Job Discussion Forums

Kaliax · Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 3:06 pm Post subject:

Okay, wait... this totally sucks if I understand it correctly.

I'm going to Germany to get my TEFL cert. While in Germany, I figure I'll find a job in Istanbul or Izmir. But in order to get a work certificate, I would have to show up *in person* at the Turkish Embassy in D.C., file the paperwork, wait a month, and show up again *in person* to get it?

There's gotta be a way I can do this without flying back to the States to get my work visa.

Blair

Anitata · Joined: 30 Apr 2003 Posts: 42 Location: Sydney

Yes, that is the only way to do it. I was working in Shangahi last Summer when I accepted my job here in Istanbul. I had to fly back to my country twice before I got all my papers ready...because the school who hires you needs to get a document from Ankara then your Turkish Embassy can issue you a one month single entry visa (working visa) to Turkey. Then your school needs to carry on all the paper application in order to get you a blue book and work permit at school...lots of work and it took me 5 months to get my blue book. I still count myself lucky I know a British girl has been working in her school for 8 months and the school is still unable to fix her permit.............................. Rolling Eyes

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

"There's gotta be a way I can do this without flying back to the States to get my work visa. "

Why has there got to be a way that you can do what you want ?

Schwarzenegger wants to be President of the USA. But he can't because he is not a real American. I want to marry Madonna but I can't.

You do not make the rules kiddo ! Why not go and do your Cert in Turkey ? Even then you will still have to go back to God's Own Country !

Kaliax · Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 7:12 pm Post subject:

Yes indeed, that does sound problematic. Assuming that I'm planning to go straight from Germany to Turkey, with no pond-hopping trips to Washington D.C. along the way, is there any way for me to get a work permit?

What would happen if I just managed to cross the Turkish border every three months or so, and got a new tourist visa every time I re-entered the country? I know a lot of people do that in other countries... but how strictly enforced is the work permit requirement in Turkey? Is that a feasible option at all?

Gotta love bureaucracy.

Blair

FGT · Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 762 Location: Turkey

A familiar phrase to those of us already living and working here is "Burasi Turkiye" = "This is Turkey".

The Turkish bureaucratic system is a nightmare. You could even call it Byzantine. In every sphere, at every stage, you have to jump through hoops. As far as their dealings with foreigners are concerned, it's largely tit for tat; the more difficult it becomes for a Turk to live and work abroad, the more hoops we have to jump through here. Turkey didn't charge for tourist visas until the UK and other countries extracted payments/made it difficult for Turks to visit them.

There are always ways around it. One of the options is to work on a tourist visa and go in and out of the country every three months. From what I gather this can go on almost indefinitely.

You do not have to come to Turkey prior to getting a work permit. The school that wants to hire you can begin the process while you are in your country of origin (or elsewhere). You just have to go to the consulate/embassy of your country of origin and pick it up. Then you can (legally) come to Turkey to work.