BajaNomad - Working in Baja??

Working in Baja??

Steve&Debby - 2-23-2008 at 11:50 AM

I have worked in the water well buisness all my life and have had my share of ups and downs.Right now things are very good.I was wondering how to work in Baja with out getting thrown in the cross bar hotel? Can I take my drill rig down to Baja to make a little extra money for retirement. What type of paperwork is required and what is the time frame to get the proper papers. What about dual citizenship. When we were in Mulege in december we spoke to Scotty, who owns a restaurant, said it took him 5 years to get the proper papers to own a buissness. :?:

DENNIS - 2-23-2008 at 11:58 AM

Quote:

These questions require an attorney since the government owns all mineral rights and probably everything else below the surface. I think you're talking big time business start-up complications.
Your equipment will have to be imported if in fact it's legal for you to use it. Your homework is really cut out for you on this one.

castaway$ - 2-23-2008 at 08:40 PM

As I understand it you can't just punch holes in the ground wherever you want to get water, you first have to purchase the water right I beleive from an Ejido. I was told by a landowner/developer that owns land in Todos Santos, Mag Bay and Loreto that long ago the Mexican government allocated the water rights for all of Baja to a limited group of Ejidos and they have the right to sell allocations of water. I don't know for a fact this is true, but if you could get your equipment imported and you could create a corporation it would probably be very wise to seriously invstigate an individuals right to have water before you start, but then again maybe I'm all wet!

Bob and Susan - 2-24-2008 at 11:09 AM

holy cow!!!!

water rights belong to the government
this is where you start

you cant just dig and drill for water on a customers lot
you NEED a permit

you need to find out how to obtain these permits FIRST

in fact some wells are ONLY for farming
no selling of the water

even hualing water for sale needs a special plate on the truck

working is easy
you need a corp
fm3 with authorization to work for corp

import is easy for equipment
you need $$$$
and an import broker

hire people to assist
and pay Social Sec
for these people
this is the trick to getting a working fm3

Bob H - 2-24-2008 at 01:47 PM

As I recall... Scotty is also married to a Mexican woman. That makes a very big difference.
Oh, and try his deep fried beer battered fresh lobster chunks! Along with his home made dipping tarter sauce.... simply delicious!
Bob H

mtgoat666 - 2-24-2008 at 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Steve&ebby
I have worked in the water well buisness all my life and have had my share of ups and downs.Right now things are very good.I was wondering how to work in Baja with out getting thrown in the cross bar hotel? Can I take my drill rig down to Baja to make a little extra money for retirement. What type of paperwork is required and what is the time frame to get the proper papers. What about dual citizenship. When we were in Mulege in december we spoke to Scotty, who owns a restaurant, said it took him 5 years to get the proper papers to own a buissness. :?:

Lots of locals already in the drilling business. I know a few San Diego environmental/geotech drillers that got licensed to drill in Mexico, and they gave up chasing biz in Mexico after losing money contracting in Mexico. If you think it's hard getting paid as a construction contractor in the US, you'll learn it's even harder to be a gringo construction contractor in Mexico. Next time you drive thru the agricultural valleys, look for drillers, they are easy to spot -- go chat with them, these are the guys you will have to compete against.

Steve&Debby - 2-25-2008 at 09:22 PM

Thanks for the info,does not sound real encourageing. When we talked to Scotty in december he said he was engaged not marryed yet.

rob - 2-28-2008 at 09:41 AM

Hi S&

,

I have had three wells drilled on my ranch - this is my take.

- DRILLING PERMITS. All wells start with a need from landholders who own water rights - which may be agricultural or domestic, and are either bought from current holders or granted by CONAGUA (Nat Water Comm) in each different water district. Castaway$ is not correct regarding the ejido water monopoly - some ejidos certainly own a lot of water, but they are not the "source"; they might indeed be sellers of rights.

The rights holder applies to CONAGUA for a well permit, which specifies type, depth, capacity etc. He/she then finds the best well-drilling deal, and has the well drilled.

- STARTING A WELL-DRILLING COMPANY. Any foreigner can buy or start a business with the appropriate permissions - federal, state and municipal: well-drilling is no different. Obtaining an FM3 as an administrador unico (company owner/administrator) should be routine.

You can indeed become a citizen after 5 years of holding an FM3, at which time you can work at almost anything without restriction.

Be careful about WORKING though - La Migra differentiates between an administrador unico and actually WORKING. U.S contractors operating a business in Mexico walk a fine line, and are often denounced to la migra by Mexican competitors/disgruntled workers for allegedly crossing the line and actually physically showing the workers how it is done. I doubt very much that you would get a a permit to work as a well-driller, but you could certainly run a well-drilling company.

Well-drilling equipment can be imported like any other equipment.

- COMPETITION. I had 5 bidders on my last well - all experienced professionals with excellent references. While I do not doubt your record, I can only say that the competition was fierce. You might consider a tried-and-true business approach - forming a partnership to combine the strengths of both parties . . .

rob - 2-28-2008 at 09:43 AM

S&

- that winking round thing in the previous post was not put there by me - at least not consciously.

rob

Steve&Debby - 2-28-2008 at 09:30 PM

Rob ,Thanks for the information it is very helpfull.When we were down in Baja I did notice a couple of drill rigs working along side the road.If you don't mind me asking , What was the price per foot for drilling your wells. I do all of my drilling and pump installation myself,it sounds like that would be hard to do in Baja. Ya now it kind of grips my ---- that I can hire any mexican laborer I need here in the states but when I would like to pickup some extra money in Baja by working it sure seems alot harder. I know that open a whole new can of worms :fire:

bajaguy - 2-28-2008 at 09:39 PM

Steve....check your u2u

rob - 2-29-2008 at 08:48 AM

Steve - I will check the archives and U2U about the price/ft.

Just about every country I know restricts foreigners entering and working without permission - especially the U.S. (I know, I was a foreigner). Here, just like the U.S., it only takes one unhappy local to ruin your day (and in your case, maybe your retirement).

You state that your goal is to make some cash to help retirement, so why not work in Paradise? You will make a LOT more by legally leveraging your skills, experience and gringo marketing savvy working in partnership with a local than dodging la migra out at some dusty ranch.

Just my 2 cents.