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ymapazagain
Just Starting
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
Posts: 3
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 Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:19 am Post subject: Visa advice needed! |
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Hi,
I am an Australian and British citizen (I usually travel on my British Passport) and I am currently living in London.
In September 09 I will be starting a job in moscow and the company will be helping me to arrange the visa. However I plan to spend the month prior to starting my job studying in a language school in St Petersburg. Also, when my job finishes in July 2010 I would like to spend two months travelling thoughout russia along the trans-siberian railway into mongolia.
Obviously each of these three endeavours will require different visas.
I will be able to get a student visa for studying at the school (or is this sort of thing done on a tourist visa?) and as I mentioned the company will be helping arrange my working visa. For the several months spent travelling I imagine I will need to arrange a business visa.
My question is...will I need to leave the country after studying and again after finishing my job? Also, does the business visa need to be applied for from another country? If so how would this be possible as I will be living in Russia for 10 months untill the time when the business visa will be needed?
I hope I have made my situation and my question clear! I would really appreciate any advice.
Many thanks!
Amy  ) |
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ymapazagain
Just Starting
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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Hi,
No response to my question yet! I know it's not urgent but for planning's sake I would love some advice.
Many thanks again ) |
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camarks
Moderator
Joined: 30 Sep 2005
Posts: 333
Location: Richmond, VA USA
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| Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:33 am Post subject: |
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| It is not obvious to me that you need more than one visa. It would be better if you had only one. Work with your company to provide you the support you desire. I do not believe your visa can be valid for more than one year, so you will have to fit your plans into that time. Multiple visas will require leaving the country between each of your endeavours and reapplying for a new visa. There are new rules about how quickly this can be done which I am not entirely familiar with (I believe you would need to wait 6 months before re-entry after your job ends). |
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overseas_expat
VIP
Joined: 11 Jan 2005
Posts: 741
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:49 am Post subject: |
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I find it curious that you have a job in Russia.....but it doesn't commence for another year? Are you sure this is legitimate? Russia operates on a 'today' basis. Planning for the future not a Russian strength. 
And government edicts, policies, and regulations, especially regarding visas, change constantly. Right now in October 2008, there is really no way to know what kind of visa policies will be in place in 2010, nor what you'll be doing.
Could you give us more information about this *company* and their job offer? You're going to St. Petersburg for Russian language lessons? At your expense? Has the company required that you do this? Is this job an English teaching position? Are you sure they're going to provide you with a work permit and visa?
The whole layout of your story has some very odd specifications. |
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ymapazagain
Just Starting
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 11:09 am Post subject: |
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Hi overseas_expat,
Yes, it is an English teaching position. The job is a 9 month teacher intern program with Language Link. I have done a lot of research into the company and spoken with people who have worked with them in the past so they seem perfectly legit. They accept people into the program in September each year. As I wasn't available this September I applied in advance for next year and they accepted. They definitely provide all the support needed for the visa.
As for the month in St Petersburg studying, that is unrelated to the job. I have been studying Russian independently because I think it is important to have a good grasp of the language when I'm living there. I feel that spending a month studying Russian full time in Russia would be great and would help me feel a lot more comfortable when settling into a new job/city.
camarks - your comment on having to wait 6 months scares me! I would be devastated to be in Russia and not be able to make that amazing journey!
I know I will have to speak to the company directly about this to be certain, but what do you think would be the likely hood of them supporting my visa for a period that would include my time studying and traveling? Is it at all possible for them to do that or must my actions be 100% consistent with the type of visa I am using...I have a feeling they would.
Thanks all for responding
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overseas_expat
VIP
Joined: 11 Jan 2005
Posts: 741
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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Language Link is certainly a Mc School. Their pay is bottom of the line. In Moscow their teachers are usually housed in cheap shared soviet flats at the end of the Metro line. The kind with bare light bulbs and peeling wallpaper.
I had a friend a couple of years ago who worked for them (and I've know others too), we were out for beers one night and she didn't even have enough money for a Metro ticket back to her apartment. At that time a Metro ticket was about $0.45.  To be sure as soon as her contract expired she was outta there.
Language Link has ONE and only one thing going for it: it is one of the few language schools in Russia with the ability to acquire legitimate work permits for its teachers.
I suggest you browse here long and hard before you sign a contract with Language Link. http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewforum.php?f=20&sid=b3b905f40d291b373d6c12733f358c55 Go back through a couple of years of posts, many posters on DavesESLcafe have been the Language Link route. Be very very careful with your decision. |
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