Visa to work in Belgrade- what's needed?
February 24, 2023 7:22 PM
A young adult I know, has declared they are moving to Belgrade in the summer, planning to stay for a year and work in hospitality or teach English to support themselves. They have some savings to cover the flight and maybe a month or so of living expenses.
Putting aside whether this is a good plan, my question is, is this a viable plan? They have a year of university, speak minimal Serbian, and have a thin resume. They have no experience teaching English, tutoring etc.
My understanding, informed by some quick Googling, is that the would be able to stay for 90 days as a tourist, but wouldn't be able to get a work visa without a job offer. Is under the table work possible? Am I not understanding the options available? What are the consequences of overstaying the visa?
Mythbusters style, is there any way the variables in this plan could shift, enabling them to stay for around a year? Ie. if they enrolled in university there part time could they get a student visa and be permitted to work? Basically I'm curious if there a viable way for them to stay longer than 90 days, which their heart is set on. Thanks in advance.
Putting aside whether this is a good plan, my question is, is this a viable plan? They have a year of university, speak minimal Serbian, and have a thin resume. They have no experience teaching English, tutoring etc.
My understanding, informed by some quick Googling, is that the would be able to stay for 90 days as a tourist, but wouldn't be able to get a work visa without a job offer. Is under the table work possible? Am I not understanding the options available? What are the consequences of overstaying the visa?
Mythbusters style, is there any way the variables in this plan could shift, enabling them to stay for around a year? Ie. if they enrolled in university there part time could they get a student visa and be permitted to work? Basically I'm curious if there a viable way for them to stay longer than 90 days, which their heart is set on. Thanks in advance.
I think to get a student visa, they would need to be able prove that they have enough money to support themselves the whole time they'd be in school (and wouldn't be able to legally work). And they'd need to buy health insurance. This page talks about some of the other ways to stay longer than 90 days.
posted by pinochiette at 7:49 PM on February 24, 2023
posted by pinochiette at 7:49 PM on February 24, 2023
Visa fraud is a quick way to get banned from a country (and, in some cases, banned from their allies as well).
They should check with immigration experts, or just be prepared to pay extra fines, briefly jailed, deported, and banned from reentry for a number of years. Extortion may also be involved so it would be good if they have parents with a few thousand extra dollars just in case.
[source: my friend who made a stupid mistake on his US visa because his culture cares less about such things, and was surprised to find himself immediately deported, banned from reentry for ten years, and his life effectively ruined at staggering expense . Not every country cares as much but they ALL care that much if you (or geopolitical developments) give them a reason to care.]
posted by aramaic at 8:59 PM on February 24, 2023
They should check with immigration experts, or just be prepared to pay extra fines, briefly jailed, deported, and banned from reentry for a number of years. Extortion may also be involved so it would be good if they have parents with a few thousand extra dollars just in case.
[source: my friend who made a stupid mistake on his US visa because his culture cares less about such things, and was surprised to find himself immediately deported, banned from reentry for ten years, and his life effectively ruined at staggering expense . Not every country cares as much but they ALL care that much if you (or geopolitical developments) give them a reason to care.]
posted by aramaic at 8:59 PM on February 24, 2023
Under the table work will almost certainly be possible, the issue will be the tourist visa, which limits them to 90 days in any six month period, so they won't even be able to go to another country to reset the visa. If they are that set on it, I would think the best idea is to just go there (with a return ticket out of Serbia that can ideally be changed) and start asking around for work etc., and hope they can get some form of sponsorship in the 90 days for a temporary residence permit, or find some kind of education program that would qualify.
