Job Discussion Forums

Saneya · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:03 pm Post subject: visa advice

My boyfriend and I will soon be moving to Prague. I have a job already, he is planning to take a tefl corse and then teach English. He just told his boss he is leaving and his boss told him he could keep working for them, and email the work back (engineering work). He likes this idea because he'd make much more money than an ESL teacher. We just aren't sure how he would be there legally. Since he'd be working for a US employer, I imagine a czech work visa wouldn't be an option. We are wondering if a long stay visa would work, and how to get one. I thought maybe he could legally work for an English school and just teach a few hours a week so he can have a visa, but I doubt schools would hire teachers that want less than 10 hours a week.
Does anyone have any ideas or information for this situation?

john_n_carolina · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 700 Location: n. carolina

..get a lawyer?

parrothead · Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 342 Location: Japan

Saneya,
I seriously doubt any employer in the CR would go through the time and money to secure a work visa for an employee only working 10 hours a week. It's not practical or cost effective for many employers (if you are a North American non-EU passport holder).

Has your employer started your visa process yet? Without it, you will be arriving as a tourist and are not legal to work either. I'm sure you are aware already how difficult it can be for U.S. citizens to find legal employment in the CR thesedays. I only bring this up because there have been quite a few posts on forums like these recently of Americans hired from abroad, whose employer didn't go through the significant effort of making the teacher legal.

john_n_carolina · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 700 Location: n. carolina

...maybe he can volunteer? should be some kind of volunteer program in CZ...maybe check www.idealist.org

Chris Westergaard · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 215 Location: Prague

Just get a zivno

Saneya · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:14 pm Post subject:

whats a zivno?

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Zivnotensky list is a self-employment status document. I am not sure whether you can get one without a working visa of some sort already, though.

You'd need some local assistance (probably a lawyer) to advise and assist you on this.

I think the TEFL route is easier, if he can possibly juggle two jobs. Get a visa through a school, and continue working for the US company. Meanwhile, find out the legal options for working without a school sponsor.

ITTP · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 343 Location: Prague/Worldwide

Saneya · Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 1:13 am Post subject:

We are planning on staying longer than a year. At least 2 years, but probably more unless we really don't like Prague. Do you think its worth it in that case?

parrothead · Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 342 Location: Japan

carlinmarie · Joined: 23 Jul 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Texas

I'm leaving for Prague soon so I've been doing some research of my own. For longer than 90 days, you must apply for at least a Long-stay visa:

http://www.mzv.cz/servis/soubor.asp?id=30128

But the application is quite detailed and they require anywhere from a week to 120 days to process your application.

Instructions:

http://www.mzv.cz/wwwo/default.asp?ido=21573&idj=2&amb=87&ParentIDO=10650

My concerns:
I haven't left the US yet, but I got my job so recently that I did not have time to apply in advance of my departure, as the US Embassy suggests to do. Does anyone know if and how this can affect the legality of my status in the CR? I am afraid of being asked to leave the country if I am still in the country after 90 days (as it might take up to 120); but if they have obtained my passport to process the application, how will I be able to travel to and from the country??

Chris Westergaard · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 215 Location: Prague

80 percent if not more of the the thousands of English teachers in the city are American. All of them process their visa about a month after they take a TEFL course if not later than that. I have yet to hear of hordes of Americans being asked to leave the city yet. As long as you apply for your visa when you get here you will be fine. Anyway, to apply for a visa you need a signed letter/contract from your landlord. Do you have this?

carlinmarie · Joined: 23 Jul 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Texas

Actually my situation is a little different; I will be living with a family who have signed and notarized a statement promising to provide my housing and accommodations. But that is allowed as a replacement to a lease or landlord statement, according to the visa instructions.

An embassy worker just replied to me and said you cannot directly apply for extended stay at the Czech embassy in Prague; you must apply according to your jurisdiction (http://www.mzv.cz/wwwo/default.asp?ParentIDO=10650&ido=15836&amb=87&idj=2) and mine is with Washington DC.

I guess this means I'll have to mail my application packet to DC once I've already arrived in the CR. I'm just worried about not having my passport on me during my wait time!

Any advice?

ITTP · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 343 Location: Prague/Worldwide

Hi carlinmarie!

It's true that you can't apply for the extended visa in Prague.
However, you CAN apply for your visa in a neighboring country and this can still be done through the embassies of Bratislava/ Dresden/ Vienna.

The information which you received through the Czech embassy in Washington is the official line but this is clearly not the reality when you take a look on the expats.cz visa forum for example and clearly see that there is no need to apply for your visa from your home country.

The lines and waiting times are longer BUT it is doable and is being done by non-EU citizens as per usual.

Neville Smile