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Dear Senator Nelson,I am writing to you because I saw that you are on the Foreign Relations Committee. As such I thought you might be able to provide me with some guidance with a particular matter. Please allow me to explain.I am a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certified teacher and also a moderator of a web site for expatriates in Spain. www.expatriatecafe.com Americans, myself included, that want to go to Spain to live/work have a huge disadvantage compared to EU Nationals. It is practically impossible to obtain a visa to live/work in Spain to teach English.There are many young adults that pursue TEFL certificates in the hopes of seeing the world and supporting themselves by teaching English. Great idea, travel, see the world, experience different cultures, broaden your horizons, sounds great doesn't it? The problem is, with the ever-increasing threat of terrorism, immigration to a foreign country has become more and more difficult. There are a lot of Americans living abroad that are living/working (teaching English) illegally and live with the constant fear of deportation.My idea: why not have an exchange program for teachers like there is for students, or even a renewable one year visa for teaching English abroad.I understand that the latter would have to be offered from the Spanish government. I don't even know where to begin on that one.However, the exchange program I thought I would start with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.I contacted Senator Lugar's office, and spoke with Caitlin, who thought I ought to leave a message for a Mr. Paul Foldi, which I've done.Then I decided to take a look at the web site again to see who else is on the committee and lo and behold there you were on the list. (I voted for you too. =) )Anyway, I'm not sure even how to go about pursuing the idea of a teacher exchange program or a renewable one-year visa for TEFL teachers, but I am willing to work very earnestly at a grassroots level whether through signed petitions or e-mail, and written letter campaigning. I am also willing to do the research to structure an actual proposal, providing numbers for economic impact, etc...I'm just not sure which is the path to pursue. Could you please offer some advice on how to proceed? It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.Sincerely,Michelle L. Walton
(I voted for you too. =) )
So far I have not received a response either from Mr. Foldi (voice mail message) or from Senator Nelson.
The e mail you sent was nice, but I think you should have put a dollar figure in there and negotiate from there.
A dollar amount representing what? Tax revenue for the Spanish government? Possible revenue to be gained for the travel industry?
I could use some help with research for just that kind of thing. Shiloh, you want to volunteer?
A dollar amount representing the bribe you are offering to get what you want....like any other lobbyist.
So then Shiloh you were just being a smart-ass then, eh?
I am thinking about starting a petition, to be posted on a web site for people to "sign". Since what I'm proposing is not an initiative to be on a ballot, I don't think there is any problem with not having actual signatures on paper.
Dear Senator Boxer,I am writing to you because I saw that you are on theForeign Relations Committee. As such I thought youmight be able to provide me with some guidance with aparticular matter. Please allow me to explain.I am a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language)certified teacher and I am moving to Spain in July. There are many Americans who want to teach English inSpain, but it is practically impossible to obtain avisa to live/work in Spain to teach English.Americans, myself included, who want to go to Spain tolive/work have a huge disadvantage compared to EUNationals. In my job search so far, I have been toldmore than once \"if you had a work visa, we would hireyou.\" There are many young adults who pursue TEFLcertificates in the hopes of seeing the world andsupporting themselves by teaching English. Greatidea, travel, see the world, experience differentcultures, broaden your horizons, sounds great doesn'tit? The problem is, with the ever-increasing threat ofterrorism, immigration to a foreign country has becomemore and more difficult. There are a lot of Americans living abroad who areliving/working (teaching English) illegally and livewith the constant fear of deportation.I have been communicating with many other Americans inthe same situation and there is an idea forming: Whynot have an exchange program for teachers like thereis for students, or even a renewable one year visa forteaching English abroad?I understand that the latter would have to be offeredfrom the Spanish government. I don't even know whereto begin on that one.However, the exchange program I thought I would startwith the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.Several people I know have contacted their Senatorsand Representatives and we are trying to get the wordout. As a resident and teacher in Contra Costa countyfor the last four years, I thought I would contactyou. (on a side note, you are very popular with myfamily and my co-workers and we voted for you!) Anyway, I'm not sure even how to go about pursuingthe idea of a teacher exchange program or a renewableone-year visa for TEFL teachers, but I am willing tohelp work at a grassroots level whether through signedpetitions or e-mail, and written letter campaigning. I also know people who are willing to do the researchto structure an actual proposal, providing numbers foreconomic impact, etc...I'm just not sure which is the path to pursue. Couldyou please offer some advice on how to proceed? Itwould be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your timeand attention to this matter.Sincerely,Mitch MadiganPleasant Hill, CA
I was in Seville looking for ANY work. I ended up with a ton of tutoring students (put up one flyer - get 100 calls) but no real work was coming through at all. But I'm American and that was just a huge hinderance. I kept hearing this story about how this one American guy got his papers through IH but that it was a nightmare and they swore they'd NEVER EVER EVER do it again. I heard this same guys story from like 3 schools. Of course, people DO get lucky. They do. I just wasn't one of the lucky ones. For Americans its a very very slow process of building up hours. I think people who it really works out for literally stay for 3 or 4 years and finally have a real schedule.
