Job Discussion Forums

[ak_tesl]

Forget the European side of things. Except that you may bump into dmb (When is he going to write and publish a Guide to Turkey? What title would he give it?). If you want to experience the real Turkey, head East (past Ankara).

I am getting quite adept at Hand Signaling as a Second Language. On my weekly trips, trekking across mountains or strolling through sand-dunes (I am in the South-East Mediterranean side of Turkey, far from Antalya), I have befriended shepherds, farmers, and fishermen, and have had the privilege of being invited to their homes. I encountered a similar experience in the Andes Mountains, where I became close friends to peasants, slept in their mud/stone homes, and shared family moments in soot-darkened kitchens.

One nice thing of hiking through farm land in Turkey is that you get to go from village to village. They are circular in shape and tend to be on top of a hill or elevation (I guess to avoid floods). They cannot be more different from Czech villages (my previous post). Instead of church towers, one sees single minarets from far-away. Instead of fenced, manicured gardens with plenty of flowers, one experiences dry, dusty pens wıth domestic animals (and a single bright orange tree that provides for a picture-perfect contrast). In fact, I have very seldom seen flowering plants planted in home gardens and balconies. Does it reflect a different view/philosophy to life? or Should one find a simpler explanation?

I am into my third month in Turkey and soon my visitor,s visa will expire. For those new to Turkey, a visitor,s visa is a 10 euro sticker placed on your passport, which you buy as you pass through immigration and it states in *large-bold letters* that employment is prohibited. Yeah, yeah, I am working illegally . The company I am working for started the process of obtaining a work-permit on the first week I arrived. I am told that a one-year residence permit costs about 400 YTL (to be paid by my employer) and it is done by registering with the police. But, as with everything else in Turkey, it takes time and will extend beyond the date of my visa. To this I am told that the application supersedes the visa. Is the information correct? Would it be better to do a border run? (Note: I am thinking of going home during the summer months, and returning after September. Hopefully by then the work permit will have been issued) I welcome advice, comments, and anecdotes.

[jamessmart50]

You should definitely reapply for your holiday visa, whatever your employer tells you. I'm slightly surprised that they're clearly not giving you any advice in this area. Overstaying your visa will result in a hefty fine. From where you are I'd say take the bus to Mersin, then to Tasacun (sp?) and then the boat to Cyprus. Stay the night and come home in the morning. I don't remember the price but it's less than the price if a visa to Syria, Iraq, Iran, or any of those kind of places, and you can have a nice day on a boat at the same time. Take a good book to Tasacun because the ferry terminal is boring logistical bureaucratic nightmare, at least it was for me but that was during the bayram. Buy the ticket over the road from the terminal, no-one'll tell you that. Find a place called the Oretman Hotel, or something like that (teachers hotel!) in Cyprus, bargain as far as you can, thay'll go quite a far distance down, should get in for about 25-30 lira.

As for the work permit, I've been told from less than reputable sources ie a former boss in the same area as you, the authorities are fully aware that the time it takes to get a work permit exeeds the time it takes to outstay your holiday visa - but they choose to turn a blind eye. If your boss is telling you that you're legal then he's telling you porkies, however in practice you should be okay, however don't let him convince you that you're legal because you're not.

How are you finding the Kurdish hospitality?

Best of luck....

James.

[dmb]

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

The millions of Turks who live West of Ankara, probably the majority of the country, might have a few words to say about not being real ... some of those words being none too complimentary ... especially if they are spoken by the type of person who sees arrogance in certain western attitudes ...

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

That's certainly less pretentious .. and such travel certainly would complement one's experience ...

[calsimsek]

Back a few years ago I worked for a valuation company and had to travel right around the country. In the end I went to around 68 of the 81 ils in Turkey.

I did this for over four years and got to know the country really well, it helped me understand the place and people here alot more. The old west east split is so out of date. Parts of the west are far poorer than the parts of the east. Gazianteep, Adana,Urfa and Kaysire are all east of Ankara and all of them have alot to offer and are rather well off.

For a full blast shock try going out to the east of the black sea. Artivn and Rize are great. Also you have to try Tatvan (outside of Van) by the lake.
Fresh fish and raki by the lake.

Enjoy yourself. I tell all my friends that the real Turkey starts after Bolu. In other words outside of Istanbul.

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

More amusingly on the subject of real ...

One newly arrived teacher (let soberrocker guess her origin) asked during her orientation if the apartment she was to be given would have a real toilet ...

The Turkish guy conducting the meeting replied .. "No ! ... they're imaginary" !

[mongrelcat]

[ak_tesl]

Thanks to all the replies .

Definitely, diversity broadens one,s mind.

jamessmart50 is quite right about Cyprus being better than Syria for border crossing. I was informed that Syria has added $50 to its entry fee (now standing at $100).

I just received a one year Residence Permit. One should apply for it two weeks before the three month Entry Visa expires. First I got a tax number �vergi kimlik numarasi karti� (surprisingly, it takes only a few minutes to get). With this card and my passport, I opened a bank account with �enough funds to live for one year� (4,000 YTL was sufficient). With these documents and five passport photos, I applied for a permit. The fee for a one year permit stands at EU500, plus 70YTL. A police officer came to my place of residence and asked all sorts of questions. After five days I got my Residence Permit, which is in the form of a Booklet (they will not stamp your passport).

Be ready to state your parents� names in all documents .

The Residence Permit (as well as the Entry Visa) clearly states that employment is prohibited. The next step is to obtain a Work Permit, which should take about one month (or so I am told).

I should add that the company I (will) work for has paid and helped with all the required paperwork. They even refunded the cost of my flight to Turkey.

Has anyone heard from Molly? I hope things are ok with her.

[yaramaz]

I had no idea you had to get your residence permit before your work permit. This is exactly the opposite of everything I have gone through or heard about. Interesting.

[molly farquharson]

thanks ak-tesl, i am here, buried at work and my laptop at home has crashed.

I think it is standard to get the residence permit first and then the work permit. That is how I did it and how some others I know have done it.

[yaramaz]

It's cool if you can- I had just been told that I had to apply for the work permit outside of Turkey and then apply for the res soon after arrival. Does this mean the turkish system is less scary than it seems?

[dmb]

Yaramaz, I think you had a res permit before and so just had to change your address and place of work. If you are new to Turkey then you need the residence before the work permit...... I think.

[yaramaz]

dmb, I meant when I first arrived, I had to apply for the wotk visa in canada before I left. Then I got my ikamet (which is the res permit) and in it is says I can work. This has been transferred from employer to employer over the years as I have moved. I just didnt realise you could begin on a residence permit and then change in midair, as it were, to a work dealy. It always seemed so hard and convoluted for my friends to get a work visa.

[dmb]

For years I had my ikamet but at at the same time a stamp in my passport which said it was forbidden for me to work No easy answer I guess. I was speaking to someone last week who is working freelance legally. He has to submit tax forms every three months, but he is legallly working as self employed and not paying a fortune in rip off permits. I'm looking into it at the mo.