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mizzoumike76

Buenos Dias,

My name is Michael and this is my first post here on this forum. I am from the USA but currently living and teaching in Albania (where?) and enjoying it very much.

Just for fun, I had sent in my CV in response to a job offer on several websites from a school called CP Language Institute. I have since heard in only one place that this is a scam, as they ask for money for the visa application.

Since I have yet to see decent proof they are a scam, I am curious if anyone in Madrid has heard of this school? They're part of Schiller University, from what I understand.

They money was good (really good), but as for visas for non-EUs I hear this is difficult to obtain. To the point that a Bulgarian school said I would need to leave and come back every so often (which was fine for me but probably not legal).

If anyone knows about this school, please let me know. I would hate to fall for a scam, but I would hate even more to pass up on a great deal beause one person, one time, says it is a scam!

Thanks,

Michael

p.s. if you ARE that one person, please give us more info on why this is thought to be a scam. Thanks!

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

Prior to Jan 1, 2008, a non-EU citizen could 1) stay in a given EU member country for 90 days 2) then travel across a border, and get a stamp and 3) re-enter original EU member country immediately for 90 more days.

There is a significant change in the law beginning Jan 1 this year. Now, the non-EU citizen can stay for 90 days in the Schengen Zone (google for a list of countries), then has to LEAVE FOR 90 DAYS before re-entering.

This makes the old border-stamp-visa-renewal approach invalid.

No, I don't know the 'school' in question. But the fact that they ask for money to process a visa makes them look VERY dodgy.

It is 99% impossible for non-EU citizens to get work permits for Spain. Highly unlikely that this school can actually do so.

jonniboy · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 11:01 pm Post subject:

The fact that they're asking you for money for "visa processing" shows that it's a scam. Why would they go to all that expense and hassle for someone abroad who may well not show up when they can take their pick from any number of native speakers already there on the ground?

jonniboy · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 11:15 pm Post subject:

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

Ah, my regional limitations caught me! Jan 1 of this year is when the 90/180 rule was expanded to the new Schengen states.

In any case, the overall point is to dispell the myth that a border run still works.

Out of curiosity, do you think there has been a significant increase in people who've really been penalized?

I've been questioned much more often and seriously this year than ever in the past, travelling around Europe on my US passport (I withhold the permanent residency and work permit documents until asked). I've encountered active border guards not only at airports, but train stations and even on a bus this year!

jonniboy · Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 6:24 am Post subject:

gracias · Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 27

^^

Madrid papers this week reported 16 American teachers kicked out of Spain with 10 year no-entry stamps for working illegally in the month of November alone.

Since the Atocha bombings, and latterly Zapatero, Americans are no longer welcome in Spain. Just look at Madrileno faces when they hear American English spoken on the metro. It's not simple resentment, its pure hatred.

Be warned.

mizzoumike76 · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 6:53 am Post subject: sad.

I didn't know America bombed Spain to cause such hatred.

Come to Albania, when they hear (or mostly just recognize you as being) Americans, they smile and ask you all sorts of questions. Very friendly people, and they are so polite and always try to speak a little English to you. I have read that Albanians treat foreigners here as honored guests in their own home, and it really is true. It's nice to be welcome somewhere!

I used to work with a number of Iraqi and Afghan people who immigrated to the US after the wars began in '01 and '03, and we had many long talks about the opinion of Americans, and for the most part they said Iraqis and Afghans loved us. They wanted their countries back, but glad we came.

Why is the resentment so high in Madrid against Americans? Do they think we had something to do with the bombings, or are we just the catch-all scapegoat for what's wrong with the world?