Gypsy Jan
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"Americans Moving to Mexico for Work" from Forbes
Viva Mexico!
By Michael Wildes, 11.30.09, 3:58 PM ET
"Americans are moving to Mexico for work? This seems quite anomalous to many, considering that historically and currently millions of Mexicans
continue to immigrate, legally and illegally, to the U.S. in search of a better (and more lucrative) life.
But more than 1 million Americans have made Mexico their home of late, a trend that shows no signs of slowing down. They've flocked there for a
variety of reasons, including its warmer climate, selling points as a place to raise children and retire, inexpensive health care and, more than ever
before, work opportunities.
This emerging trend should not come as a surprise. We see tens of thousands of legal border crossings every day from the U.S. into Mexico for
commercial, tourist and cultural interests. More than 18,000 companies with American investments have operations in Mexico. In fact, the U.S. accounts
for 47% of all foreign investment in Mexico, and in 2007, Mexico was the world's eighth-largest crude exporter and the third-largest supplier of oil
to the U.S.
As such, Mexico's economy is highly dependent upon its exports to the U.S., including petroleum, automobile parts and electronic equipment, accounting
for more than 25% percent of its GDP. And while the recent economic slowdown has caused significant declines in manufacturing, exports and investment
on both sides of the border, it has resulted in a jump in Americans heading south.
As unemployment in the U.S. climbs past 10%, what does Mexico offer to Americans looking for work? For starters, Mexico offers a comprehensive health
care plan for a flat fee of $250 per annum. This can be very attractive to an American family struggling with limited income and mounting medical
bills, or to an individual simply unable to afford the high premiums. Although significant differences exist in the level of medical care provided in
Mexico compared with the U.S., many Americans, given the current economic climate, see it as a worthy trade-off.
Likewise, many families are willing to settle for lower-paying jobs in Mexico because of the significantly lower cost of child care, housing and food,
while entrepreneurs are willing to take business risks there amid the recession. But working in Mexico isn't easy: There is paperwork involved, not to
mention language barriers and discrimination--many of the things that plague Mexicans, legal or not, in the U.S. today.
As with American immigration law, anyone intending to live or work in Mexico for purposes other than tourism must apply for either an immigrant or
non-immigrant visa. The Mexican Consulate in New York reports a 40% increase in the number of Americans inquiring about moving to Mexico. Just as
Spanish-speaking immigrants in the U.S. often need a third party to help them understand the many documents that need to be filled out, it is wise for
Americans looking to go south to take at least one Spanish language course before moving abroad, and to consult a third party in the U.S. who can help
them navigate the paperwork.
Considering the contentious history of Mexican immigration to the U.S., it's a curious turn of events to discuss American emigration to Mexico. Many
of the same issues that taint American perception of Mexicans apply to Americans moving to Mexico; for example, the language barrier, economic
opportunities and whether or not proper immigration procedures are being followed. It's common for people to emigrate to new countries in search of
better opportunities, but Mexico's current status as an economic safe haven is indeed something different."
Michael Wildes is managing partner of NYC-based immigration law firm Wildes & Weinberg, the mayor of Englewood, N.J., and a former federal
prosecutor.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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toneart
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Jan,
This was already posted a couple of weeks ago.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by toneart
Jan,
This was already posted a couple of weeks ago. |
And not too well accepted. The attorney is:
[1] Full of crap
[2] Self-promoting
Most egregiously, Americans don't or can't just fall into Mexico and go to work. The author mentions nothing about the imigration logistics of such
a proposal.
Find the old thread so we don't go through all this nonsense again.
Here it is:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=42567#pid4669...
[Edited on 12-4-2009 by DENNIS]
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Gypsy Jan
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Oopsie, My Bad!
Sorry for the redundancy.
Interestingly, the comments I looked up on other sites also felt that this story made assertions not backed up by factual research.
Which begs the question, why would Forbes print such a poorly edited and fact-checked article?
[Edited on 12-4-2009 by Gypsy Jan]
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
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Mood: Skeptical
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Gypsy Jan
Sorry for the redundancy.
Interestingly, the comments I looked up on other sites also felt that this story made assertions not backed up by factual research.
Which begs the question, why would Forbes print such a poorly edited and fact-checked article?
[Edited on 12-4-2009 by Gypsy Jan] |
Perhaps it is bias driven?
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Casey67
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I'm moving to Mexico to work......on my tan......on making the perfect margarita....on meeting other Nomads....on catching some fish....on a plan to
not return to the frigid north. 
Terrible article, right idea though.
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