We want to give some advice to those who are going to the Mexican consulate to purchase a work visa. When visiting the consulate, you will have an interview, in other words, verbal communication with the consul or other consular employees. In principle, the basic visa decision will be made on the basis of documents that your employer completed with the Mexican immigration office, then handed over to you, and you — to the consulate. The interview is necessary so that the consul can obtain additional information, check some data and confirm his decision on issuing a visa. Most often the interview — The procedure is not formal, for this reason you need to be well prepared for it.
You have received a package of documents from your employer, they are in Spanish. Or instructions for an interview with data from these documents. Learn everything that is written in these documents. The following data is especially important:
- company name,
- where is it located (city),
- main type of activity,
- first and last name of the manager,
- the name of your specialty,
- your functional responsibilities,
- duration of the contract (most often 1 year),
- size and payment criteria.
If someone else prepared your package of documents for the consulate, most likely you were given a job description and a list of your future responsibilities. We provide our clients with detailed individual instructions on how to complete an interview for a work visa, tailored to the employer’s details and job requirements.
The interview takes place in the form of a conversation lasting no more than 5 minutes, in Spanish or English. In Moscow it is possible to take part in Russian. The questions can be very different, about life, about family, about hobbies, but always — about future work.
Here are some job-related questions you might be asked. We collected them based on stories from our clients.
How did you find this vacancy?On the Internet, I personally contacted the company, I previously carried out one-time orders for them, friends in Mexico suggested it, the company where I work opened a branch in Mexico, etc.
Why Mexico?Satisfied with the job requirements. I like the country, the climate, the people, the cheapness, etc.
Why did you agree to a low salary?I wanted to leave my country. Mexico — It’s a new state for me, it’s more important for me to gain a foothold and then pursue career growth. I always dreamed of working in tourism. I have savings that will be enough for the first time.
Where and how did you get your skills?required for this job? Answer according to the circumstances, show that you like what you will do.
How will you work in Mexico without knowing Spanish?In my work there is enough English, because the company speaks it. I'm learning Spanish intensively now.
On the issue of knowledge of languages. Ignorance of Spanish cannot be a reason for refusal to obtain a visa. Some consulates recommend coming with an interpreter. But we strongly advise you to speak English at least at a minimum level to pass the interview. All Mexican consuls speak English.
You may be asked questions about your family. We have had experiences of negative consular attitudes where extended family members received their relative visas along with the primary visa recipient and the consul likely considered them a burden. Therefore, we advise you not to inform the consul that family members will come to Mexico with you in order to obtain their resident cards upon arrival. Somehow get around this issue, say that the family will remain in their homeland, and you have not yet decided when they will arrive.
The consul will not “blame” you or catch you on ignorance or inconsistencies. The attitude will only be friendly. You also do not forget about politeness, the address «senor/senora» welcome. If you cannot answer any of the questions, it is better to say that you do not know. The consul has no right and will not check your professional skills; this is the responsibility of the employer. You have the opportunity to take a diploma and other evidence of your competencies for an interview, but more often they are looked at out of interest, and not for verification, or they are not looked at at all. Your verbal answers are enough. Most people do not work in their specialty, so your diploma (especially one issued in another country) may not be important. Submit to the consul only those papers that he asks about.
Come to the diplomatic mission in advance. 15 minutes before the appointed time — the best option. There are usually no queues at consulates, for this reason they can call you a little earlier.
Dress neutrally or business casually rather than casually for the beach. Remember that you are coming to Mexico for work, not on vacation.
Have it with youexact amountto pay the visa fee, without change. This is important, because if the consulate does not have change, they simply will not accept your payment, even if you say that you don’t need change.
There may not be an interview at all; they will simply give you a passport with a visa attached. Please carefully check that all your personal details on your visa are correct.
How to acquire a work visa and residence permit in Mexico based on an invitation to work, we described in thispublications