Job Discussion Forums

[melissadawn]

Hello, I posted a few months ago. I'm an English teacher, have been teaching off and on since 1996 (I'm also an editor and copywriter). I've just arrived in Moscow with my husband who is Russian. I'm on a private visa which expires in September. We have a tiny free flat in Moscow. Anyway, I have two interviews tomorrow with schools, one to teach English part-time immediately and short-term at 1000 rub per hour and another to teach writing for the same amount of money, but to start in September. I told the DOS at school number 1 that I'm here on a private visa and she said "We pay in cash, if it isn't a problem for you it isn't a problem for us." So, my question: do teachers tend to arrange their work visas in advance with the big McSchools which pay low wages and then move into this sort of work later when they're more established? I get the feeling that big schools arrange visas and smaller, better paying schools just leave it to the teachers who come on business visas and that sort of thing (and I really don't understand how to get a business visa). I'm eventually applying for TRP and we'll probably have to be apart for a while. Thanks.

[maruss]

If you are already there,why not try the first offer now?Nothing ventured,nothing gained!To get a business visa you need an invitation which you can buy from agencies like Intelservice etc. in Moscow and then this has to be sent-or taken with your application form and passport to the Russian Embassy in your own country.Issuing times vary so it's best to enquire with them yourself but also bear in mind that its normally a maximum of 90 days stay when you get it.
Mac Schools used to arrange not visas but work permits for their teachers,but there has been a lot of confusion about these for some time due to changes in the regulations which are still pending?To get around it some Mac Schools also now prefer to use(and that's the word!!) persons like yourself who are already there on business or other visas and pay hourly.But why go to them when other firms usually pay better?If you do decide to use their route and get a work permit instead from them,bear in mind that they can cause you problems if you decide later to work elsewhere,and probably will!Also have a look at the visa info. on the expat.ru site.
Good luck!
and don't lose that flat!

[gondwana66]

Last time I got a visa the school gave me the invitation I travelled to Latvia, went to the Russian Embassy and had my visa the following day, valid for another year. But yes, there are many changes happening and I don't know what the situation is at present.
1000 Roubles/hour is not really that good. I could earn 1500-2500/hour in the provinces a couple of years ago. If I were you I would take the money and keep looking for private students who will pay a lot more than the school.
Gondwana
http://pangaea901.wordpress.com/

[Sashadroogie]

1000 roubles an hour from a school sight unseen isn't too bad. Most schools only pay from 600. Private students are a different matter, naturally.