Job Discussion Forums

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Hi. I've been in touch with a university in Siberia with a view to studying Russian but also doing some part-time teaching at the university. (Background: I have a CELTA, will have had a year's TEFL experience by the time I go - if I go - and have bachelor and masters degrees but not in English or applied linguistics.) They were interested in my application, thinking that they might take me in on a visa as a teacher; subsequently, they reckoned that they couldn't do it because of my not holding a masters in linguistics (I had been open with them about my qualifications). So I asked again about my original idea, which was coming on a student visa and then working part-time on top. The person I spoke to said that students aren't allowed to work on a student visa. Is that right? Do we have any up to date information on this?

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

Especially as Russia has just tightened up its visa rules,it may well be the case that students are not allowed to do any paid work there.Even freelance teachers like myself and many others who used to work there on 1 year multiple entry business visas,even though this was technically illegal, are now effectively prevented from doing this by a new maximum 90 days in and 90 days out minimum restriction on these kind of visas.The only way to stay for longer is to find an employer who can get you a work permit as a teacher and although there are some who are prepared to go through the bureaucratic 3 month proceedure required for this,they tend to be the ones who pay the lowest salaries on a contract basis,rather than freelance.
I realise this is not much comfort,but Russia thrives on bureaucracy and regulations...

rusmeister · Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 867 Location: Russia

Second what maruss said.

neil1979 · Joined: 15 Nov 2003 Posts: 33

I spent nearly two years in St Petersburg and survived by teaching English. At the schools where I worked 90% of native speakers had the same 1 year multiple entry visas. I left late this summer - fortunate timing it seems with the new visa rules. But for those of still teaching there what exactly is the situation? Have the schools, short term, lost most of their native speaker staff (and presumably the clients too)? Have all the natives speakers left Russia or are they hanging in there trying to get work visas, how complicated is that process?

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Thanks, guys, but I want accurate information about student visas.

Larry Paradine · Joined: 22 Jan 2005 Posts: 64

You are not allowed to work on a student visa full stop! Many do and get away with it, but you risk deportation if caught.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Thanks Larry.

BELS · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 402 Location: Moscow

Still this question about "Do you need a linguistic degree to teach in Russia appears to be nonsense. Surely a maximum of a CELTA or TRINITY will do. In fact if the school requirement is simply any TEFL, what's the problem in getting a work visa?

BELS · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 402 Location: Moscow

You never have been allowed to work on a student's visa, but it didn't stop those doing it.Same as you were never allowed to work as a teacher without a proper invitation and work contract from that particular school. But it didn't stop those getting employed illegally.

The problem now is this 90 day in and 90 day out problem which makes working illegally a big problem. As well as much higher fines for the employed or employer.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

"Same as you were never allowed to work as a teacher with a proper invitation and work contract from that particular school. "
I didn't understand this, BELS. So under what conditions was working legal?

BELS · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 402 Location: Moscow

I'm so sorry, and I have edited my mistake by adding without.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Thanks BELS. I'm unconfused now!

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

O.K. we know the rules have changed but is anyone actually visiting firms or stopping teachers to ask for their work permits when they go to take a class etc. or are the firms just afraid that this might happen?

BELS · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 402 Location: Moscow

The only change of law is the visa restricted to 90 days in and 90 days out. This is an inconvenience enough for these teachers who do not manage to get the proper invitation. For those who get the proper from the right school who has the authority to invite, no problem. Of course the firms must be afraid of viits, especially when the fines have been increased.

But I have noticed that many more schools are now offering this invitation or work visa back-up as they call it.