Job Discussion Forums

[ESLteacher108]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and looking at jobs in Moscow. All of them seem to provide visa support. My question is, let's say my position is a year-long contract, is it typical to get the year long working visa before I get there, or is how this employer oulined it below standard for most jobs?

"The visa from the Consulate issued for three months only. Upon your arrival in Moscow and after receiving additional paperwork from your employer (DS) it will be extended for the length of the contract. Once we received all your information and a copy of your passport, we will apply for the official Letter of Invitation you need to apply for your visa. The Letter of Invitation is issued from the Passport and Visa Department of the Ministry of Interior Affairs in Moscow. It is normally ready within 10 working days after the application. When the invitation is ready the original letter will be send to you by post."

Thanks everyone

[Grenouille]

This seems to be legitimate. You will be issued with a 3 month working visa (teaching visa - преподаватель) in your home country. Then when you're in Russia the school will take your passport and arrange to have a new visa (the same kind - teaching visa) put in your passport which will be valid until the end of your contract.
As far as I know, you can't get the year long visa before you arrive in Russia, only the 3 month visa.

[sohniye]

Hello ESL teacher,

Yes this sounds almost identical to what I am going through at the moment.

It can be a bit of a wait on that invitation letter and apostilles if they ask you to send those first.

Will you be able to visit your embassy in person or have to use a courier service like myself?

Cheers,

Sohniye

[coledavis]

Yes, I had a visa arranged like that. Quite legit. The internal immigration department, dealt with by the school, were not at all difficult when it came to the extension.