VisaForce cz

01/01/2024

***2024 VISA & TAX UPDATES***
Hello and hope you have been well! On behalf of the entire VF team, we would like to wish you a Happy New Year and hope that this year brings you health, happiness, and prosperity. We would like to take this time to bring you up to speed on some of the new laws that have gone into effect in 2024 to help you prepare for this next year.

New tax rates:

New minimum social tax (CSSZ) for OSVC workers: 3852czk/ month (this will begin AFTER your tax filing)

New Minimum state health insurance (OZP, VZP, ZPMVCR...): 2968czk/ month (starts right away)

New minimum wage for employees: 18,900czk/ month (if you are on an employment contract)

TAXES

One again, VisaForce is offering tax filing services to expats for the purpose of renewing a visa. With the trade license visa, income and declared earnings are a cornerstone of a successful visa renewal and for the 4th year, we have had a lot of success with the taxes we have filed in 2023. Of course, there can be a bit of a high government payment due to their earnings and lack of deductions. However, with a quick consultation, we can help lower the amounts with some preparations for their ultimate visa application. Our tax filing services are 2,000czk and this includes filing with the health, social, and financial offices as well we providing all documentation and an English explanation on how, who, where,and how much to pay. You can reach out to me personally at [email protected] to schedule a meeting to go over all of the tax requirements. Consultations are (of course) always free.

From all us at VisaForce, we thank you for making 2023 the biggest year we have had to date and we look forward to serving you and your goals in 2024. Have a great year and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us!

Cheers,

Dave, Kristyna, Klara, Zuzana, Ondra B, & Ondra D

24/12/2023

We would like to wish you all a very happy holiday season no matter where you are or where you are from. A big thank you from all of us for a wild and wonderful year. We also have broken our previous year's totals for the 8th year in a row which we couldn't have done it without you and all look forward to serving you in 2024!
Cheers,

Dave, Kristyna, Ondra B, Klara, Zuzana, Ondra D

10/07/2023

Hello and hope you are staying dry in on this lovely stormy Monday!
So since the summer in Cz is officially on, some of you may have noticies that the work for an English teacher has become quite slim. I have been asked about this by multiple people and figured we can address this today.

Czechs take their summers VERY seriously. So for July and August they scatter around Europe on their well-earned holidays. This makes it tricky for us teachers as there are less people to teach and the language schools tend to furlough a majority of their staff or dramatically cut teachings hours. This leads to a squeeze in an already low income and can really put the English teacher in a tough spot. Here are some ideas to help you compensate for your loss of income.

It is high tourist season in Prague so maybe try some service or companies that cater to tourists.
Pick up some extra hours at some of the expat bars around Prague. A lot of them are currently hiring to manage the high volumes that come with the summer.
Find private students on your own. Various Facebook groups and platforms such as Teacher Creature can help you find your students.

HOT TIP: At the entrance/exit of every Albert/Billa/Kaufland there is a free message board for people offering services. Make a flyer that says "Nabízím lekce angličtiny s rodilým mluvčím" with your contact information. The pricing could be from 500czk/ hour to 800czk/ hour depending on what you are offering.

Hope this helps you all out there get through the bumpy summers. If you have any questions or want to chare any ideas! Hit us up at [email protected]
Cheers!

VF

03/07/2023

Hello and hope everyone is staying cool! I just want to follow up on my post from last week about the FRS website that controls our ability to make appointments at the Czech MOI.

Since they reset it, all original passwords and logins were deleted so you will need to make a new one. If you have a current appointment registered from the old system, it is still there but the PIN is lost if it was not documented. Please alert your visa agents if needed as they cannot make any appointments for you if you have not given them a NEW login this week.
Love it when the govt. tries to simplify things. :P

The webpage has reverted back to it's original address.
www.frs.gov.cz

Have a wonderful week ahead!
Cheers,
VF

A transfer of the Appointment Reservation System for appointments at the counters into a new Portal for Foreigners, is currently running.

26/06/2023

Hello and happy Monday to you all!

Today I would like to talk about what an "Apostille" is. A lot of people have asked about this document, what it is, why we need it, and why a notarization is not sufficent. So, I would like to break this down for you today.

WHAT IS AN APOSTILLE?
An apostille is a certificate that is internationally recognized as authentic between countries. This can only be acquired from countries that have participated in The Hague Apostille convention. Here is a quick link to see if your country is in the apostille convention:

https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/legalisation/apostille-convention-countries

WHY DO WE NEED IT?
This document is needed for anything that comes from your home country to prove authenticity. Background checks, marriage certificates, college/high school diplomas all need to have an apostille fastioned to it.

WHERE TO I GET IT?
This can usually be acquired in your state's capital city. In particular countries, I would look up from where it can be applied.

MY COUNTRY DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE CONVENTION:
In this case, you will need a "Superlegalization" which can be done at the Czech Consulate in your state's capital city.

