Job Discussion Forums

[chiichan]

Hello! I have a few questions regarding work permits.

I am currently looking for a university teaching position in Istanbul. I am a US citizen. I contacted Bogazici University to see if there were any openings for a teaching position next year (2011). They wrote back asking if I had a work permit. When I said I didn't, they said that they aren't hiring "native speakers without work permits."

So my question is, do other universities operate like this (i.e., they won't sponsor foreigners the proper visas/permits)? Or does it depend on the universities? Furthermore, I was under the impression that university teachers were exempt from the work permit requirement (please correct me if I am wrong). But you need a letter from YOK, right? (but do universities usually take care of that for you?)

Thanks for reading!

[coffeespoonman]

Hi Chiichan,

First of all, you probably don't want to work for Bogazici anyways. I'm sure they're a fine institution, but you just won't really make enough to live working there, at least not without other jobs on the side.

Second, no, other universities don't work like this. Most will sponsor you, especially if you target the private universities who have money to throw around.

And yeah, you misunderstand a little bit. University teachers don't technically need to enter the country on a work visa, but they still need a work permit, which is essentially just a stamp in your residence permit. However, this is a moot point as no one really knows the law here anyways, and whatever university ends up hiring you will probably tell you to go back to the US to get your work visa (which is, as we discussed above, totally unnecessary). If you get to that point with a good uni, consult us here on Dave's (or previous posts), for help through that confusing process...

Good luck!

[chiichan]

Thank you, Coffeespoonman!