Need to live in Nogales Mx and work in Tucson (Green Valley: cheap apartment, renting)

[Dougo40]

My wife is from Mexico and we have a 1 1/2 year old child. We tried to do immigration legally and failed. She has been gone for 4 years. I am thinking of living in Nogales and working in the Tucson area and I was wondering what anyone from the area thought of that and if you have any suggestions. Thank you for any feedback you might offer. Would it be better to walk across and retrieve a car on the US side. I am in the construction industry. How is the building industry , both res and commercial? I own a company in NC now.

[Dougo40]

If anyone could, I need to get some answers soon. Would appreciate anyones honest input. Thank you.

[sierraAZ]

If you could find work in Nogales, AZ, or all the way up to about Green Valley, it's doable. A daily commute to Tucson (and particularly involving additional commute IN Tucson) is too much, IMO. If you work really close to the freeways, maybe you can put up with it... It's up to you.

Perhaps you can consider renting a small apartment in Tucson and go home to your family on the weekends.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Dougo40

My wife is from Mexico and we have a 1 1/2 year old child. We tried to do immigration legally and failed. She has been gone for 4 years. I am thinking of living in Nogales and working in the Tucson area and I was wondering what anyone from the area thought of that and if you have any suggestions. Thank you for any feedback you might offer. Would it be better to walk across and retrieve a car on the US side. I am in the construction industry. How is the building industry , both res and commercial? I own a company in NC now.

Yes you can do that -- you can live in Nogales and commute if you are not able to work in Mexico - Mexico has strong immigration laws and does not allow someone to work without permission.

It's fairly common in border cities for people to do this. You can drive back and forth.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by malamute

Yes you can do that -- you can live in Nogales and commute if you are not able to work in Mexico - Mexico has strong immigration laws and does not allow someone to work without permission.

It's fairly common in border cities for people to do this. You can drive back and forth.

Of course he CAN! However, we're talking about a DAILY commute! Do you even live in AZ? I don't believe so.

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by Dougo40

My wife is from Mexico and we have a 1 1/2 year old child. We tried to do immigration legally and failed. She has been gone for 4 years. I am thinking of living in Nogales and working in the Tucson area and I was wondering what anyone from the area thought of that and if you have any suggestions. Thank you for any feedback you might offer. Would it be better to walk across and retrieve a car on the US side. I am in the construction industry. How is the building industry , both res and commercial? I own a company in NC now.

I agree with Sierra on this one, Dougo . . .

A daily commute to Tucson plus an additional drive within Tucson could be doable but definitely not practical.

I would search for work either in Nogales, AZ or possibly Rio Rico, Sahaurito or Green Valley rather than all the way to Tucson. My neighbor commutes to Nogales, AZ about once or twice a week and claims the drive is therapy for her but it definitely would not be for me.

Good Luck!

[Dougo40]

Thank you for the kind advice. I for one do not mind driving. It is therapy for me as well. I just wonder how long it takes to cross over the border each day?

[Grannysroost]

Originally Posted by Dougo40

Thank you for the kind advice. I for one do not mind driving. It is therapy for me as well. I just wonder how long it takes to cross over the border each day?

I would think about that and the drive... A lot of time spent on the road you could be working. As Sierra AZ said, if you have work, maybe spend the week in maybe a cheap apartment or some other living arrangements and then on the weekends spend with the family and not so much time out on the road...granted you would be spending the gas money in rent, but probably a better person rather than getting home, sleeping a little, and leaving again the next day. On the weekend you could devote your time to the family, rather than thinking about the drive...it will get old fast, best of luck

[azdr0710]

you can probably guess that the building business is not so good right now out here, both res and comm........

if you have construction contacts out here, consult with them about jobs.....

I like the "cheap apartment in Tucson and home for the weekends" proposal, though you may get lonely for the family long about Wed eve.....

taking care of the family is #1.....

border crossing time can vary wildly depending on holidays, staffing, terrorist alert level, time of day, tourists......

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by Dougo40

Thank you for the kind advice. I for one do not mind driving. It is therapy for me as well. I just wonder how long it takes to cross over the border each day?

Gotcha, Dougo . . . another tough question to answer.

I've zipped across the border in a matter of minutes some days and then it has taken a couple of hours on other days. Parking your vehicle on this side and walking definitely makes sense as the major delays are usually associated with vehicles, rare pedestrians.

Is that what you're looking for?