Job Discussion Forums

[Nexus]

[BELS]

I don't think Maruss has read the full forum on expat.ru

There are many titles, many threads and some contradiction. The fear is that there are new laws coming through that not only affect those Eu members that refu ssed to sign an agreemnt with Russia. That is Britain, Ireland and Denmark. So these countiries are supposedly not affected by the new laws for the moment. Unfortunately there are contradictions from other threads and posts. Even the Americans are claiming to be affected or will eventually be affected.

Like any forum, We will all argue and sort out the facts from the rumours eventually . The problem is that there are some laws that haven't yet come into force.

But may I say that I don't think this will have any effect in properly employed teachers who have the schools proper invitation.

[zeke0606]

Bels,

You quote maruss and don't think he has read the full forum on expat.ru --- read some of his old and not so old posts and you will find he has no clue which end is up. He hasn't been in Russia in a very long time and thinks Persident Putin has a personal vendetta against him and the FSB is looking for him. If it can be said negatively, he will say it that way!

[coledavis]

I'm a bit confused. At one point, I was told that the new regulations were not going to affect British citizens. Then I got the impression that the 90 day rule was for everybody. Now I just don't know!

[rusmeister]

duplicate post

[rusmeister]

[Nexus]

Regarding the expat sites, I don't think it's a big secret that it's pretty much the same people running redtape.ru as did expat.ru. The sites are, I'm sure, owned by different people.

Coledavis - I also remember a month or two ago the 90 day "in and out" being mentioned in respect to getting visas in EU signatory countries only. Now it does seem that it's being applied to everybody. I think it would be prudent to assume this.

The pressing question now is one of retro-activity. If you had your biz visa issued before October, will the 90 day rule be applied to you as well as people getting new visas. Nobody seems to know for sure and we can probably assume that includes border authorities etc. In that case it may be better to play safe and assume the worst. There's no arguing with them at the border if they say "no".

I have actually seen a biz visa with this 90 day info written on, it's on the bottom segment, titled "Additional Information" below the name of the inviting organisation.

[BELS]

[coledavis]

Thanks Nexus. Yes, I think it safest to assume that the 90 day rule is for everybody. Ok, it's closed off what was anyway a rather dodgy use of the business visa. Those in Russia at the moment need to research soon. For those of us not currently in Russia, the question seems to be, are more employers going to be able to apply for work visas for TEFL teachers or not?
Regards, Cole

[BELS]

[coledavis]

Thanks Bels, that's helpful.

[maruss]

The whole point of myself and other persons like Rusmeister,Bels etc. posting on this site is because we have experience of conditions in Russia and just want to advise potential newbies what they should be aware of before they accept a job and make the decision to go there:We are not malicious,negative or generally vindictive about anything but just believe in being open and honest with the thought in mind that there is nothing worse than setting off in high spirits and with the best intentions to a country which is far from easy to get into or to assimilate with,and then having your expectations dashed very soon after arrival, especially for someone who has never visited the country before and is unfamiliar with the language etc, without overlooking the fact that they may have already spent a considerable sum of money for the necessities of the trip etc.
A glance at the latest recruitment ads on tefl.com for example reveals the usual larger schools with their familiar blurb,plus a couple of others which seem to offer far higher salaries by comparison and might seem far more tempting, especially when they seem to teach mainly corporate lessons and a salary of $2000 per month etc.But careful reading of the other conditions reveals that working hours can be anytime from early morning to late evening and may be at clients offices rather than at the firms premises which often have seemingly convenient locations in the city centre.Those of us in the know realise that this can involve hours of struggling around Moscow in all kinds of weather,using the already chronically overcrowded metro and buses!(I personally declined early morning lessons in the winter of 2005/6 after experiencing horrendous conditions on the metro during which I nearly sustained serious injury on more than one occasion!)Furthermore, there is the problem of the long gap during the day between morning and evening lessons when it is impractical to go home again and rest unless you are lucky enough to be able to live near the city centre,something which is increasingly unlikely with the way in which rents are rising.
Jobs with high salaries do not usually include accomodation and trying to find a room,let alone an appartment in Moscow at an affordable price nowadays is no mean feat, even for Russians,as I'm sure other readers will agree!Unless you have a Russian friend to help you that can really find something-not just say he will after you arrive- or a few thousand dollars to spare up-front to use agent that has overpriced appartments to rent ,speaks English and deals with foreigners you are better off not going there at all!The British director of one quite reputable firm even candidly admitted to me last year that he cannot get staff because of this problem and he has plenty of work which he pays a decent hourly rate for and quite a few classes at his central office which is very convenient.
A glance at the expat.ru site under the accomodation section invariably reveals far more people looking for rooms and appartments than there are advertised and some of them seem prepared to pay quite high prices!
O.K. -you could argue that finding somewhere affordable to live in London and may other cities is no walkover either but in Moscow in just seems that much harder and not just because of the language etc.There are many other pitfalls to beware of such as registration etc. but I think these are a useful insight to start with and hope other people agree with me.

[rusmeister]

One brief comment on the 'chronically overcrowded' Metro (subway system). Overcrowded can truly be an understatement when you find yourself at Biblioteka imeni Lenina, Prospekt Mira, Semyonovskaya or other such places at rush hour (BiL and PM are central hubs, for example) you can find yourself being slowly crushed, squeezed against other people, unable to move arms or legs, at times breathing becomes difficult, and when you see these conditions stretching for a hundred meters or more and realize that being crushed to death is not a far-out possibility.

I try to stay out of Moscow altogether except for maybe weekends.

[BELS]

I think this thread deserves a bump, due to another moscow times thread causing cunfusion and asking questions that this and a few other threads have already answered.

[Confederate]

I'm sure glad I was able to get permanent residence a couple of years ago while the getting was good. I can now come and go inside and outside of Russia as I please, no need for a visa, can work without a work permit, about the only thing I can not do is vote since I'm not a Russian citizen. I came to Moscow 5 years ago and pretty much have not left except to go home to the US for a month or around Europe. Don't ask me how I got permanent residence, but I have it and that sure has taken care of a lot of wrries I see others here having.
JD