Job Discussion Forums

izzyismydog · Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 3:48 am Post subject: Is everyone illegal?

Okay,

I am pretty sure that many of you are, so I'm thinking that's how it's got to be for us when we head over.
Can you please tell me, as an illegal worker, do you need a TEFL? We have Uni degrees and EFL experience.
Is it possible to get things like apartments and bank accounts and internet service without having employers sign for them?
Will it be easy to find a well-paying illegal job? (or at least not a poor paying one, ideally in a reputable school)
We would have liked to be legal (and get our TEFLs) but since it appears we will have to go back to Canada for processing that will be impossible- unless of course the school pays for the trip!

any input or suggestions or thoughts on being illegal...

p.s. I am picking through the forum but a lot of info is old now...

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

You can get illegal work with or without a TEFL, but I would reccommend it as you would be able to get more money.

For an apartment the emlak would want a photocopy of your passport.

Bank account- most banks do need your work permit so that they can give you a tax number. However some banks don't but I forget which ones. PM Scot47 as he managed to get an account in Turkey and doesn't live here. Ask him which bank.

Internet. I'm not 100% sure.( my flatmate sorted out cablonet) There is also a dialup service where you buy pre paid cards. I don't thınk you would need a work permit. But I could be wrong on this one

Otterman Ollie · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2004 7:32 am Post subject: Have you thought about this ?

I read your post, as you have all the right bits it doesn't make a lot of sense why you would choose to work here without the permit . You don't have to go back to your country for the work permit process to be started ,just your nearest embassey ,whats the hassle ?
Frankly those wasters who work here on the lamb are not doing any of us any favours,I know for a fact that the authorities are looking very closely at this situation of illegal workers and beginning a clamp down .
İf your intention is to use this country as a stop gap before you do a ghost and move on somewhere else then can I ask you to think twice about that and do it somewhere else ,there are enough so-called "teachers" over here who are just playing at the game ,if a jobs worth doing then do it properly .

calsimsek · Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Posts: 775 Location: Ist Turkey

There are two points here, one why are you illegal, two do you plan to stay here for more than one session.
If you are illegasl because your school can't help you, then we all have lived throgh that and should help, if your illegal because you can't be bothered or you don't have the right paper work then I'm sorry.
Point 2: If your just passing, then as Otterman Ollie said don't bother.
If you plan to give this city a fair go and not just use it, but to both educate and be educated, then you are more than welcome.
The fact is that there is a way around every thing in this city you just have to know the right person.

Baba Alex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2411

The basic fact is there are a large number of ileagal workers over here, in fact there's a very big black market in İstanbul for most thngs anyway. The red tape is exceptionaly complex, mostly because corruption and general dodginess filters all the way up to the government, and half the time you have to give back handers for stuff. If the whole system wasn't so arsed, it would be much easier to live a legit' life, but that goes for most countries anyway. Don't believe people who look down on those without visas, they're only being smug and most probably hypocritical.Most TEFL courses are a bag of arse anyway. Just commit yourself to the students and teaching and you'll be alright.
Just for the record, I am legit'.

Otterman Ollie · Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 2:05 pm Post subject: Just do it properly or stay away

What is the point of doing a job like this if you can't be professional about it ?
There are as you said AB a lot of places who are just there to take money and don't give a damn about any of their responsibilities,why do people bother to work for them ? They are easy enough to rcognise for christs sake ,just look for the word language school or dershane and stay away .
There are enough posters on this forum who give a lot of general info about where not to go so follow what they give out ,its usually based on their experience .

Baba Alex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2411

Yes ofcourse, most of the dershanes and language schools are after money, it's also a problem in most private universities. The problem is that many students choose dershanes because they are the cheaper alternative, low incomes are a major problem in this country. This doesn't mean, however, that those of us who work in such institutions are any less dedicated to the education of our students. Yes the admin in such places can be an arse, but most of the teachers are true dedicated professionals. Which is more than can be said for most of the Taxi drivers in ths city.
Bloody taxi drivers

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

BA, What happened with the taxi driver?

izzyismydog · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:56 am Post subject: we can't be legal because...

As I put in my other post (sorry, this is almost a direct cut and paste):

We are residents of a non-country. There is only a Turkish embassy in Beijing, who would not recognize us as residents of China because we are residents of Taiwan, which doesn't exist! So according to the Turkish- Canada and the Canadian- Turkey embassy if there's no Taiwan embassy (and neither could point us towards one) we must be processed in Canada.

We have looked into the option of going home to process our paperwork (and thus, getting a job sight unseen from outside of Turkey) but we can't afford the trip home for 3 months and then the resulting (expensive) flight to Turkey. I can't make my student loan payments on what I'd be able to make at home, assuming I could even get a job there that fast (and one that I could just ditch after 3 months...)

I would love to be able to come and work legally, but it's rather out of our budget... especially considering how little we would make in Turkey. It's not like I'd be able to pay it off if I put it on a credit card.

We are in this for the long(ish) haul. We will have done over a year in Taiwan and hope to do the same in Turkey, or at least one school-year contract. Possibly more at some point in the future, after I've completed my teaching certification process in Canada.

I am a teacher by profession (well, by education at least), whether or not I hold a TEFL. My partner wants to continue along this career path although it was not his original plan. He would like to get certified at some point and possibly go on further in the TESOL field.