Job Discussion Forums

[mexicanita]

Hey all,
I am currently a senior with a BA in Business Adm/Spanish that will be graduating May of 2005 and I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain and I loved it! I want to go back and teach, but I talked to the a Tefl school and they said that a work permit takes a long time to get, so we basically work without a permit. And the visa situation seems more bizzare, well since we do not have to apply for a visa if we stay there for 3 months, we can go without a visa. BUT, here is the catch, after 3 months we have to travel to a non EU country and then fly back to Madrid, seems a bit costly. Any suggestions on the visa? I am very confused. Also for those who have taken the TEFL course through EBC, would you recommend it? Is it a good program and does it help you find a job soon enough? Any useful information would be great. Thank you!
PS anyone taking the EBC Tefl course in August of 2005?

[Meg4]

I can't help you out with EBC, but as far as the visa/work permit goes as an American you more than likely won't have either one. It is very complicated, and almost impossible, to get a visa and work permit to work in western Europe, so many Americans live and work in Spain without them. This is illegal, but it's possible to do and you shouldn't have any problems.

Also, don't bother flying out of the EU every 3 months--it won't help you at all. Some people think that if they leave for a weekend they can automatically "restart" the 3 months they can be here without a visa. This isn't true--the law says you can be in Spain for 3 months within a 6 month period. Which means that if you stay for 3 months you would then have to leave for another 3 months (to total the 6 month period) before you could come back for a new 3 months legally. However, don't worry too much about overstaying the 3 months. The police here aren't too interested in finding Americans/Canadians/Australians who are teaching English illegaly.

[mexicanita]

Meg4,
Thanks, you are of great help. What if I want to stay for a year, though, should I not get a visa or should I apply to take a class and get a student visa? Let's say I do not get a visa, upon my return to the US and they see that I have been here illegally, what will happen? Again, thanks for the advice, it was great!

[michelle ashley]

Hi there,

I can help you on both counts, Meg was right US, Canadian, Aussie, really they don�t have too many problems with the visa thing. There are many teachers working without visas and they seem to be fine. I�m one of them! EBC, all I can say is I was happy with them, I was in the winter course, Jan/Feb and I still found work soon after the course. So I think you�ll be fine, anyway email me if you want any more information on Spain, Madrid, jobs, info in general.

Michelle

[Meg4]

Mexicanita,

Getting a student visa won't help you if you want to work in Spain. If you have a student visa you will be able to live legally in Spain while you are studying, but this visa does not allow you to work. Also, in order to get a student visa you need to be enrolled as a full time student. So, they won't give you one if you only want to take a Spanish class for a couple hours a week.

Even if you stay in Spain for a year without a visa you shouldn't have problems when you leave. I've been here for 2 years without a visa--last Christmas I went back to the US with no problems. I know many other people who have done the same. The people who work in customs here hardly even look at a US passport. Even though it's illegal there are many people here teaching this way, and the law basically isn't enforced in these cases.

[spiral78]

Not to rain on the parade, but just one little risk that hopefully REMAINS little for you all. If you've read the fine print on your health insurance policy (I'm assuming that you've got some kind of travel insurance to cover any big disasters) you may find that if you're technically in the country illegally, you will not be covered!
So long as nothing big happens to you, no sweat. Emergencies are going to be treated, but there's a chance you could face big bills later.
HOWEVER, I should point out that the same thing could happen to you in the U.S. if you find yourself without health care coverage.
So, have fun and best of luck - and be a little extra careful!!

[michelle ashley]

With regards to the health insurance issue, I�ve got one with a local company called Mapfre Vida which is the insurance company of a bank called Caja Madrid (in Madrid, kinda repetitive!, Madrid, Madrid!!).

It costs roughly 35-40 euros a month. Of course, it�s not cheap by all means but due to my "extended" stay I�ve opted for local insurance because should something happen here the last thing I need is my US insurance company refusing to pay .

michelle