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jaxcalvert wrote:

Hey everyone

So I am South African and have been living in Thailand for the past 5 years Teaching English as a Second Language. I have finally had enough. I want to move to Mexico in October and would like some info from you guys, especially those that has done the move from Thailand.

1. Is there a limit that you can enter Mexico on a tourist visa, like in Thailand you can only enter 2 times by air and 2 time by land a year? and what is the maximum amount of time?
2. What are the best job websites? Or is it better to do in person?
3. How easy is it to meet people and make friends?
4. Which area of Mexico, ideally with the beach, would you recommend, preferably not too expensive, as I do do online teaching.
5. How did you go about finding an apartment? Did you use airbnb for a while, facebook?

Thanks for your guys input, I really appreciate it, being a single female, have to be careful.

Welcome to ex-pat Mexico jaxcalvert,

As you know the world is going through a strange phase. that, of course, includes Mexico so There is no specific cast in stone information I can offer, but I can talk about what usually happens.

1. So, usually, people get a visitor visa which is for 180 days. That's pretty consistent, but the agent could give you less if he decides to. you can exit the country before that expires and return getting a new visa. Last I heard there was no limit on doing that. There is no difference between air and land.

2. websites for what? If you fly in you will be given a visa to fill out, by land you would have to stop at the immigration office coming in. They have internet, but generally, they are a face to face people, and the country is currently pretty much closed. When the country is operational again I would suggest checking with the Mexican counsel.

3. Currently very hard, but normally it's not a major problem. The Mexican people are usually very pleasant. It would be much easier if you speak Spanish.

4. "too expensive" is relative. Beaches are expensive, but there are more primitive small villages in part of the Yucatan with beach exposure. Those would be places it would be best to speak Spanish in. I live in a house in a larger town on a bay and I manage with a cost similar to a condo inland in the U.S. ( or at least what a condo cost was 8 years ago)

5. I would think an airb&b would be a good beginning. I personally would not use Facebook or any of the other media, especially as a solo female. When I travel I tend to use booking.com because I can see reviews and get a better idea of what is available. I found this house using an agent who has since returned to England, but there are other agents out there. You just have to stop and look around that's where an airb&b would be perfect.

Hope this helps, good luck

Jax,
Ultralight always gives good answers.

One option would be to shift your English teaching to focus online. Perhaps you could even retain some of your Thai students that way.

I`ve lived in Puerto Penasco, Sonora for just over a year. It is very safe and economically resonable. My husband and I pay 2,500 pesos (about $125 USD) monthly rent for a furnished two bedroom. Electric runs about $30 - $50 USD monthly and that`s with a washer (no dryer) and the a/c running all day and a fan all night. It is hot in the summer but we are on the Sea of Cortez. There is a very active ex-pat community and the locals are very welcoming because it's a tourist town. Like Travelight said, speaking the language always helps, of course. I teach Spanish privately, sell cookies and quick breads and just recently started a small convience store out of my home due to the quarentine situation. All 3 businesses are going very well.