Job Discussion Forums

Demonicat · Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 65 Location: Near Shida, Taipei

hey, whats up Turks?
I'm currently in Korea and considering moving over to Turkey next winter. Here's the thing, I am certified and experienced, but I am American and therefore not EU. Is this a problem in Turkey? Further, whats it like working in Turkey? Any advice or recomendations?

Demonicat · Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 65 Location: Near Shida, Taipei

I wasn;t worried about anyh culture problems or the like, but rather that EU passports are quickly being required for ESL jobs (and others I presume) in most of Europe. Example the Czech republic and Poland are now enterdit for Americans.
I'm looking for a job in the ESL field. I am qualified for young learners and business learners.

crashartist1 · Joined: 06 Jun 2004 Posts: 164

99.9% of all teachers in Turkey are illegal, no worries. All you need to do is walk through a door.

preston · Joined: 08 Dec 2004 Posts: 107

Turkey's not in the EU so it doesn't really help you having an EU passport- you still have to go through the same hassle as everyone else

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

So if..... I mean when Turkey joins the EU in 10-15 years what will happen to all our North American friends and colleagues? Will they have to leave, work illegally, marry a local or.... well what?

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

Yes, I wonder too what will happen when Turkey joins the EU. In the US there is a "grandfathering" clause in some situations like this, so perhaps that would happen. Any other ideas?

Also, I think there are more legal teachers than you guys give credit to. The private univs are usually able to get work permits for people and some teachers are legal from being married to Turks. Some other schools manage to get work permits, but it is really hard, I think. However, it is probably easier than trying to get one for the US or Canada, from what I understand.

justme · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 1944 Location: Istanbul

Waaaaaaaaayyy easier. When I got married, all I had to do was go to the emniyet and sign up. For my husband, we've been working for 2 months just to get the stuff together to get his US visa...

Pine · Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 10

Justme -
Two months... Better brace yourself. We started the process for my husband's green card in early 1999. He finally got it at the very end of 2004 and there wasn't really anything unusual about our case. Every step was a nightmare. It was like having a second job. I truly believe it's an endurance contest. My favorite response from an INS official when I asked why my husband needed to be fingerprinted for the 5th time - "Fingerprints expire after a year." Good luck. I hope you have an easier time than we did.

junkmail · Joined: 19 Dec 2004 Posts: 377

Stumptown · Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Posts: 28

Demonicat, lets you and I make a trip together. You can help me whip my fat a$$ into shape if we get a job in the same place. I'm getting sick of this place (Korea).