As much as you will hear people quoting horror stories, people do this all the time - there are currently a whole lot of Russians that have emigrated there for various reasons due to the war that are probably in a similar situation - and if there was a European country where you could probably pull something off like this, Serbia is probably it.
posted by ryanbryan at 11:11 PM on February 24, 2023
As much as you will hear people quoting horror stories, people do this all the time - there are currently a whole lot of Russians that have emigrated there for various reasons due to the war that are probably in a similar situation - and if there was a European country where you could probably pull something off like this, Serbia is probably it.
posted by ryanbryan at 11:11 PM on February 24, 2023
With a one-way ticket, no job or school to return to, and a month's living expenses, there's a good chance they won't clear immigration. Could they lie their way in? Possibly, especially if they're white and can appear reasonably affluent. Should anyone with a shred of common sense want to screw with immigration in an authoritarian country where they don't even speak the language? No. I understand the impulse to adventure, especially at that age, but some common sense has got to operate here.
posted by praemunire at 11:13 PM on February 24, 2023
posted by praemunire at 11:13 PM on February 24, 2023
there are currently a whole lot of Russians that have emigrated there for various reasons due to the war that are probably in a similar situation
Right, if you were fleeing a war, famine, etc., this is the kind of risk you might well find yourself needing to take. To satisfy some youthful wanderlust?
posted by praemunire at 11:17 PM on February 24, 2023
Right, if you were fleeing a war, famine, etc., this is the kind of risk you might well find yourself needing to take. To satisfy some youthful wanderlust?
posted by praemunire at 11:17 PM on February 24, 2023
They might be able to teach English legitimately with visa sponsorship from an employer, depending on the government requirements. They'd have to check the situation in Belgrade - maybe start looking at ESL teaching job boards.
posted by lulu68 at 12:06 AM on February 25, 2023
posted by lulu68 at 12:06 AM on February 25, 2023
Usually there are two ways to do this. Partner with a school who will sponsor a business visa. Or pay a company to sponsor. The sponsor company doesn't necessarily have anything to do with your stay.
posted by fake at 4:55 AM on February 25, 2023
posted by fake at 4:55 AM on February 25, 2023
It probably depends a bit on which county they are in/from.
posted by fabius at 5:59 AM on February 25, 2023
posted by fabius at 5:59 AM on February 25, 2023
Serbia may gain EU membership within the next couple of years. So screwing up their visa status there may well end up affecting young person’s options to travel and work elsewhere in Europe for years to come.
Part of this kind of learning experience is figuring out how to make things happen that are not easy to achieve. Help them do research and figure it out. I suppose technically they are an adult and if they decide to do stupid things like overstay their visa or work when their visa doesn’t allow them then they’ll have to deal with any adverse consequences as well. But they should at least be aware that they may have a lot of problems and a vague idea of how to access help and get back home.
I’d aim to do this along the lines of ‘exciting plan, let’s figure out what it would entail’ and then later ‘let’s think through what could go wrong…..and what you could do if it does’.
posted by koahiatamadl at 6:37 AM on February 25, 2023
Part of this kind of learning experience is figuring out how to make things happen that are not easy to achieve. Help them do research and figure it out. I suppose technically they are an adult and if they decide to do stupid things like overstay their visa or work when their visa doesn’t allow them then they’ll have to deal with any adverse consequences as well. But they should at least be aware that they may have a lot of problems and a vague idea of how to access help and get back home.
I’d aim to do this along the lines of ‘exciting plan, let’s figure out what it would entail’ and then later ‘let’s think through what could go wrong…..and what you could do if it does’.
posted by koahiatamadl at 6:37 AM on February 25, 2023
Impossible to answer this question without a crucial piece of information: what country is his person a citizen of?
posted by caek at 8:10 AM on February 25, 2023
posted by caek at 8:10 AM on February 25, 2023
Short answer- I don't think this is a viable plan. What could be viable would be for them to go on a tourist visa for 90 days, improve their language skills, and make local connections, and try to get a job offer that would enable them to get a work visa in the future or enroll in a school. I mean honestly it's a 90 day tourist visa or nothing at this stage, so they should just plan for that. Backpacker style- live cheaply, make friends, have adventures. Fly home at the end.
posted by emd3737 at 8:11 AM on February 25, 2023
posted by emd3737 at 8:11 AM on February 25, 2023
I'd question why it needs to be Serbia. Are there reasons beyond "youthful wanderlust" like they met someone online or they have gotten themselves into some other shenanigans in Serbia? Serbia just seems .. an interesting geopolitical choice right now.
posted by peacesign at 9:07 AM on February 25, 2023
posted by peacesign at 9:07 AM on February 25, 2023
More than "interesting". I work with a lot of Serbian software contractors as coworkers, and the ones that aren't trying to move themselves to somewhere like London are firmly in the young and "eh, I'm kinda rich, whatever happens I'll be fine" camp.
