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ITTP
Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 343 Location: Prague/Worldwide
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Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 4:57 am Post subject: Non-EU: arriving to Prague and teaching in Prague - facts |
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Hi
There is so much conflicting info on this on these forum pages.
As an American traveling to Prague you don't need to get your visa whilst in the States.
Upon arrival to Prague you will be given a (free), 90-day Tourist visa and this is fine for the period while you are taking your TEFL course and then looking for work and starting work.
Theoretically, you can no longer teach on your Tourist Visa unless you have begun the work permit and visa process.
So, if at the end of the 90 days you haven't taken any serious steps to apply for the work permit and work visa then you will technically need to leave the country (although this is open to discussion how strict the Czech authorities are concerning US citizens overstaying their 90-day Tourist visa status).
If at the end of the 90 days you have already applied for the work permit and work visa then you will be fine to stay and continue teaching, even if your work visa and permit papers take longer than 90 days to be processed.
This is how things are in Prague now.
Recently, there have been reports of a very small minority of teachers being deported and this was because their school didn't submit their work permit and visa papers within the required 90 day period. As an example, we are no longer recommending these schools and only recommend schools, who actively physically help teachers with this process.
The typical route is to arrive on a 90-day Tourist visa, take a course, find a school and begin teaching and at the same time apply for the work permit and visa.
Currently this is still the acceptable way of doing things here.
It used to be a lot easier to just stay on and do border runs every 90 days for a new Tourist visa stamp but technically this isn't possible anymore and a reflection of this is the increased level of quality of teachers in Prague and also more teachers generally completing their teaching contracts.
Hope it helps!
Neville
ITTP Prague
Jungmannova 32
Prague 1 |
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Dragonsheart
Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Posts: 21 Location: Melbourne Australia
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 12:48 am Post subject: |
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Excellent post as always! Thank you |
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ITTP
Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 343 Location: Prague/Worldwide
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Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 6:47 am Post subject: |
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Dragonsheart wrote: |
Excellent post as always! Thank you |
Thank you Dragonsheart
Hezky vecer!/Lovely evening!
Neville
ITTP Prague
Prague 1 |
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Sigma
Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 123
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Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 7:00 am Post subject: |
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I just went through my second visa renewal, so I thought I'd write a little about the documents I needed.
For the work permit...
- Work contract
- Proof of accomodation
- 250kc kolek
- Photocopy of my passport
For the visa....
- Proof of accomodation
- 1000kc kolek
- Visa form (green)
- 2 passport photos
- Passport (obviously)
- Working permission
- Proof of insurance
The urad prace gave me a two-year work permit, which is nice, as the foreingers police will give me a visa valid for two years.
My passport expires next year, so I had to write a sentence on my visa form saying I'm aware that my passport expires next year, and that I'll bring in my new passport. A duplicate of the visa sticker will cost 100kc.
I don't live in Prague, so things might be different in the 'big city'. Where I live there is never anyone waiting at the foreigners police. |
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elena.sprick
Joined: 22 Jul 2009 Posts: 10
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Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the great information!
Regarding documents needed, do I need to bring a copy of my TEFL certificate, university diploma, university transcripts, etc, etc?
Thanks!! |
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christine13
Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 36 Location: Long Island, New York, USA
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Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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elena.sprick wrote: |
Thanks for the great information!
Regarding documents needed, do I need to bring a copy of my TEFL certificate, university diploma, university transcripts, etc, etc?
Thanks!! |
Good question - I'm wondering the same thing. Do most Prague EFL school employers require original documentation or are photocopies sufficient for univ. diploma, univ. transcripts?
Also, should I bring a copy of my birth certificate? - Will I ever need to show that to a prospective employer?
Thanks! |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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I think the best advice is to bring all documents...you should be able to get notarized copies at your local bank in the States, which will be as good as the originals.
It's unlikely that anyone is going to want transcripts, as they aren't considering you for postgrad studies or anything - the other stuff you mention is pretty basic and useful.
I'd suggest bringing it all, honestly - it's not heavy or expensive.
One other thing you may need, and it's kind of weird. You may be asked for a document certifying that you have a clean criminal record - Sigma, did you have to provide this the first time you applied? It's a bit different for renewals.
The US doesn't keep records on citizens who haven't committed crimes - but most local/state police headquarters will issue a document saying that you haven't committed any crimes in their jurisdiction - this usually suffices for the Czech government requirements.
It's apparently not a totally off-the-wall request, as I got an official document within 30 minutes of asking for it, just saying that their records didn't show any problems with me.
You might usefully phone your local police headquarters and explain that you may need to document the fact that you don't have a criminal record. Even though the document they may issue isn't a national one, the Czech authorities accept this. |
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elena.sprick
Joined: 22 Jul 2009 Posts: 10
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Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the info Spiral! I taught in Korea last year, so I'm basing a lot of my questions off of what I had to have for my Korean visa.
I had to get a criminal background check for Korea, which is generally an easy thing to do but will vary from state to state. For me, it was free and took about a week to get.
Another question regarding the CBC.... what kind of "crimes" are they looking for? In Korea, they have gotten much more strict about having absolutely anything on your record. I doubt this is the case in Czech Republic, but just to make sure. I just have 2 speeding tickets on my record, which would now make me disqualified to teach in Korea (stupid, I know. They care about the wrong things over there...). Just want to make sure it won't be a problem in CR.
Thanks!! |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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No, no one will care about that |
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eclectic
Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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I teach in Korea and speeding tickets are not part of a criminal background check, atleast not the New Jersey State one. They are looking for felonies. Korea doesnt care about speeding tickets. |
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ITTP
Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 343 Location: Prague/Worldwide
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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spiral78 wrote: |
No, no one will care about that |
I can second that.
Hezky vikend!/Lovely weekend!
Neville
ITTP Prague
Narodni 21 - bang in the center of Prague! |
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elena.sprick
Joined: 22 Jul 2009 Posts: 10
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Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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eclectic wrote: |
I teach in Korea and speeding tickets are not part of a criminal background check, atleast not the New Jersey State one. They are looking for felonies. Korea doesnt care about speeding tickets. |
Well from what I've heard, things have changed it recent months and they've become more strict. And I know of people who have denied a visa in Korea because of minor "crimes" (like a drinking ticket when they were under age).
But anyway..... I wanted to know if I need to bring my birth certificate? One school I've been emailing with told me that I need it. I can't imagine why I would though if I have a passport. Seems unnecessary. I don't know that I can get access to my birth certificate before I leave, anyway.
Any advice please and thank you! |
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Sigma
Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 123
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elena.sprick
Joined: 22 Jul 2009 Posts: 10
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Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks! I'm American, but I would assume it should be about the same... I had tried looking for the info on the Czech Embassy in the US but couldn't really find exactly what I was looking for. I'll just bring everything to be safe.
Thanks again! |
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elena.sprick
Joined: 22 Jul 2009 Posts: 10
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Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 3:16 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Again....
I arrived in Prague on Wednesday and had my first interview today.
In my interview, the visa process came up, and I had no idea how expensive it would be. No one on here has mentioned these kinds of costs on here, so I just wanted to see if it seems right. I realize most people who post on here have been here for a quite a while, but maybe you could check with your school or something?? Some advice would be much appreciated....
The school said that they cost of the visa would be 18,000 cks (not including the trip to Vienna). And if a one year contract is fulfilled the school will reimburse 10,000 of the cost. They said you first have to get a short term visa that will cover you while you apply for the long term visa.
Does all of this seem right? Will it really cost me that much?? |
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