Job Discussion Forums

[friedmaz]

It looks like I have a job in St. Petersburg (at ALM, if anyone has any opinions on it...) The school is charging me a not-insubstantial amount of money (~$260) for a letter of invitation, including postage. Someone I spoke to says that this isn't uncommon after changes in visa law. The school also justifies it to me by saying that as part of their arrangement, I am obligated to work fewer hours for them than I would be for most schools, giving me more time for more lucrative private lessons. What do you think? Am I getting a fair deal?

[Nexus]

I think it depends what type of invitation it is.

If it's a teacher's visa, then the letter of invitation costs the company about 200 Rubles (no, I didn't miss a zero off. It's two hundred) At least that was the cost in 2007 when I was involved in recruitment.

If the school is paying for a work visa + work permit then costs might be higher.

However, schools now should be able to use teacher's visas as the changes that messed everyone up over the last 12 months have been reversed. It's back to the original, hassle free, teacher's visa.

For that you should only need to present at the consulate:
the invitation letter,
HIV certificate,
possibly a letter of support from the school
passport and spare photo
application form
(at least that's true from my experience)

Are they saying this is for just the invitation letter, and not any associated processing costs/consular fees?

[coledavis]

Schools charging you for coming - no, this is not standard, and the stuff about working off the job is irrelevant. Appalling.

[expat979]

Only if they're reimbursing you later - otherwise it sounds like a sketchy place.