Job Discussion Forums

Bobka · Joined: 14 Oct 2015 Posts: 2

I know South Korea is VERY strict with who they let in, but I'm not sure if Russia is as much so.

I have 2 misdemeanors on my record, both business related and neither related to violence.

I've been to Russia before the charges for 3 months without incident. If it matters.

Anyone with experience in this matter?

expatella_girl · Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2015 6:32 am Post subject:

It depends. You haven't given us enough information.

What kind of visa? Short term tourist visa or some kind of residency visa, or student visa, or a residency work permit?

What is your citizenship country of passport? That matters too.

- visa type?
- country of citizenship?

Bobka · Joined: 14 Oct 2015 Posts: 2

US citizen seeking 1 year work permit to teach English.

expatella_girl · Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 7:37 am Post subject:

Ah. That helps.

For starters, the Russian visa forms for US citizens in particular, are especially long and detailed. Moreso than the forms for citizens of other countries. Seriously, you have to list any country you have visited in the last ten years, the address and phone numbers of any and every school you ever attended during your lifetime in America, any military service etc. and lots of other tedious stupidity. (dare I say tit-for-tat international politics is behind this idiocy?) The American visa form is very long and very ridiculous.

Been years since I've seen it, but I do believe it asks about criminal convictions. Typically misdemeanor misbehavior is not usually considered a criminal conviction. And of course, the Russian government has no legitimate access to American law enforcement databases to know whether or not you answered accurately. Wink

To the best of my knowledge at this time, no apostilled local state police or FBI report are currently required in order to qualify for a Russian work permit as a teacher of EFL.

However, I do believe that now officially, a work permit applicants' relevant educational degrees are required to be apostilled.

снеговик · Joined: 01 Apr 2015 Posts: 28

Not in my experience—only a bunch of medical tests need to be apostilled and the passport itself.

General Incompetence · Joined: 20 Jan 2015 Posts: 15

From what I can see online, the question is "Have you ever been arrested or convicted for any offence?" There are enough online background search services that they could find out if someone lied on the application very easily. Would they care if someone got arrested for disorderly conduct 20 years ago? Probably not, but is it worth lying about and never being able to get a visa?

[quote="expatella_girl"]

Been years since I've seen it, but I do believe it asks about criminal convictions. Typically misdemeanor misbehavior is not usually considered a criminal conviction. And of course, the Russian government has no legitimate access to American law enforcement databases to know whether or not you answered accurately. Wink

To the best of my knowledge at this time, no apostilled local state police or FBI report are currently required in order to qualify for a Russian work permit as a teacher of EFL.

However, I do believe that now officially, a work permit applicants' relevant educational degrees [i]are required to be apostilled.[/i][/quote]