Also, "teaching English" is probably a tell that this wasn't thought out too well. Most Serbians speak decent English, and practically everybody who came of age after the Soviet Union fell in Belgrade speaks great English.
posted by Back At It Again At Krispy Kreme at 9:38 AM on February 25, 2023
Also, "teaching English" is probably a tell that this wasn't thought out too well. Most Serbians speak decent English, and practically everybody who came of age after the Soviet Union fell in Belgrade speaks great English.
posted by Back At It Again At Krispy Kreme at 9:38 AM on February 25, 2023
if they enrolled in university there part time could they get a student visa and be permitted to work?
I haven't looked into the specifics of Serbia but often the answer to this question is yes.
Is under the table work possible?
I don't know the specifics of Serbia, but the answer to this question as framed is usually yes. There are plenty of things like Workaway and travelers share information with one another.
Am I not understanding the options available?
There are practical options and there are innovative options. Metafilter here seems to be skewing to practical, but there is value in innovative. This is something I would have done in my early 20s without batting an eye. It might have worked, it might not have, and either way I'd have been fine with it. It's ok to try to do things and fail at them. Failure is a valuable option. There is growth and learning in failure.
What are the consequences of overstaying the visa?
I've heard of people doing this pretty much everywhere I've ever traveled. This gives me the impression that the consequences are in many cases a slap on the wrist and don't come back. The main consequence that I see is that people get entrenched in their community, they live there for a long time, but now they are limited because they can never go past the border of their adopted country if they want it to keep being their home.
is this a viable plan?
posted by aniola at 9:53 AM on February 25, 2023
I haven't looked into the specifics of Serbia but often the answer to this question is yes.
Is under the table work possible?
I don't know the specifics of Serbia, but the answer to this question as framed is usually yes. There are plenty of things like Workaway and travelers share information with one another.
Am I not understanding the options available?
There are practical options and there are innovative options. Metafilter here seems to be skewing to practical, but there is value in innovative. This is something I would have done in my early 20s without batting an eye. It might have worked, it might not have, and either way I'd have been fine with it. It's ok to try to do things and fail at them. Failure is a valuable option. There is growth and learning in failure.
What are the consequences of overstaying the visa?
I've heard of people doing this pretty much everywhere I've ever traveled. This gives me the impression that the consequences are in many cases a slap on the wrist and don't come back. The main consequence that I see is that people get entrenched in their community, they live there for a long time, but now they are limited because they can never go past the border of their adopted country if they want it to keep being their home.
is this a viable plan?
viableYes, absolutely.
vī′ə-bəl
adjective
Capable of success or continuing effectiveness; practicable: synonym: possible.
Capable of living, developing, or germinating under favorable conditions.
posted by aniola at 9:53 AM on February 25, 2023
Not likely legally, but yes under the table. Will be stuck in the country for that year, yes?
posted by sandmanwv at 11:26 AM on February 25, 2023
posted by sandmanwv at 11:26 AM on February 25, 2023
if they enrolled in university there part time could they get a student visa and be permitted to work?
Usually one would have to be a full-time student, and would only be allowed to work part-time. I don't know Serbian policy though.
Am I not understanding the options available?
Based on quick web searching I think you have it correct, that a work permit is required (and seems difficult to obtain). Other thoughts:
Many countries have working holiday schemes, whereby young citizens of each country can get a visa for the other and stay for 1-2 years, and are permitted to work at least some of the time. You'd have to check if that's an option for citizens of your country.
