Job Discussion Forums

[eclectic]

When an offer is made, or even beforehand, do you just come right out and ask if the job will be legal or not? Or will this jeopardize the chances of an offer? Obviously if tis a legit place, asking that shouldnt jeopardize anything. How soon should one find out if the boss will actually go all the way thru the process of obtaining a legal work status for one? What percentage of offers would you say are going to be "you can work for me but it will be under the table/on a tourist visa"?

Also, can anyone tell me why the topic "Working illegally" was locked? Upon perusal of it yesterday, I found zippo/zilch/zero to be worthy of locked status. I hope it was nothing I typed. Anyone want to help this oblivious poster out please?

[Otterman Ollie]

Hi, That same thought crossed my mind, how a fairly civilised exchanged so quickly got shut down. No such thing as a warning beforehand, just the wrath of the mods who cannot be crossed. It happens a lot, most of the time its accepted, sometimes someone asks a question (like you) expect a pm from the one who must be obeyed! Welcome to Demoracy, Dave's Style!

[eclectic]

when in Rome.........

[eclectic]

anyway.........any answers to the OP query?

[fishmb]

You can ask, but that doesn't mean they'll tell the truth! I had friends who got a year contract with a company (can't remember the name) and whenever my friends asked if they had got their work permits yet the company kept saying, yes we're working on it yes were working on it...

So after 6 months they just stopped asking. Needless to say they did not get a work permit.

[Listener]

FishMB is right, that was the response I inevitably got. Legally you are not supposed to start work until you have the permit in hand, by the way.... Anyone else who tells you differently is either living on another planet or lying through their teeth.

[eclectic]

so after 6 months your friend was simply illegal? i.e. he wasnt even on a tourist visa? and if u find yourself in that situation where theyre still working on it, should you go and cover yourself and keep renewing the tourist visa?

[fishmb]

No, my friends kept renewing their tourist visa the whole time they were there. They never let it expire.

[eclectic]

OR, as you said in another thread, you can get a residence visa and do the border run no more.

[fishmb]

Right, but the residence visa is expensive.

[coffeespoonman]

Please feel to correct me if someone disagrees, but I find that most schools offering full-time jobs these days will at least tell you that they provide residence and work permits (though most will be lying). Part-time jobs will almost never offer them.

Your best bet if you find yourself in a situation like that is to get yourself a residence permit, and if there is any trouble, blame the school for not taking care of the work permit (you could still get fined and deported though). If it's too expensive for you for the time being, buses to Bulgaria or Greece are a less expensive, but certainly not long-term option.

And absolutely you should straight-out, point-blank ask them if they cover the cost and deal with the paperwork for getting a residence permit and work permit. Furthermore, ask them if they will expect you to fly home and get your visa. If so, will they pay for the flight and associated costs. If the answers to the above are all unsatisfactory, well, there are better jobs out there.

[Kirkpatrick]

Yea, thıs ıs why they get so much cash for us to teach.... They telll the Admınıstratıon they are payıng for the workıng vısa... When ın realıty they pocket the dıfference from you salary and lıe to us by sayıng they are workıng on ıt.... I have went to totally prıvate lessons after I fıgured out thıs scam... I make 2 tımes the cash and gladly pay for my vısa runs every 3 months... Don't know how long a guy can do thıs... I fıgure about a year or so...

[eclectic]