Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Doing any work at all in which the work can be paid for to a Mexican, even volunteer work without the proper permits can get you deported. People think Mexico is begging for U.S. workers and/or will allow anyone to work in Mexico and that is false. Working for free probably will not get you deported in the U.S., but it will in Mexico.
Well, if helping a Mexican family that I have known for 15 years install a security camera system in their restaurant counts as working in Mexico, then I guess I'm guilty!!
Migracion took me in, refused to speak english, and just made me sign papers, promising to release me in the morning. Nope: After 8 days in holding, and a trip to Houston airport, I was officially out of the country!
I have money. I have 2 businesses in San Francisco. I own property in Mexico and the US.
How dumb is Mexico immigration for thinking I am "working" in Mexico for monetary gain? Absolutely stupid!
I have since found out that jealousy from another restaurant set all this in motion, and currently have a lawyer in Mexico City working on getting this resolved
Doing any work at all in which the work can be paid for to a Mexican, even volunteer work without the proper permits can get you deported. People think Mexico is begging for U.S. workers and/or will allow anyone to work in Mexico and that is false. Working for free probably will not get you deported in the U.S., but it will in Mexico.
axixic2 I'm getting all the recommended paperwork, and I might not leave by September, depending on how everything goes. But it doesn't hurt to do research before my departure . May I ask why you decided to move down to Mexico?
axixic2 I'm getting all the recommended paperwork, and I might not leave by September, depending on how everything goes. But it doesn't hurt to do research before my departure . May I ask why you decided to move down to Mexico?
I'm part of the retired ex-pat population. I don't work.
At your age, if you can work legally in Mexico and you do for the next few decades, then you retire, what retirement income will you receive? You won't receive U.S. Social Security because you didn't pay into it for enough years. Mexico has it's own SS but I doubt (don't know) it pays what U.S. SS pays and that's only if you and your MX employers paid into it.
Think long and hard before moving. A better idea might be to make make enough money in the U.S. to vacation in MX and then retire here.
I need to throw in my 2 pesos here as well Axixic, what you've said in regards to working and finding a job in Mexico isn't entirely accurate. I came down to Guadalajara in 2005 without a solid plan at all. I was very motivated to live here and hang out with my Mexican girlfriend, but I didn't have any prospective job on the horizon or anything and really just came with the clothes on my back. I taught English for several months to the tune of a whopping $50 pesos per hour (which is arguably the most common job among twenty-something Americans and Canadians who come here to 'live' - usually they last about 6 months and go back home).
In the meantime though, I sent out my resume to various companies and applied for jobs online, just like I would in the United States, and eventually got hired with a high-profile software company as a contractor. I won't say which, but in Guadalajara we have Siemens, IBM, HP, Flextronics and many more. I would go so far to say that as the American, I actually had more opportunity to find professional work here than in my own country. There's kind of a way of thinking that the US education and native English, etc.. is superior to what the local candidates have to offer. The downside is that many prospective employers are reluctant to hire a gringo because they generally don't last here like I mentioned before.
So while it's not untrue that in theory you should have a job lined up before you come here, it is misleading to say that you can't find work here upon arriving and then process an work visa. Because that's exactly how I did it and it's working out for me so far
As far as salary goes, it's pretty sad. I enjoy many cushy benefits at my job but the $ sure as hell isn't one of them. To answer the OP's question, while many jobs here pay monthly, that's just the way they list salary so that's why you're seeing what you are. They don't list annual salary. Most employers either pay bi-weekly or monthly.
Definitely think it over before you come to live here, but if you're motivated to live here and are willing to put forth the effort to make it happen, it's very doable. It's a very charming city but it's not for everyone.
I need to throw in my 2 pesos here as well Axixic, what you've said in regards to working and finding a job in Mexico isn't entirely accurate. I came down to Guadalajara in 2005 without a solid plan at all. I was very motivated to live here and hang out with my Mexican girlfriend, but I didn't have any prospective job on the horizon or anything and really just came with the clothes on my back. I taught English for several months to the tune of a whopping $50 pesos per hour (which is arguably the most common job among twenty-something Americans and Canadians who come here to 'live' - usually they last about 6 months and go back home).