Skilled worker visas would be out based on the person's experience and education.
Marriage/relationship visas tend to require the couple to have lived together.
Students as above.
Is under the table work possible?
Almost certainly. But consider who does under-the-table work where you live, how much they get paid, and to what extent they experience abusive working conditions. Assume that would likely be the case for people working under-the-table in Serbia. Consider that this person, with little job experience or language skills, isn't really bringing much to the table. Think about what sort of lifestyle they might have earning hospitality wages in Belgrade.
What are the consequences of overstaying the visa?
Possibly nothing or a slap on the wrist, possibly much more serious. Being deported is bad - it can keep you from being admitted to other countries in the future. Some countries would make an overstayer liable for deportation, but encourage them to leave on their own, which would have less impact.
I was in Serbia around 10 years ago and I found their border/immigration people incredibly friendly, even when I made a fairly major mistake at an airport (but I'm a middle-aged white male so wouldn't suggest everyone would have the same experience).
Other issues
What citizenship this person has will likely be important.
They're going to face issues at the border around their bona fides. Especially with no return flight booked, and with minimal funds. They might not even get on the plane in the first place. [Airlines do not want to carry passengers who prove ineligible for admission].
posted by Pink Frost at 3:54 PM on February 26, 2023
Usually one would have to be a full-time student, and would only be allowed to work part-time. I don't know Serbian policy though.
Am I not understanding the options available?
Based on quick web searching I think you have it correct, that a work permit is required (and seems difficult to obtain). Other thoughts:
Many countries have working holiday schemes, whereby young citizens of each country can get a visa for the other and stay for 1-2 years, and are permitted to work at least some of the time. You'd have to check if that's an option for citizens of your country.
Skilled worker visas would be out based on the person's experience and education.
Marriage/relationship visas tend to require the couple to have lived together.
Students as above.
Is under the table work possible?
Almost certainly. But consider who does under-the-table work where you live, how much they get paid, and to what extent they experience abusive working conditions. Assume that would likely be the case for people working under-the-table in Serbia. Consider that this person, with little job experience or language skills, isn't really bringing much to the table. Think about what sort of lifestyle they might have earning hospitality wages in Belgrade.
What are the consequences of overstaying the visa?
Possibly nothing or a slap on the wrist, possibly much more serious. Being deported is bad - it can keep you from being admitted to other countries in the future. Some countries would make an overstayer liable for deportation, but encourage them to leave on their own, which would have less impact.
I was in Serbia around 10 years ago and I found their border/immigration people incredibly friendly, even when I made a fairly major mistake at an airport (but I'm a middle-aged white male so wouldn't suggest everyone would have the same experience).
Other issues
What citizenship this person has will likely be important.
They're going to face issues at the border around their bona fides. Especially with no return flight booked, and with minimal funds. They might not even get on the plane in the first place. [Airlines do not want to carry passengers who prove ineligible for admission].
posted by Pink Frost at 3:54 PM on February 26, 2023
The young adult may want to check out r/IWantOut if they have not done so already. It's a subreddit for information for people who want to expatriate. Posts have to have titles in a specific format; for the young adult in question, it would probably be '[IWantOut] Age&Sex Profession Country of Origin -> Target Destination'
posted by needled at 7:07 AM on February 27, 2023
posted by needled at 7:07 AM on February 27, 2023
Seconding that your young friend needs to do more research to be able to evaluate realistic options. There's a casual assumption among many Americans that teaching English is magical currency all over the world, but it's certainly not the case in Belgrade where people are already highly fluent in English.
posted by desuetude at 10:26 AM on February 27, 2023
posted by desuetude at 10:26 AM on February 27, 2023
« Older My employer wants me to return to the office | Where is a sort of Mondrian mural in Manhattan? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
If nothing else a working knowledge of Serbian would certainly be beneficial. I just don't think this is likely to work as formulated.
posted by Alensin at 7:31 PM on February 24, 2023