A must-read
“working” article
if you have already received and read the “Tom O’Malley” email.
BP: Anyone living in the United States has surely figured out by now, our borders MUST be secured – it’s an apparent truth, and stands on it’s own, without needing any falsehoods such as this email!
Exerpts from an email supposedly received from Tom O’Malley, who was purportedly a Director, working for S.W. BELL in Mexico City:
BP: this email has been going around since before 2006 – basically not true – though portions may be almost accurate.
“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.”
BP: The company he was reportedly working for sure screwed up then. All he needed was an FM3 with permit to work.
“During that six months our Mexican and U.S. attorneys were working to secure a permanent work visa called a ‘FM3′. It was in addition to my U.S. 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.”
BP: This guy needed 6 months and Mexican and U.S. attorneys working to get his FM3?? You’ve got to be kidding.
“To apply for the FM3, I needed to submit the following notarized originals (not copies):
1. Birth certificate for wife Barbara and me.
2. Marriage certificate.
(BP: Only if he was bring his wife in on his FM3, as a dependent.)
3. High school transcripts and proof of graduation.
(BP: No way are these required.)
4. College transcripts for every college I attended and proof of graduation.
(BP: Not true.)
5. Two letters of recommendation from supervisors I had worked for at least one year.
(BP: Tic, Tac, Toe – three falsehoods in a row.)
6. A letter from the St. Louis Chief of Police indicating that I had no arrest record in the U.S. and no outstanding warrants and, was “a citizen in good standing”.
(BP: half true – they don’t want someone with felony convictions, etc.)
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.”
(BP: About 1/3 true – The letter comes from the employer, stating why they want to hire this person, and how much he will be paid. Now, if “Tom” were going to Mexico and working to start up his own personal business, he would have to write a letter stating so, and he would be applying for an FM3, with permission to start a business (permission to work).
“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 & Spanish on the right.”
BP: If you are filling out forms in any country – you usually need to use that language – duh!
“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 where 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 U.S. Customs in Laredo, Texas. This meant we had rented furniture in Mexico while awaiting our goods. There were extensive fees involved here that the company paid.”
BP: Oh my – so many more untruths.
“We could not buy a home and were required to rent at very high rates and under contract and compliance with Mexican law.”
BP: Geez – wonder where “Tom” got his info – he sure didn’t read my site before taking this “job” working in Mexico!
“We were required to get a Mexican driver’s 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.”
BP: Well, have no proof that this might not happen – but I cannot even imagine it happening. First of all – your U.S. license is legal in Mexico.
“We showed our U.S. 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 to 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.”
BP: Some imagination this “Tom” has – really wonder why he wanted to start working in Mexico, anyway?
“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.”
BP: Hum – 20 pages – well, this guy sure made more money and had more deductions than the Parks’ family ever did, I guess.
“The FM3 was good for three years and renewable for two more after paying more fees.”
BP: This is actually getting boring – again – not true. Articles on my site tell all about FM3’s.
“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.”
BP: Have any of you traveled between Mexico and into the United States? If you have your passport, U.S. admits you – Mexico doesn’t even say “good-bye” to you. Oh – other than if you have the temporary car tags, and you’ve been there on a temporary visa, then the officials must take the tag off your car. And you do have to find that bank who will know what $15 you are trying to pay.
“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 capitol or government offices, but do protest daily in front of the United States Embassy. The U.S. Embassy looks like a strongly reinforced fortress and during most protests the Mexican military surrounds the block with their men standing shoulder to shoulder in full riot gear to protect the embassy. These protests are never shown on U.S. 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.”
BP: Just not true – they happen to have t.v. in Mexico, believe it or not, and protests are usually televised.
“Please feel free to share this with everyone who thinks we are being hard on the illegals.”
BP: This part, I agree on – sort of – Mexico does have stipulations on whom they want to live tin their country. It’s all on my sites www.retireinluxury.com and www.moneysavingmexico.com
Traffic and telephone poles
Have a good day – and don’t believe all the Pinocchio’s that are around. It still amazes me that people have the spare time to make up writings like this about working in Mexico, and then feel the need to pass them around…I just don’t understand.BP: Took a bit of research, but I finally found it: Southwestern Bell International S.A. De C.V., Parque Via 190S, 06500 Ciudad De Mexico, Districto Federal, Mexico, Telephone 01 55 5255 3530 – you can call and ask if they’ve ever even heard of this “Tom” fellow…they haven’t.
“Working” article, by Barbie.
