Job Discussion Forums

[everleigh]

I am an American intending to travel to Bishkek at the end of the year. I can't find clear info on what i need to do if I intend to look for a teaching job. I have read that an "invitation" is required. Is that something i can obtain from a school once I am there? do I even need to make any kind of arrangement before I arrive?

[Sashadroogie]

Don't have first-hand info about Kyrgyzstan, but I'd guess it is similar to Russia. Letters of invitations have to be issued before you can obtain a visa. You'll need to submit the invitation as part of your work visa application at the embassy. Therefore, you'll need to have lined up a school in advance which can invite you officially. The whole visa process can be quite costly.

Alternatively, you might be able to use an agency and obtain a tourist visa. You could then scout around and see if there were any jobs you wanted. A tourist agency could organise a letter of invitation for you, but again, this will cost. There must be some travel agency in the States which can do this sort of thing for CIS ans ex-CIS countries. I'd check with them for hard information.

Good luck, and be careful!

[Kofola]

It's not the same as Russia. If you are an American citizen you do not need an invitation letter for a tourist visa. You can get one on arrival at Frunz airport. The visa desk is open to time with international flight arrivals.

I believe that if you then found work you would be able to get a work permit in situ.

This latter part needs checking out. I would either contact someone in Bishkek eg a school (possibly the American Uni or the London School?) and specifically ask them whether you can 'convert' a tourist visa. Your local embassy is also an option but they often have their own internal regulations and do things differently than would be the case in country.