In the meantime though, I sent out my resume to various companies and applied for jobs online, just like I would in the United States, and eventually got hired with a high-profile software company as a contractor. I won't say which, but in Guadalajara we have Siemens, IBM, HP, Flextronics and many more. I would go so far to say that as the American, I actually had more opportunity to find professional work here than in my own country. There's kind of a way of thinking that the US education and native English, etc.. is superior to what the local candidates have to offer. The downside is that many prospective employers are reluctant to hire a gringo because they generally don't last here like I mentioned before.
So while it's not untrue that in theory you should have a job lined up before you come here, it is misleading to say that you can't find work here upon arriving and then process an work visa. Because that's exactly how I did it and it's working out for me so far
As far as salary goes, it's pretty sad. I enjoy many cushy benefits at my job but the $ sure as hell isn't one of them. To answer the OP's question, while many jobs here pay monthly, that's just the way they list salary so that's why you're seeing what you are. They don't list annual salary. Most employers either pay bi-weekly or monthly.
Definitely think it over before you come to live here, but if you're motivated to live here and are willing to put forth the effort to make it happen, it's very doable. It's a very charming city but it's not for everyone.
Wow
I've been thinking about leaving for over a year, and I finally had the chance to visit Guadalajara earlier this year, and I just loved it. I know the pay in Mexico is less, but there is something about being there that I just can't describe. I'm excited and I literally can't wait
Thank you axixic2 and DRocKeR, both of you have given me valuable information.
funny thing.. I'm from Guadalajara and have plans to move to the states this year.. (hopefully soon)
anyhow... I'm 25.. almost your age.. so, the thing you mention about comming here to live and probs no returning to the states.. gee.. it's exactly what i wanna do but the other way around... go to the states & no come back here... not that i dont like it.. Guadalajara is pretty nice... the weather, (most) of the people, the food, etc.. however.. I'm looking for a better life.. (i have a legal ststus in the US... just sayin)
so.. you wanna come down here... may i ask why?
what do you see here that you (possibly) donf have/cant find there?
anyhow... Welcome to Guadalajara! hope you like it
As one of the posters up above mentioned, I too went down to Guad when I was 21 years old... My grandparents lived in Chapala at the time, and I wanted to spend time with them before they passed away.
After a few weeks, we all thought it was best that I move into 'town', ie: Guadalajara, as there isnt a lot to do for young foreigners in Lake Chapala.
I signed up for Spanish classes at PROULEX, the Universidad de Guad, and thru school was able to rent a room in a family for under 100/ dollars a month. This was back in 1997 mind you.
I soon wanted to work- and ended up getting a job teaching ESL at PROULEX> All I had to do was ask. I loved teaching, and soon started dating one of my students ( an adult architect). After awhile, i moved out into my own "casita" (small house) and life was great.....
Lived there 8 months, until I had to go back to Boston to finish school.
It can be done!
And if I had wanted to stay longer, that would have been possible... as a foreigner, lots of doors are open to you- especially when you are young- you meet the well-educated Mexicans, and hang out with them. Life can be great!
We are moving to Guadalajara in September or before the school starts as an expat family. I have a lot of questions like is it safe to drive in Guadalajara or do we need to have a driver. Finding a house help, how easy is it? Do you have any British women's group?
We are moving to Guadalajara in September or before the school starts as an expat family. I have a lot of questions like is it safe to drive in Guadalajara or do we need to have a driver. Finding a house help, how easy is it? Do you have any British women's group?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Cheers
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
. May I ask why you decided to move down to Mexico? 
Axixic, what you've said in regards to working and finding a job in Mexico isn't entirely accurate. I came down to Guadalajara in 2005 without a solid plan at all. I was very motivated to live here and hang out with my Mexican girlfriend, but I didn't have any prospective job on the horizon or anything and really just came with the clothes on my back. I taught English for several months to the tune of a whopping $50 pesos per hour (which is arguably the most common job among twenty-something Americans and Canadians who come here to 'live' - usually they last about 6 months and go back home). 
Guadalajara Move