To the Senate on Foreign Relations Committee: Your Honors,We submit to you the proposal of an exchange program for Teachers of English as a Foreign Language, to teach abroad.The proposed exchange program would actually be an expansion of an existing program that is operated by the State Department, and subsequently could be a sister program run concurrently.We propose the following: Individuals that have been certified to teach English as a foreign language (qualifying certifications: TEFL, CELTA, TESOL)are eligible to teach in a foreign country in agreement for one year, legally, paying taxes to the country of employ, with the option to extend annually on a performance basis. In exchange, teachers of foreign languages (with their respective certifications and qualifications) are invited to teach their native language in the US, legally.There are thousands of Americans every year that make the journey abroad, get certified and then teach English in their chosen countries, both legally and illegally. When working illegally in a foreign country, many Americans are subjecting themselves to the exploitation of unscrupulous employers, deportation, etc.This program would not only go a long way to help foster good will between the US and other foreign nations, but would offer protection to American citizens and foreign nationals wishing to teach abroad.
The Office of Citizen Exchanges manages professional, youth, and cultural programs through grants with non-profit American institutions, including community organizations, professional associations, and universities. This partnership benefits thousands of Americans and foreign visitors taking part in exchanges at the grassroots level, both in the U.S. and abroad.Grants are awarded to American participants or nonprofit organizations, but individuals are encouraged to have foreign co-sponsors. Programs are based on competition, substantive rigor, and cross-cultural sensitivity.Program ObjectivesGrants are expected to result in:Creating new or enhanced cross-cultural institutional links that may become self-sustaining Imparting information about the United States to key overseas audiences Increasing the American nonprofit community's international awareness and involvement Stimulating nonprofit organizations' access to private-sector funding Enhancing relevant overseas audiences' knowledge of American cultural traditions and values Introducing ideas that contribute toward the solution of long-term international issues Program ProceduresThe Office supports programs taking place in the United States and overseas. Exchanges must demonstrate to foreign participants how Americans deal with issues of professional interest. In addition, the programs must be designed to give Americans an international and cross-cultural perspective and increased understanding of foreign needs and priorities. To accomplish these objectives, the programs are conducted by U.S. Nonprofit organizations that work with emerging leaders, young professionals and students.Funding opportunities are announced during the course of the fiscal year through a series of Requests for Grant Proposals (RFGPs).For further information, contact:Office of Citizen Exchanges (ECA/PE/C)Bureau of Educational and Cultural AffairsU.S. Department of StateSA-44, 301 Fourth Street, S.W.Washington, D.C. 20547tel: 202-453-8181fax: 202-453-8168
Dear Mr. Shaw,I am following up with your office regarding the Congressional Inquiry that had been initiated on my behalf to the State Department.Although, there has been a response from the State Department (a copy was faxed to me by Kim Murray in your office), I feel that the exchange programs that are offered by the State Department are not broad enough.I spoke with Joel Gustafson Friday afternoon, May 26th, 2006 explaining the following: there are thousands of young Americans that travel abroad each year to get TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certified, and some countries, such as Korea, Thailand, Japan, and some Eastern European countries, such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, etc. offer a visa and residency permits to those individuals with employment contracts with employers that are willing to sponsor them for such visas and residency permits.However, the same does not hold true for most EU countries, specifically Spain. There are schools all over the world that offer TEFL certification. Some web sites that might be useful are www.tefl.com www.tefl.net www.eslcafe.com The schools listed on these sites (and others like them) as well as the jobs listed will give you an idea of just how big a business TEFL certification is.My quest (for lack of a better word) is to lobby for a new one-year renewable visa for TEFL certified teachers, with at least an Associates of Arts degree, so that they can go to even EU countries and work and live legally, without being exploited and without fear of deportation.I understand that this may very well be a matter for the EU Council, however, I am under the impression that my government has some influence with our allies regarding such matters. Is this not the case?I simply need direction. If you advise me that I need a petition with at least 100,000 signatures, I’ll get 200,000. I’m certainly not opposed to doing the footwork at a grassroots level. The response that myself and others have received from various members of the Senate on Foreign Relations Committee has been the same – “great idea and if it ever comes to the floor, I’ll give it some consideration.”So how do I get this issue brought to the attention of the right people? That’s what I need to know. Where do I go from here? Any advice or suggestion on this matter and how to proceed would be greatly appreciated.Sincerely,Michelle L Walton
