Steve&Debby
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Posts: 335
Registered: 12-18-2007
Location: Colusa,California/ Percebu
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Working in Baja??
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. 
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| 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.
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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.
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castaway$
Senior Nomad
Posts: 742
Registered: 7-31-2007
Location: Gold Hill, Oregon
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Mood: Fish on!
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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!
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8807
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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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
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
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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
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 17368
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| 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.
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Steve&Debby
Nomad
Posts: 335
Registered: 12-18-2007
Location: Colusa,California/ Percebu
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Thanks for the info,does not sound real encourageing. When we talked to Scotty in december he said he was engaged not marryed yet.
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rob
Senior Nomad
Posts: 509
Registered: 10-19-2004
Location: Pacific Coast, BCS
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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 . . .
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rob
Senior Nomad
Posts: 509
Registered: 10-19-2004
Location: Pacific Coast, BCS
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S& - that winking round thing in the previous post was not put there by me -
at least not consciously.
rob
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Steve&Debby
Nomad
Posts: 335
Registered: 12-18-2007
Location: Colusa,California/ Percebu
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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
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Steve....check your u2u
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rob
Senior Nomad
Posts: 509
Registered: 10-19-2004
Location: Pacific Coast, BCS
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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.
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