Job Discussion Forums

billy orr · Joined: 15 Jul 2009 Posts: 229

There are reports coming through on different forums that new visa stamps are being introduced that give 90 days in Turkey every 180 days, thus ending the visa run.

http://www.voicesnewspaper.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4201

atoklas · Joined: 13 Aug 2009 Posts: 24

Thanks for posting this Billy. If it is indeed true, it's simply a case where the government realized charging $600+ for a yearly residence visa is more lucrative than charging $20 for a tourist visa four times/year (hence, $80).

Although, IMO, by the time you pay for the bus ticket, food, and take time off work, it amounts to about $150, so it's worth the money and time to get a residence visa. And if you can't afford a $600 residence visa, and you're from the Nethlerands, Norway, the UK, etc., perhaps you have no business living in Turkey--an expensive country.

Also, and perhaps I'm being an idealist here, maybe this will force more employers to get work visas? *sigh* Probably not...

himynameise · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 29 Location: New York

It's true. I went on a visa run to Bulgaria this weekend and got a new visa which states that I can stay in Turkey for 90 days out of the next 180. My new job is getting me a residence permit within the next month, though. I don't teach English, but I have to wonder how long it will take all the language schools to adjust to the change.

Otterman Ollie · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 4:43 pm Post subject:

Er, no mate don't count on it! After three months you are history! Find an employer who WİLL do all the paperwork, not just tell you they have and you get a nasty surprise. Seems someone who can do something about it has found a way to curb all these illegal workers from hopping and skipping out the country. About bloody time!

himynameise · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 29 Location: New York

^ I work at a company where just about everyone has residence permits. As I said, it is not a language school. We have a date at the permit office.

Otterman Ollie · Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 11:04 am Post subject:

Good for you hynm, so you DON'T work for any teaching establishment, thats a bonus as well, so what do you do?
Most people who work in language schools are in fact working illegally, my theory is that their days of doing a trip to the nearest Greek island are at an end, others who just live over here and don't work are going to get caught in the scrum. I predict a lot of xpat property owners selling up!

billy orr · Joined: 15 Jul 2009 Posts: 229

It will be interesting to see what employers do about the new situation. Doubtless some will just carry on as before and find themselves bereft of teachers in the new year. Another issue that may arise is the speed of processing work applications by the Labour Ministry, that was a serious issue seven years ago and got sorted out, but a big increase in the number of applications for work permits will put pressure on the system.

atoklas · Joined: 13 Aug 2009 Posts: 24

got sorted out?! i would say they're still pretty slow... depending on where you've been hired, it seems to take between 4 - 16 months...

billy orr · Joined: 15 Jul 2009 Posts: 229

I heard about it from a language school owner, the min of ed were threatening to close his school because teachers didn't have work permits, the solution they found was to actually go to Ankara, go to the office of the person responsible, find the applications in the enormous pile and move them to the top.

AGoodStory · Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 738

billy orr · Joined: 15 Jul 2009 Posts: 229

The latest news is the proposed changes have been postponed. http://ukinturkey.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=22566961
This infor is for Brits, presumably applies to others.

Englishforall · Joined: 12 May 2010 Posts: 20 Location: ITALY

Hey guys...been here for 6 mothns in a row nowam gonna have to do another visa run for the rest of my stay here(some 2 more moths)..Guys Im so worried..whats gonna happen to me if Il do the visa run ,considering the new regulations!?However,I heard from some friends that the new law wone be regulated until the end of summer..
Anybody has any idea about the second visa run Im gonna do next week?
Sad I am!

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Risky, risky.
Do let us know how it works out!

Englishforall · Joined: 12 May 2010 Posts: 20 Location: ITALY

What do u mean?
Anybody else like me recently? guys let me know if u got the same story or heard of a friend doing the same thing...

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Risky because, technically speaking, you should now stay out of Turkey for at least 90 days (if you are only allowed 90 out of 180).

This is the same law that has been applied all over the Schengen zone (google for a list of member countries) since January 2009. I don't know about penalties in Turkey, but what can happen in the S. zone is a stamp in your passport barring you from the entire zone for as long as 10 years. Most actual penalties have been lighter, but some people have been 'deported' with up to a 1-year ban that I know of.

It seems that Turkey is again working to implement similar laws to the EU member states, probably as further support to their membership bid.

Anyway, good luck with the border run. Perhaps try bakshis??