Alright! Keep up the fight!I had the opportunity this week to briefly meet the American ambassador to Spain and his assistant...I got the assistant's card; maybe we should see if they can help in some way? Hmmm....Phil
To the members of the Senate on Foreign Relations Committee:We, the undersigned wish to teach English abroad, legally. We would like for the U.S. Government to work with the EU Council to create a renewable one-year visa for teachers of English as a Foreign Language. The visa holder should have at least a 2-year Associates of Arts Degree and must be TEFL or CELTA certified from an accredited institution, and at least 18 years of age. The visa will require an employment contract, and proof thereof.The visa will enable the teacher to obtain a residence visa that will also be renewable.
Ok, so here's the story...I want to live in Barcelona and teach English. I'm already TEFL certified. The problem? Currently, there is no visa for TEFL teachers. People who have been sponsored by the schools they work for have been turned down. I think that there should be a visa for TEFL teachers, so I started a petition. The petition is addressed to the Senate on Foreign Relations Committee. Here's where I need the help...I need signatures, lots of signatures in order to be taken seriously by the Senate on Foreign Relations Committee. I just want to put it out there, the petition is NOT a legal commitment, nor is it proposed legislation. The petition is simply a mechanism to get the issue to the Senate floor. Please help. Please sign it and pass it on to friends. You can check it out here: I just need to get the word out. If you have any questions, send me an email, I'll be happy to answer them. Thanks.
July 26, 2006The Honorable Senator Bill NelsonUnited States Senate716 Senate Hart Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510Dear Senator Nelson,I am writing to you, as my senator for assistance. I’ve started a petition addressed to the Senate of Foreign Relations Committee and would like to request an endorsement from you.Please find enclosed a copy of the petition language. The petition is online at .I appreciate that any type of visa for a foreign country would have to be offered from the government of that country, however it is my impression that my government has influence with our allies regarding such matters, ergo the petition.Just to illustrate the need for such a visa: the web site www.tefl.net lists currently 365 schools that offer TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification, let’s say for arguments sake that each school offers only two sessions per year, allowing only 15 students per session (very conservative numbers) that’s 30 students per year, times 365 schools, that’s ten thousand nine hundred fifty people getting TEFL certified per year, and let’s say that only 75% of those people are American, that’s still over 8,000 Americans per year getting certified.The problem is, if you want to teach in Western European countries, more than likely, you’ll be illegal. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and other Eastern European countries issue visas to Native Speakers (EU Nationals and North Americans) to teach English. Korea, Thailand, China, Japan and Taiwan do so as well.However, the same can not be said for all Western European countries. I am not suggesting that the EU open it’s labor markets to Americans, I am suggesting a solution to an already existing problem, thousands of Americans, annually, getting certified and traveling abroad, living and teaching English illegally, exceeding their tourist visas of 90 days.I am a TEFL certified teacher; I would like to move to Spain and teach English, but I don’t’ want to be illegal, and risk being deported or be subjected to unscrupulous employers that exploit illegals or landlords that threaten eviction, raise the rent unreasonably etc…I am not the only one. I am a moderator for a web site for expatriates in Spain, www.expatriatecafe.com and several members have reported similar concerns. The following links are some relevant threads to read: Petition for a new visahttp://www.expatriatecafe.com/forums/index...t=ST&f=1&t=1060Getting a contract for Americanshttp://www.expatriatecafe.com/forums/index...=ST&f=10&t=1379Deportation Scarehttp://www.expatriatecafe.com/forums/index...&hl=deportationThank you for your time and consideration regarding this matter.Sincerely,Michelle L Walton
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Topic: Petition for New Visa: Movement to get English Teachers Visas (Read 92447 times)
