Job Discussion Forums

roaster · Joined: 22 Jan 2006 Posts: 21

Hi,

I'm arriving in Chile in a week with plans to stay for the year and teach English. I plan on finding a job once I arrive...but have a couple of questions!

1. I have a return ticket dated for March next year (I can extend this!)... is it best to tell the customs officials at the airport that I am just coming to travel? (ie to avoid intention of work etc questions!)

2. How easy is it to get a work visa or permit once I have found a job? Do most places help you get a contract or work visa with the job offer? If I get a work visa, does this then cancel out the need to do the Mendoza trip every 3 months? (ie how long is the process of applying for a visa once in the country?)

3. If I don't get offered a work contract and have to work illegally, is there a limit to the number of times I can renew my tourist visa every 3 months? The embassy website seems to suggest that this can only be renewed once, and at a cost of $100?

lots of last minute questions I know, but any suggestions or advice would be very much appreciated!!
Cheers! looking forward to it! can't wait to get there!

ditch6 · Joined: 09 Aug 2006 Posts: 10

hi roaster

sorry i've got no answers to your questions as i'm in a similar situation to you.

i'm arriving on 16th and from the contact i've had with santiago schools they won't guarantee work till they interview you so no hope of a work visa before we get into the country but i'll leaveit to those with experiene of chile to confirm this.

i've got another question for those with experience of chile. is it possible to enter the country without a work visa and only a one-way ticket? i don't know when i'll be returning to uk and i could always say at immigration i'm travelling overland up to north america.

any insider's tips about cheap flights from uk to chile would be most welcome.

hope to meet up with some of you when i get there in a month's time.

ditch6 · Joined: 09 Aug 2006 Posts: 10

to answer roaster's questions and my own, check the immigration thread lower down the list as people have given detailed replies to all our questions and more. thanks people!

i'll start the trudging from school to school when i arrive on 16th and embark on my chile adventure.

off to book one-way ticket now.... Razz

roaster · Joined: 22 Jan 2006 Posts: 21

yup the immigration thread reminded me of a few things! it seems to be alright to just arrive and wing it a bit!

flight wise- Im flying with air france from Edinburgh- booked through statravel and they had the best price for a one year open return leaving in August. you should prob be able to get some reasonable deals in September because I think its the end of the season-
try iberia, or try airmadrid- they do quite a cheap return ticket if u don't mind easy-jetting into madrid, or barcelona etc- why not make a wee holiday of it before u go!

ditch6 · Joined: 09 Aug 2006 Posts: 10

im booked 1-way on iberian �450. Comunicorp said they'd sort out my work visa for me if they give me a contract.

Just as you suggested i'm spending 10 days in barcelona to learn a bit of spanish before i go. hasta luego!

PeroPero · Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Posts: 35 Location: Santiago, Chile

just to remind you that the spanish spoken here in chile is reeeeeeeeeeeeally different from the spanish from spain.
^^
it's funny, though.