WHY CAN'T I HAVE A NOTARY SIGN IT?
A notary is sworn by the state to authenticate that they either saw the real document OR witnessed the signee make the signature and verified their ID. Notaries are NOT internationally recognized nor confirm authenticity.

Thank you for your time and if you have any other questions about the apostille/ notary conversation, we are more than ready to answer your questions. Have a wonderful week ahead!
Cheers,

VF

See the list of countries that are party to the Apostille Convention

21/06/2023

Good morning and happy Wednesday to you all! A quick update to some more "well-thought out" Czech govt doings.

The government will be turning over it's FRS government website to a new server and is asking for anyone who will be making accounts to use the new link until they finally turnover the page on July 3rd.

This is the link to make the new login. Also, this site has more bugs than a Prague 3 flatshare. :D

https://prod.frs.gov.cz/en/registration

Also, after July 3rd, we are not sure if the previous logins will still exist so please check to see if you can still log in under your original emails/ passwords.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at [email protected]
Cheers,
VF

Informační portál pro cizince

12/06/2023

Hello on this wondeful sunny Monday! Today I want to talk a little bit more about this new system that the foreign faction will be dealing with in Prague. This is regarding the Databox.

So the databox has been in effect for awhile with the Czech population. However, because the Czech postal system is shrinking and the various govt offices has a hard time being able to find people due moving, not putting names on mailboxes, etc; they have decided to put EVERYONE who has a trade license into the databox system.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU:
This means that you currently have a databox and ALL government documents will now be sent to you via this box. Think of it as an email inbox that ONLY connects to government offices. They will not longer post anything to you and because you have a databox, every document will be considered as being recieved even if you have not logged in to see them. This includes debts, fines, executions, registrations, errors, and coorespondance with ministry offices including visa related items.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
Well, generally speaking, you should be checking your databox regularly for any incoming documents or items. The tricky element is that they are all in Czech and can come from all corners. If you run into some visa trouble and tell the govt "No one told me about this" their answer will be "It was sent to your databox, hence, you recieved it." So you definitely want to stay on top of these items. If you do not know your login info, you will need to go to any Czech Point with your passport and ICO # to request a password reset

HOW VISAFORCE CAN HELP:
We will be offering an affordable monthly subscription to monitor your databox and report back in english what is there and what needs to be done about it. Please reach out to us for more info.
[email protected]

Thanks a bunch and have a great week ahead!
Cheers,
VF

31/05/2023

Happy Wednesday! Today we would like to promo one of our many Language School partners, Threshold. This is the 4th biggest language school in Prague and boast a multitude of classes AND Languages so if you speak multiple languauges and can teach them as well, look no further. They are currently hiring and are accepting applications and have a quite a few courses to offer. Please see their contact info below.
[email protected]
+420 734 850 459

29/05/2023

Happy Monday everyone! Finally some warm weather here in Czech Republic!

Today I want to talk about our dear friend "The internet". When planning on moving to Czech Republic there are a LOT of things to take into account and the quest for information sometimes can be a doozy. A lot of us turn towards the internet with our questions in the form of Facebook groups and such. It is a good tool and a fast way to get answers in real time. However, a LOT of what is said needs to be contextualized because everyone's visa situation is different. This post is inspired based on the several groups I operaate in and I have seen people give VERY dangrous misinformation from their particular situations that do not apply to the person asking.
I saw a person tell an American on a ZL visa to sign up for PVZP insurance

I saw an EU national tell a South African to apply in Europe and overstay their visa cause "Everyone is doing it"

I saw a person tell someone to take the 60/40 discount on their OSVC taxes when they were up for a visa due to the poster complaining about high tax rates.

and so on.

A lot of your situations depend on the folllowing items...

What Passport you hold
What type Visa you have and when it is up for renewal
How long you have been in Cz
Who you work for (employment or OSVC)

I implore you, please reach out to a professional with your questions. This is why we do not charge to talk to people and answer questions. If you want me to create an elaborate post on Mondays about a certain topic, please let me know and I will give the nitty gritty details. Information is paramount in keeping us legal here in Cz. Thank you so much and have a wonderful week ahead!
Cheers,

VF

22/05/2023

Hello and happy Monday!!! We're back in the social media world after a bit of a hiatus due to the massive undertaking of getting a record number of taxes submitted and visa's applied for.

Sadly, we have had to say goodbye to a couple of our workers.
Danielle had ventured back to the USA and we wish her all the best and successes. She managed 124 visas last year which is YUGE! We love her and will be missing her smiling face around the office.

Adela will be leaving to further her post-grad career since she is now finished with school. We wish her the best and know that she is going to absolutely crush anything she puts her mind to. Her mastery of this process in such a short time was absolutely mind-blowing.
Honestly, this year could not have happened without either of these two wonderfully skilled ladies. We are forever in your debt. From the bottom of our hearts thank you both!

29/03/2023

Hello and Happy Wednesday!
Our friends this week is our newest partner in the world of Language schools.
Aspena school is based in CZ but has clients and workers all over the world. When we sat down together, they let me know that essentially they cannot have enough teachers. They also want me to let you know that they (generally) start their teachers at 400czk/ hour. I told them that our following would definitely be ok with that!

