Thread: Subject: American working in Mexico

This was forwarded to me by a friend. Sounds about right for Mexico. Time for us to adopt the same standards they have!!!!!!!!


Subject: American working in Mexico


The following from a director with South West 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 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 th at 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 certificates for Barbara and me.

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 indicating 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 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 held by US customs in Loredo Texas. This meant we rented furniture in Mexico while awaiting for 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 fingerprint 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 companies Mexican accountants did this for us and we just signed what they prepared. I 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 FM# 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 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.

Please feel free to share this with everyone who thinks we are being hard on illegal immigrants.

See? That is how normal countries treat foreign workers. Mexico is doing something normal. Why can't the USA?

Why can't Mexico support the USA's rights to enforce their laws is really the question instead of shipping their people here to suck money off of us to support Mexico.

another execellent question, lsmith.

Originally Posted by lsmith1338

Why can't Mexico support the USA's rights to enforce their laws is really the question instead of shipping their people here to suck money off of us to support Mexico.

Just what would they do with all the people that had to go back to mexico?? They dont know either, that is why the government of mexico is asking its citizens to leave.

Well Kev I guess that will be their problem when we ship them back won't it. Then Mexico will be forced to deal with their people and the serious issues they have not addressed in their country. They will also lose all the money that they send back from the US.

I worked in Mexico for many years for large USA then French company. What the person wrote about requirements for US citizen to work in Mexico is true. Also, I paid Mexico taxes, USA taxes, and money for FM3.

Why don't you send this letter to FOX news?

I did send my letter to fox news. I just shared what I said with the person who asked us to write and provided us a link to do so.

Does anyone remember about 7 years ago when Americans had their homes confiscated in Mexico near Baja California? I lived in San Diego at the time. Americans had built some very expense homes along the beach area in Mexico. They could not own the land but could only lease. The Mexican Government threw them out and paid nothing for their homes. Mexico said they needed the Land for their own development. Now I agree these were wealthy Americans and nobody has much sympathy, but still just taking their homes for free? They did pay Mexico taxes.

Here, they would have given them citizenship, the land, and George would have invited them to a cookout at the White House.