we would have to pay a ransom to get it back.
We then had to pay and file Mexican income tax annually, using the number of our
FM3 as our ID number. The company's Mexican accountants did this for us, and we just signed what they prepared. It was usually about twenty legal size pages annually.
The FM 3 was good for three years and renewable for two more, after paying more fees. Leaving the country meant turning in the
FM3 and certifying we
were leaving no debts behind, and no outstanding legal affairs (warrants, tickets or liens) before our household goods were released to customs.
It was a real adventure, and if any of our Senators or Congressmen had to go through it once, they would have a different attitude toward Mexico.
The Mexican Government uses its vast military and police forces to keep it's citizens intimidated and compliant. They never protest at their White House or government offices, but do protest daily in front of the United States Embassy. The US embassy looks like a strongly reinforced fortress. During most protests, the Mexican Military surround the block, with their men standing shoulder to shoulder in full riot gear, to protect the Embassy.
These protests are never shown on US or Mexican TV.
There is a large
public park across the street from the Embassy, where they do their protesting.
Anything can cause a protest, such as proposed law changes in California or Texas.
Please feel free to share this with everyone who thinks we are being too hard on illegal immigrants.
Subject: Working in Mexico
From the other side of the fence.....
Received the following from (Tom O'Malley) who was a Director with SW BELL in Mexico City.
I spent five years working in Mexico.
I worked under a tourist Visa for three months and could legally renew it for three more months. After that, I was working illegally. I was technically illegal for three weeks, waiting on the FM3 approval.
During that six months, our Mexican and US Attorneys were working to secure a permanent work visa called a FM3. It was in addition to my US passport, that I had to show each time I entered and left the country.
Barbara's was the same, except her's did not permit her to work. To apply for the FM3, I needed to submit the following notarized original (not copies)
documents:
1. Birth certificates for Barbara and myself.
2. Our Marriage certificate.
3. High school transcripts and proof of graduation.
4. College transcripts for every college I attended and proof of graduation.
5. Two letters of recommendation from supervisors that I had worked for, at least one year.
6. A letter from the ST. Louis Chief of Police, indicating that I had no arrest record in the US, no outstanding warrants, and that I was "a citizen in good standing."
7. Finally, I had to write a letter about myself, that clearly stated why there was no Mexican Citizen with my skills, and why my skills were important to Mexico. We called it our "I am the greatest person on Earth" letter. It was fun to write.
All of the above were written in English, that had to be translated into Spanish, and that had to be certified as legal translations, with our signatures notarized. That produced a folder about 1.5 inches thick, with English on the left side, and Spanish on the right.
Once they were completed, Barbara and I spent about five hours, accompanied by a Mexican Attorney, touring Mexican Government office locations, and being photographed and fingerprinted at least three times.
At each location, and we remember at least four locations, we were instructed on Mexican tax, labor, housing, and criminal law, and that we were required to obey their laws or face the consequences. We could not protest any of the Government's actions or we would be committing a felony. We paid out four thousand dollars in fees and bribes to complete the process. When this was done, we could legally bring in our household goods, that were being held by US customs in Laredo, Texas. This meant that we had to rent furniture in Mexico, while awaiting our goods.
There were extensive fees involved here, that the company paid. We could not buy a home, and were required to rent, at very high rates, and under contract and compliance with Mexican law. We were required to get a Mexican drivers license. This was an amazing process. The company arranged for the Licensing agency to come to our Headquarters location with their photography and finger print equipment, and the laminating machine.
We showed our US license, were photographed and fingerprinted again, and issued the license instantly, after paying a six dollar fee. We did not have to take a written or driving test, and never received instructions on the rules of the road. Our only instruction was, never give a policeman your license if stopped and asked. We were instructed to hold it against the inside window away from his grasp. We were told that if a policeman should get his hands on our license, that we would have to pay a ransom to get it back.
We then had to pay and file Mexican income tax annually, using the number of our
FM3 as our ID number. The company's Mexican accountants did this for us, and we just signed what they prepared. It was usually about twenty legal size pages annually.
The FM 3 was good for three years and renewable for two more, after paying more fees. Leaving the country meant turning in the
FM3 and certifying we
were leaving no debts behind, and no outstanding legal affairs (warrants, tickets or liens) before our household goods were released to customs.
It was a real adventure, and if any of our Senators or Congressmen had to go through it once, they would have a different attitude toward Mexico.
The Mexican Government uses its vast military and police forces to keep it's citizens intimidated and compliant. They never protest at their White House or government offices, but do protest daily in front of the United States Embassy. The US embassy looks like a strongly reinforced fortress. During most protests, the Mexican Military surround the block, with their men standing shoulder to shoulder in full riot gear, to protect the Embassy.
These protests are never shown on US or Mexican TV.
There is a large
public park across the street from the Embassy, where they do their protesting.
Anything can cause a protest, such as proposed law changes in California or Texas.
Please feel free to share this with everyone who thinks we are being too hard on illegal immigrants.