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Mango
Senior Nomad
Posts: 685
Registered: 4-11-2006
Location: Alta California &/or Mexicali
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bajatastic
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Just curious. I know many churches/missionary groups often build houses in Mexico for poor people. If you do indeed need a FM3 to do volunteer work,
do the church members all get FM3's?
I doubt any of them get FM3's for their short duration trips. I'm not positive about this; but, I am curious.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13050
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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For the record....my volunteer work was like 15 years ago and I even asked the immigration guy what I needed and he said NADA...no problema...but
another immigration guy got me later
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65306
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I am amazed at the poll at the top of this thread... as if opinion makes something a fact?
Doesn't matter how many vote that you don't need an FM-3 to volunteer work, the law doesn't change!
A tourist card/ visa (FM-T) does not permit you to do anything in Mexico other than being a tourist on a vacation. If you decide to 'help' Mexico by
volunteering... then that requires permission from the government... Otherwise, they see it as a wealthy gringo taking away work from a needy
Mexicano. If nobody volunteered, then locals would have to be paid to do work.
Sure, I know... volunteers do things for the poor, who would never afford to pay to have work done.
Same is true about donating clothes... we took kids clothes for the poorest of the poor, at the Los Pinos farms near San Quintin (via Juanita &
Dave). The government sees this as taking away sales from local clothing stores!
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
I am amazed at the poll at the top of this thread... as if opinion makes something a fact?
Doesn't matter how many vote that you don't need an FM-3 to volunteer work, the law doesn't change!
A tourist card/ visa (FM-T) does not permit you to do anything in Mexico other than being a tourist on a vacation. If you decide to 'help' Mexico by
volunteering... then that requires permission from the government... Otherwise, they see it as a wealthy gringo taking away work from a needy
Mexicano. If nobody volunteered, then locals would have to be paid to do work.
Sure, I know... volunteers do things for the poor, who would never afford to pay to have work done.
Same is true about donating clothes... we took kids clothes for the poorest of the poor, at the Los Pinos farms near San Quintin (via Juanita &
Dave). The government sees this as taking away sales from local clothing stores! |
Excellent summation David,
As to the poll I was looking for a little more than someone's feelings on the matter ....
As to clothes, my neighbors , were stopped just north of GN and hassled extensively for the clothes they were bringing from their church in
Placerville to the local children.
They were told they could be forced to drive back to TJ and delcare and pay duty on everything. Luckly that did not happen. They were also told
that in the future they would need to clear customs at the border and it was suggested they have a letter from their home town church explaining the
reason for this contraband. SOS
CaboRon
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3881
Registered: 2-9-2004
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"Work" is loosely defined, and any crime violating your visa prohibitions would be a federal crime. Cought be federales, prosecuted by federales,
with proof. Do you really think this is going to happen? NO.
How many organizations have trips into Mexico where people pay to "work" at turtle conservation camps? Habitat for Humanity projects?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65306
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Thanks for that Ron!
It is good to know and let all readers of Nomad know that Mexico is a different country than the U.S. or Canada... with their own laws and customs!
Some come south and act miffed when those facts hit them head on! 
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Skip_Mac
Nomad
Posts: 102
Registered: 4-25-2008
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Remember a lot of USA citizens get really upset when a Mexican does exactly what you are describing... entering the USA and working without proper
permits...even when they may not grasp the details of the law.
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Acuity
Nomad
Posts: 195
Registered: 5-26-2005
Location: Comox, BC, and Todos Santos
Member Is Offline
Mood: Craving sleep!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Skip_Mac
Remember a lot of USA citizens get really upset when a Mexican does exactly what you are describing... entering the USA and working without proper
permits...even when they may not grasp the details of the law. |
Memory can, perhaps, become selective in the heat?
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
For the record....my volunteer work was like 15 years ago and I even asked the immigration guy what I needed and he said NADA...no problema...but
another immigration guy got me later |
They went to different schools.....only one of which offered, "Predator 1A."
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65306
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Acuity
| Quote: | Originally posted by Skip_Mac
Remember a lot of USA citizens get really upset when a Mexican does exactly what you are describing... entering the USA and working without proper
permits...even when they may not grasp the details of the law. |
Memory can, perhaps, become selective in the heat? |
Working in the USA is never a crime, as it can be in Mexico. We wish everyone who did come here for the benefits of employment actually worked and
paid taxes for all the services they get!
The crime is entering the US illegally, without crossing at an official border... much like trespassing. The Americans doing volunteer work may be in
Mexico legally (FM-T) and they did cross in at a real border entry port.
Don't see any relation between the two.
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Acuity
Nomad
Posts: 195
Registered: 5-26-2005
Location: Comox, BC, and Todos Santos
Member Is Offline
Mood: Craving sleep!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Working in the USA is never a crime, as it can be in Mexico. We wish everyone who did come here for the benefits of employment actually worked and
paid taxes for all the services they get!
The crime is entering the US illegally, without crossing at an official border... much like trespassing. The Americans doing volunteer work may be in
Mexico legally (FM-T) and they did cross in at a real border entry port.
Don't see any relation between the two. |
So, if I enter the US as a tourist, I can work legally at anything I choose? Perhaps I didn't need to bother getting an H1B work visa 
It looks like the same issue to me, but maybe the heat is getting to my brain?
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
[ We wish everyone who did come here for the benefits of employment actually worked and paid taxes for all the services they get!
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The employer is the one breaking the law by not withholding taxes and SS and Medicare. And trying to classify them as "Independent Contractors" is
the way they try to get around the law.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Acuity
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Working in the USA is never a crime, as it can be in Mexico. We wish everyone who did come here for the benefits of employment actually worked and
paid taxes for all the services they get!
The crime is entering the US illegally, without crossing at an official border... much like trespassing. The Americans doing volunteer work may be in
Mexico legally (FM-T) and they did cross in at a real border entry port.
Don't see any relation between the two. |
So, if I enter the US as a tourist, I can work legally at anything I choose? Perhaps I didn't need to bother getting an H1B work visa
It looks like the same issue to me, but maybe the heat is getting to my brain? |
An alien in the USA needs a green card to work legally.
[Edited on 3-3-2009 by CaboRon]
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BajaDove
Nomad
Posts: 194
Registered: 11-23-2008
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
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As a freebee treasurer of the (home owners ass.?) here my husband had to go with other board members to mitigation and get a permission that cost
something. I don't remember what now. When we renewed our papers they asked if he still held that position.
If its not where it is, its where it isn\'t.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65306
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I wasn't getting into the legal conditions of working in the U.S., I was responding to the comments in that the illegals in the U.S. seeking money for
work is NOT the same as tourists in Mexico volunteering to help a good cause... in easy terms.
Americans doing volunteer work are not trying to violate Mexico's laws... they are without an FM-3, of course. But, the Mexicans who sneak across the
border KNOW they are breaking the law. That is a big difference, IMO.
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fdt
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4059
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Tijuana, Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Yeah, what if it all goes right
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I know a couple of people that live here in Tijuana that came to spread "The Word" and get more "Believers". They are here on an FMT only, don't want
to spend the money to get an FM3 but do collect the "Tithing". I've been tempted to finger them but what if I get cursed  
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3881
Registered: 2-9-2004
Member Is Offline
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Religious, academic and scientific work is not the same as volunteering.
Working for a wage is not the same as volunteering.
Holding a position on an HOA while living in Mexico is not the same as volunteering.
Shari, weren't you running the Scammons whale watching concession for a few years? That's not volunteering.
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