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mpluby
Just Starting
Joined: 23 Jun 2009
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 10:33 pm Post subject: Multiple entry business visa question |
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My name is Matt, I'm an American citizen. I've been to Russia twice before on three-month student visas, but I want to go back and work now; I don't have a job lined up yet, though. I am targeting a twelve-month multiple entry business visa since I imagine I will visit Europe a handful of times, but I have some questions.
1. Can someone explain the situation with having to leave the country every 90 days? I don't understand why it's necessary to leave and return if you have a one-year visa.
1a. If you do indeed have to leave and return, is it a get-a-stamp and return sort of thing, or do you have to actually spend a certain amount of time abroad or complete some sort of process there?
2. Do business visa holders have full access to the non-state labor market?
3. How difficult would registration be? I plan on renting an apartment and though the information on this site says landlords should be willing to register you, I've heard different stories from some of my friends and I don't know because I've always registered through a university in the past.
Thanks!
Matt |
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romdur
Just Starting
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 0
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| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 8:48 am Post subject: |
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[1] The Purpose of Business Visas
The intent of business visas is to enable foreigners to make business travel (meetings, sales trips, conferences etc.), for the benefit of the firm that sponsors the business invitation required to obtain the visa.
Business visas are NOT intended to enable foreigners to live or stay full-time in Russia.
Business visas are NOT work permits, and are not intended to enable foreigners to hold a job in Russia. Travelling in Russia on your sponsoring company's business is not the same as having a long-term job in Russia.
[2] The 90 Day Limit
Because people were (mis)using business visas to live in Russia full-time, the rules were changed for 6-month and 12-month visas, to limit time in Russia to a maximum of 90 out of any consecutive 180 days. There is no special process or paperwork, it is simply a matter of counting days. For example, one could use a 12-month business visa to stay in Russia every 2nd month for one year, a total of 6 months. Or 3 months in, 3 months away. Or any other combination, as long as there is no stretch of 180 days in a row during which the visa holder spends more than 90 days in Russia.
I recommend following the rules. Travelers have reported observing that passport control officers will carefully count the days. If someone arrives at the international airport having used up his 90 days before the 180 days run out, he will be turned away and required to fly home immediately. If someone leaves having exceeded 90 days within any stretch of 180 days, he will have an unhappy experience, probably including delays, heavy fines, and finding it difficult or impossible to enter Russia again.
[3] Working in Russia
The waytorussia page on visa types gives a good overview of work visas. A work visa STARTS with finding a Russian business that wants to hire you. The process takes a long time, and possibilities are limited. Except in a few cases where there are severe worker shortages, most countries limit employment of foreign workers, so their own citizens will have a better opportunity to find a job.
In the present bad economy, the pressure to reduce numbers of foreign workers is very strong: for example, see http://www.mnweekly.ru/news/20090416/55374272.html. This is true in many countries, not special to Russia.
So obtaining a work visa now would probably need a lot of luck.
[4] The 3-Month Trick
The 90-of-180 day rule applies only WITHIN the term of a visa. For example, suppose I had a 6-month visa, and stayed in Russia only during the last 90 days of the visa term. I could then return home, get another business visa, go back to Russia, and spend another 90 days straight. This would be a lot more than 90 out of 180, but not within the term of one visa.
So theoretically, a person could get a 90-day business visa, stay the full 90 days, leave Russia and get another 90-day visa, and repeat indefinitely. In this way, a person could stay almost continuously. I have yet to read a report from someone who has actually done so.
To get each new visa, it is necessary to leave Russia: ordinary visas cannot be applied for from within Russia. I have read stories (though I have not yet seen specific confirmation) that an American can get a visa without going back to America, from certain consulates in Europe. The wording of a visa website in the U.K., for example, implies that this is possible. However, the process reportedly is not fast. So an American wishing to use back-to-back 90-day visas could spend a week back in America, or perhaps 3 weeks in a European country getting each new visa.
So this is a formula for staying most of the time in Russia. But it does not confer permission to work, and getting a job there without a work permit is illegal. |
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mpluby
Just Starting
Joined: 23 Jun 2009
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 10:20 am Post subject: |
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Great post, Romdur...amazingly informative.
Now that it's clear that a work permit is what I'm looking for, how does it work with industries like ESL teaching? I know that a lot of schools in a lot of country have no interest in hiring people based in distant locations since there's good reason to think they might not show, whereas people who show up at the school itself tend to have better luck.
So hypothetically, could I come to Russia on a multiple entry business visa with a number of interviews at ESL schools already arranged and then get one of those schools to tack a work permit onto my visa? Does the work permit actually have to be issued before stepping foot in the country?
Also, my longterm goal is not ESL, ESL would just be a convenient way to get my feet on the ground and make some contacts before getting into business. If I went from a school sponsoring my work permit to getting a real job at a firm, would there be further visa complications? |
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romdur
Just Starting
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 0
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| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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It isn't just "tacking on"... you would need both a work permit AND a work visa. I was trying to explain, your chances of being able to work legally in Russia are slim. To the best of my understanding (I've never tried to get a job there), this is what would need to happen:
A) You would make contact with a Russian firm that is interested in hiring you.
B) That firm would have to make the decision that they are willing to deal with the hassle, expense, and delay of helping you to get a work visa. They would then need to apply to the government for a work permit.
C) If they can get a work permit for you, and you were already in Russia on a business visa, you would need to leave the country and apply for a work visa.
D) The overall process is reportedly slow, and might take from one to three months. According to some news reports, the government has been "sitting" on these applications (taking no action) pending policy guidance from on high.
E) Such applications will need to pass some government tests, for example, has the Russian firm proved that they cannot hire a Russian citizen to do this job? and, has this year's quota for foreign workers been exceeded yet? The odds are, the application will be denied.
F) If you are lucky, you would get your work visa, and be able to reenter the country to start your job.
In a time of worldwide recession, getting permission to work in a foreign country is going to be very difficult. If you really want to stay legally in Russia, your best chance (quite seriously) is to marry a Russian citizen. Then you can stay full-time, and legally work without a permit. |
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Listvianka
Frequent Guest
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Posts: 51
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| Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:54 pm Post subject: |
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The easiest way is actually to get a residential visa, like I did. But to get one is illeagal so you will have to either know who to bribe or be slick. 
Also, my advise is don't enter this country for annother pretext then to visit unless you think you understand its culture. |
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