Job Discussion Forums

[hopscotch]

ok

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

[hopscotch]

[veiledsentiments]

I've traveled around Syria alone... no problems... just use normal common sense stuff that you would anywhere. One problem with working in Syria is that the pay is low... and be sure to ask about the work visa. They are darn near impossible to get and that means regular visa runs... which get expensive and old real fast.

VS

[basiltherat]

Having spent 5 years in syria; 2001/2-2007, I concur with what VS says. Socially speaking, I don't think you'll find anything intolerable (bar the traffic, that is) so I'd say ... go for it.

People's hospitality is second to none. I never felt at all threatened or harrassed during the whole time I was there ... and I spent a lot of the time in the Eastern provinces which are a lot more conservative than western regions.

I'd go as far as to say that the central and western parts of Syria, which would include Allepo, are only one small notch more conservative than Lebanon, which is often regarded as one of the most liberal countries in the Middle East/Levant.

Enjoy !

Best
Basil

[veiledsentiments]

Basil... does the visa problem come up with all the employers or are there some that are able to get them? Or are they just too expensive for most employers to provide?

VS

[basiltherat]

VS
My knowledge regarding this is pretty scant.

However, what I do know is that it is (or at least, used to be) extremely bureaucratic and took ages to procure unless you 'had' someone 'inside' the particular department. This I know from speaking to full-time teachers at ALC when I was there working part-time. ALC provided a letter of sorts and all the other nonsense but the individual instructor had to do the leg work. ALC paid the cost of that but I just can't recall the amount. I don't think it was exhorbitant since I can't recall any of the teachers discussing it at length.

The BC pretty much gets things done quickly due to their connection (albeit vague) with the UK government.

Where I used to work, the owner was on back-slapping terms with Bashar Assad. You can imagine how long it took to get my visa nonsense.

In fact, one time I entered without having a visa (due to some office mess-up) and was ushered into a side room in the arrivals at the airport to be given a grilling. Once I mentioned the name of my employer, I was let through almost immediately. Nice treatment if you can get it.

In summary, I'd say it's the old story of 'who you know' in government and how much of a back-hander you are willing to offer.

To the OP, perhaps it might be a wise idea to query - with your potential employer - what visa status you will be on when you arrive and, if it is not temporary resident / work visa (i.e. visit/tourist visa), ask whether or not the appropriate visa will be procured after you arrive. You can then make your decision whether to go or not from there; after you get their reply.

Best
Basil

[hopscotch]

[veiledsentiments]

It would probably be unusual for them to mention it, but you should definitely ask. Presumably they have only sent you an offer letter. You might ask to see the contract. (although I took jobs without seeing contracts, I knew the employers' track records)

Whatever their answer is, get it in writing.

VS

[basiltherat]

Agree. It is unlikely to be mentioned in the contract but i think it is important to at least get a verbal description from your employer of what visa status you will have upon arrival.
Best
Basil

[dorothy1]

I spent over a year teaching at the University level in Syria. In the northern region just outside the city of Homs. I can tell you that securing a working VISA is difficult. You can have all the necessary paperwork, and still wont get them. Its just part of Syrian beurocracy, and in many cases, a well known fact when making your quarterly runs to the border. We would have to make frequent trips to the border every 3-4 months for new visas. To be honest, its really not that big of a deal. We actually would use these trips to go shopping in Beirut.
In regards to other posts, the Syrians are by far the friendliest people I have ever come accross. They would give you the shirt of there backs if you asked. The country iteself is an amazing place to work.

[veiledsentiments]

My friends found that it wasn't such a problem making visa runs for a year... it was the second year that it started to get old.

VS

[eclectic]

a border run can get annoying and also risky after a while.....but I think some people may actually enjoy the quarterly travel to Beirut or even somewhere else.

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Is it easier to get a job in Syria or Jordan?

[veiledsentiments]

Just from reading here and looking at the population, it seems that there will be more jobs in Syria. Syria has more than triple the population of Jordan.

VS