Job Discussion Forums

MadGoldfish · Joined: 28 Apr 2011 Posts: 30

Posted this in the general forum without any reference to a country, which was a bit embarrassing! Embarassed

It's a bit of a strange situation.

I needed a new passport (no pages left), so I figured I'd do it when back at home for NY, because the process takes 6 weeks here and is more expensive, and I wanted to travel to Uzbekistan in Feb.

I did some research, checked with vfsglobal etc etc and they said it would be fine, I could just transfer my visa from my old passport to my new one.

Turn up at the embassy, pay my fee, and they transfer my visa, but only give me a 3 month one. They said that it's all they can issue, but no problem, just contact the ministry of foreign affairs in Moscow and they'll reinstate the old yearly one.

Well.... My school has kicked up an absolute stink about this and is saying that they'll have to pay for a whole new yearly visa, and that I'll have to pay 50% (and leave the country) coz it's my fault and why did I do this etc etc

The twist in the tail is that I'm actually planning on leaving in mid-June, so there is no way in hell I want to pay for half a yearly visa and morally no way I want them to pay the full fee again.

What do you suggest?

- Firstly, has anyone had a similar experience, and do you know if I can contact anyone at the ministry of foreign affairs who could directly clarify to me if I really do need a whole new one, or if they can transfer the old one?

- Secondly, is it possible to switch to a business visa in-country from this 3 month one I've got now, just to cover the last 2 months approx of my stay? Or will I have to leave the country, and if so will I have to go back to my home country or can I just nip off for a weekend in Talinn?

Any advice or pointers appreciated! Cool

Peg Leg Pete · Joined: 12 Feb 2010 Posts: 80 Location: Moscow

Think you need to speak to someone who is a specialist. Never tried them, but have heard good reports about them:

http://www.rusvisa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=24&Itemid=38 Contact them and they might be able to suggest a workable solution.

Not sure what the school has said is correct - I'm pretty sure the visa is just transferred across without a substantial cost (but not an expert). Maybe the school has never come across this before and has hit the panic button.

Good luck!

Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:44 pm Post subject:

Yes, I'd say that you need to speak to an agency with some expertise in this matter. If it is any help, though, my gut tells me it is totally wrong in every sense for the school to say that you are liable for the visa costs involved. Only the employer is liable for this, as far as I know. Don't envy your position, but remember you could always just pay the school the money and then ditch them and work privately.

However, I would strongly suggest that you forget about the morals involved in them having to pay for a full visa once or even twice. That is their duty, regardless of whether you hand in your notice in June or not. They'd drop you without a thought, were it to suit them. And no redundancy payments either. (Dunno which school this is, but I do know they are all very, very similar...)

Best of luck to you.

MadGoldfish · Joined: 28 Apr 2011 Posts: 30

Cheers guys, I'll contact that agency tomorrow.

I'm pretty much convinced that the school doesn't know what they're talking about. Surprise surprise eh? Laughing