Russia ~ Work Permit Warning

I just wanted to enlighten anyone who is considering working in Russia. I have waited four months to date, and I have just learned that I will need to wait another two months before I can receive my work permit (required to get a 1 year Work Visa).

Total wait for a 12 month work permit is minimum 6 months. (As of January 30th, 2009). This is the quickest that the FMS (Federal Migration Service) can process a work permit in Russia.

I thought I would just pass this on.

Barry

Actually, that's good advice for anyone planning to try teaching in any of the former Socialist European countries. Some have been quicker than others to reduce red tape and bureaucratic procedures.

I'm told that both Hungary and Slovakia have gone to great lengths to make it relatively smooth sailing bureaucratically for non EU citizens to take up teaching there.

By way of comparison, the Czech Republic will still mire a non EU citizen, even one from a visa waivered country (e.g. Canada, USA, Australia, Japan....) in red tape and lengthy procedures.

The gears in many of the former European Socialist states still turn quite slowly and often need a lot of documents to "lubricate" them.