| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
klaw02
Joined: 17 May 2013
Posts: 10
Location: France
|
 Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 6:00 pm Post subject: Advice for an Australian teaching in Poland |
 |
|
Hi all,
I am an Australian currently in Wroclaw. I have a Bachelor of Commerce/Arts combined degree and recently completed my CELTA.
I got a job at a language school a few weeks ago and my boss wanted me to start my own company. But today when I went to fill in the paperwork, she told me that she realised that Australians can't do that. And apparently it's basically impossible to get me a work visa. She tried last year with an American person and he got rejected.
She told me that we could try again to apply for the visa, but she's quite pessimistic about the outcome. And she doesn't really know what she has to do.
Do most people who apply for work visas get rejected or was it probably just a once-off?? What can I do to maximise the chances of getting my visa approved? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
ecocks
Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Posts: 899
Location: Gdansk, Poland
|
| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 5:49 am Post subject: |
|
|
Mine (American) was just rejected under slightly different circumstances.
You might want to look into getting a lawyer if being here is important enough to you to justify the expense.
IMO they are trying to protect EU jobs and citizens.
The options for non-EU citizens are not good. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
|
| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 7:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Why are so many keen to try jumping through these hoops to get a poorly-paid job ? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dragonpiwo
Joined: 04 Mar 2013
Posts: 1650
Location: Berlin
|
| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 7:50 am Post subject: yep |
|
|
That's exactly what they are doing. Furthermore, lots of language schools are going belly up, which will make things tougher for all who can work here legally.
Traditionally, there's been little demand for American English. Poles have long gone for the Cambridge Suite KET to FCE and BEC. I've never taught TOEFL in Poland but have done so elsewhere. I don't know if that may be a factor.
With the advent of NATO though I'd have thought that might have changed but then again, I guess pilots etc can go to the States for what they need.
Getting visas is getting harder everywhere now.
American companies in the Gulf are notorious for hiring Americans only. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Master Shake
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 1202
Location: Colorado, USA
|
| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 8:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| scot47 wrote: |
| Why are so many keen to try jumping through these hoops to get a poorly-paid job ? |
Hmm...I'm gonna go out on a limb here - maybe because 1) he wants to travel and experience Eastern Europe 2) he has a Polish wife/girlfriend/relatives 3) Wroclaw is a really cool city 4) living in Wroclaw doesn't suck, unlike living on some compound in the Middle East 5) the job isn't poorly paid since it affords a comfortable standard of living here in Poland 6) he digs the nightlife here 7) he would like to develop as a teacher by teaching some competent, eager students.
Klav02, I have no idea about whether Aussies can start companies in Poland, but I can't imagine the process for getting residency here is that different from US citizens, like myself.
Having said that, I have heard of zero Americans who gave immigration all the required documents getting denied residency. The most important of these documents are 1) contract with a school and statement about how much they pay you a month 2) work permit 3) apartment rental contract 4) proof that your landlord/landlady has registered you at your address (called zalemdowanie) 5) proof that you have money in the bank and pay your bills.
It may be that your school simply doesn't want to invest the time, money and energy in getting you legal to work for them. Maybe they have people with EU passports they would prefer to go with because it's less hassle. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ecocks
Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Posts: 899
Location: Gdansk, Poland
|
| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 8:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
My guess is the school is dropping the ball, assuming no glaring omissions of paperwork have occurred.
Americans working for a legitimate school shouldn't have that much problem but those starting their own operations have an uphill battle to fight.
Of course, it's entirely possible they have some funny rules about Aussies, left-handed Nigerians and green-eyed Peruvians starting businesses. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dragonpiwo
Joined: 04 Mar 2013
Posts: 1650
Location: Berlin
|
| Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2013 5:50 am Post subject: Scott |
|
|
| They come for girls Scott...... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
klaw02
Joined: 17 May 2013
Posts: 10
Location: France
|
| Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2013 9:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thank you all for your replies.
Ecocks: I read in another thread that you got your residency rejected because you tried to create your own business and you had too few students right? I'm not going to create my own business so hopefully I won't be rejected.
Scot47: If I was interested in money I wouldn't be teaching English 
Dragonpiwo: Australian English is more like British English, which I guess makes it even worse for me. Why hire an Australian when you can hire a brit?
Master Shake: You guessed mostly right I went to another school for an interview today just to see what they had to say about my work visa and they pretty much told me that nobody would hire an Australian legally. He said that the work permit would be an issue because no school would know how many hours they need me to teach. Also, I don't have a Polish bank account and I don't pay my bills from my bank account either. I have money in my Australian bank account and I withdraw money with my international credit card to pay for my rent and my bills. Would that be an issue?
My school agreed to go through the paperwork to hire me, but I know that I need to apply for my residency card with at least 45 days left in Poland. I came here on the 1st of September so it's only been 27 days, but my employer still needs to apply for my work permit, and I don't know how long that'd take. Otherwise I could do a border run, but I don't know if that'd be any help as I'd have a departure stamp from Poland showing that I was already in Poland. (I don't have an entry stamp as I came here from France. I had a student visa that was valid until the 1st of September) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ecocks
Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Posts: 899
Location: Gdansk, Poland
|
| Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2013 9:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| klaw02 wrote: |
Thank you all for your replies.
Ecocks: I read in another thread that you got your residency rejected because you tried to create your own business and you had too few students right? I'm not going to create my own business so hopefully I won't be rejected.
|
Yes, but read the update. Americans can do the border run every 90 days and play hop-scotch in lieu of residency. My business is created but they are telling me to try for the residency at a later time. I'm doing okay so far and haven't really done any marketing or aggressive moves.
Working for a school seems to be much more of the sure thing and schools that know what they are doing can get you hired on legally, if they want to do so.
Best of luck! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dragonpiwo
Joined: 04 Mar 2013
Posts: 1650
Location: Berlin
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2013 6:27 am Post subject: chin up |
|
|
| It can be done as there's an Ozzie in Poz who's been here years. He's been lying low since losing the Ashes. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
