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Working In Mexico
Received the following from (Tom O'Malley)
who was a Director with SW BELL in Mexico City,
Mexico.
You remember 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 you were 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 hers
did not permit her to work.
To apply for the 'FM3' I needed to submit the
following notarized originals (not copies) of my:
1. Birth certificate for Barbara and I.
2. 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 I
had worked for at least one year.
6. A letter from The ST. Louis Chief of Police
indication I had no arrest record in the US and no
outstanding warrants and 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 in English that had to be
translated into Spanish and be certified as legal
translations and our signatures notarized. It
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 Governments 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 held by US
customs in Loredo, Texas. This meant 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 out a
six dollar fee. We did not 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. If he got his hands on it you would
have to pay 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 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 Congressman went through it once, they would have
a different attitude toward Mexico.
The Mexican Government uses its vast military and
police forces to keep its 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 and 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 where
they do their protesting. Anything can cause a
protest such as proposed law changes in California
or Texas.
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