Job Discussion Forums

[manxmanuae]

Hi

I am currently working for a UK company in Russia on a double-entry 90 day business visa.

There is a possibility that I might be offered a new contract this summer, but I have been informed by a visa agency in the UK that I have to wait another 90 days after the expiry until I can get another business visa.

Does anyone know if there is a way round this rule? Is it really '90 days in, then 90 days out'?

Also, would this rule also prevent me from getting a tourist visa during these 90 days?

Thanks from sunny Saratov!

[maruss]

These are causing a headache to many people and were ostensibly designed to bring Russia in line with Schengen practices but the real purpose is to stop people from going to Russia and then working without paying taxes etc!The only way round it is to get a residency permit-virtually impossible unless you have been there for years and are married to a Russian national,or get your company to obtain a work permit for the job you are doing if they are Russian.The problem for them is that the proceedure is very bureaucratic and will take time-it will also mean them having to declare you to the tax authorities which they may not want to do for fear of having to pay a fine for employing you before illegally!If you are a teacher,many of us used to work freelance there on business visas and stay up to six months before going out and back for 24 hours to renew the stamp on our passports but this has now been stopped by these new rules.It was very lucrative and convenient,both for us and the employers of course but all good things come to an end!
Nowadays there are some firms which do provide teachers with work-permits,particularly in Moscow but they can then do what they want with you because the permit is valid only for the firm which obtains it for you!
If you are down in Saratov, there was an agency in Oxford recruiting for some quite well-paid jobs teaching at a cement firm there last year.But I doubt if there any others in your area.
Hope this info. is of use.

[neil1979]

Hi Maruss,
I was in St Petersburg for a couple of years and coincidentally left just before the new visa rules came in. Can you tell me what's happening in most schools now? Have a lot of teachers left or are the schools generally organising visas for them? And are the teachers' wages much lower as a result?
In the two schools where I used to work about 50% of the teachers were native speakers. I imagine it would have a catastrophic effect on business if many of these teachers left, as many students, especially business students, wanted ONLY a native speaker.

[maruss]

What we call the 'Macdonalds' schools such as BKC,LL and EF because of their low wages,bad conditions and high staff turnover etc. do provide work permits for their teachers as this avoids them having to leave the country every 90 days and then not return until another 90 days have passed.But there are still some others that will do this as well that still employ people on freelance hourly rates,especially in Moscow,because as you have said,there are 'blue chip' clients who want only native speakers and they would lose them otherwise.So far,the effect has been to put cowboy firms out of business that were operating without paying tax etc. but it has also made it much more difficult for people like ourselves who used to get 6 or 12 month multiple entry business visas and then work freelance,often making quite good money during that time and only having to do the 'visa hop' to Kiev etc. every six months!If you can find a firm who will get you a work permit and let you work on an hourly basis,the problem is solved but unless they already know you it is obviously not so simple.Although the Russians allege they changed the visa rules to resemble those of Schengen countries etc,everyone knows its because both employers and people like us were effectively working illegally and without paying tax etc!Applying for a work-permit means that both you and them will now have to pay and there are firms that won't risk it because they know how corrupt the authorities are and may demand heavy 'commissions' from them in order to give authorisation!

[BELS]

Unfortunatel, I would only recommend the McD schools as safe venture for Newbies coming to Russia. The rest would be too risky, and with the others you can't feel confident that you are legally being employed or if they are going to pay you at all.

Sorry new visiters, Language Link or BKC are your only option if it's your first time here. Language ink is the most flexible, as BKC will only accept you with a Celta or a Trinity. Of course you can take their months CELTA course for �900.

[BELS]

What's your nationality, and which Russian Embassy are you planning to apply to. Such information helps o advise. You might get away with a single entry visa and a schools invitation. It has been discussed and done on the expats forum.

[maruss]

You might get round it that way-it's worth a try.There area few other firms which you can see advertising on the vacancies page of expat.ru who will provide work permits but you still have to pay your own ticket and accom.I warn anyone going to Moscow to be very sure they have accomodation ready on arrival which is acceptable and affordable as this is a major headache for both foreigners and Russians alike nowadays!The last thing to do is to risk booking a cheap hotel for a few nights and then hope you will find an appartment via an agency etc. because you won't,unless your pockets are full of course!But I wouldn't go and work for the'mac' firms either......maybe Russia has become 'no place for first timers' in rhyme with the film'no place for old men!!'