"Aspena Language School was founded in 2000 with a clear vision of sharing the joy of language with people through high-quality, tailor-made language courses. We provide corporate as well as individual lessons. Our teaching coordinators and the proven team of high-quality teachers ensure that the language courses run smoothly, with speed and flexibility in meeting requirements. We mainly teach corporate classes. We work for companies such as Red Hat, Tart, Walter, and Siemens.
please find more information here on our website"

Jsme Aspena. Jazykovka. Firemní vzdělávání v oblasti jazyků je naší vášní jiždvacetlet. Nejsme členy Asociace jazykových škol. Chci výuku více než 200 000 odučených hodin více než…

27/03/2023

Happy Monday everyone! Have some more advice on this chilly day.
So, this year was an odd one when it came to filing taxes. (We have done over 300 thus far). One thing I did notice and would like to help you on is what you are legally allowed to do on what visa for work. It seems that one thinks they have free mobility of work depending on their legal status which is not entire accurate...

Trade License Visa - With this visa you are ONLY allowed to earn via invoice and direct payment. You are respsonsible for paying your own taxes so if someone else is paying them for you, you may be breaking the law. IE: If you have a trade license visa, you cannot work full time for a PUBLIC school. This is one of our biggest issues we see. Schools don't know visa's and they are all sad now that the Brits have to get visas and sponsorships like the rest of us.

Employment Card (work sponsorship) - You can work in the traditional sense with your health/social contributions covered. You can add a trade license to this for extra work. However, the visa relys on you being a full time worker.

Partnership Visa - You have access to the common market and also can be working as a trade license holder if you wish to acquire a trade license.

Family reunification - This one is a little strange as there are two specifications. There is (Type 17) and (Type 95) versions of family reunification. According to the Urad Prace, both are fine for you to access the common market. However, there are a couple legal provisions that make companies nervous with the type 17 reunification visa. You may also acquire a trade license.

Student VISA - As a student you are not allowed to work a full-time according to the government. This allows you to work on whats is called a DPP contract which means you will not be held responsible for taxes OR you can acquire a trade license.
Hope this helps and if you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out to us!
Cheers,

VF

23/03/2023

Happy Thursday! Today we finally reached an amazing agreement with a TEFL provider to help facilitate the movement of qualified teachers into Czech Republic! They are a school called MyTEFL. A great program that offers placement to sites all around the world and we have created a HUB for them to start helping qualified English teachers begin their journey in Czech Republic! Multiple schools have began placement contracts and if you have a language school, we would love to help with your staffing solutions as well!

"Training and empowering teachers to travel the world and share language is rewarding in its own right. English teachers are explorers, reaching out to cultures and destinations most people will never discover. They break down the barriers of communication, they promote tolerance, understanding and respect between cultures, and they share experiences and friendships that transcend the ordinary. We at myTEFL are proud of being a part of the larger international TEFL community."

Find out more at www.mytefl.com
Cheers,

VF

Why Choose myTEFL?With over 40 years of TEFL experience, our team and partners make myTEFL a great choice. We've been teachers, training managers, writers, editors, publishers, consultants and just like you, travelers and adventurers at heart. Quality Courses The ideal blend of theory and practicali...

20/03/2023

Hello everyone and happy Monday!!
This is a pretty important one. If you are currently in Cz/Schengen zone without a visa or appointment to acquire a visa, please set up an application date at a nearby consulate ASAP. All Consulates are closing on April 30th and there will be a super consulate in Dresden opening on May 1st. Sounds good but it will run more like a ministry of the interior which will be a lot harsher on overstayee's and such (After your 90 days you will need a DV/R visa issued from an outside consulate to pick up your visa. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out!

https://www.mzv.cz/vienna/cz/viza_a_konzularni_informace/visa_section.html?fbclid=IwAR2qDrqW2XCrz3CHmUz6pDOgFNHC7C7_m52jm_zqIGG-ZLFnxHG1MKGfa9k

"Please note that as of April 30, 2023, visa agenda of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Vienna will be terminated and from May 1, 2023, only the visa centre of the Dresden Consulate General will receive and process all applications for visas and residence permits within the Schengen area.
In connection with the establishing of a visa centre for the uniform reception and processing of applications for visas and residence permits within the Schengen area at the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Dresden, Germany, please be informed that as of April 30, 2023, the visa and residence permit agenda of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Vienna will be terminated. As of May 1, 2023, only the visa centre of the Dresden Consulate General will receive and process all applications for visas and residence permits within the Schengen area."

Please note that as of April 30, 2023, visa agenda of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Vienna will be terminated and from May 1, 2023,

16/03/2023

Hello and hope your week is going well! Our promo this week is a biggie. We finally partnered with an English speaking law firm in Czech Republic!

The office of Silvie Koubikova is at your service to handle any legal aspects concerning expat life. I have spoken to them at legnth about some of the problems we experiance and they are avaialble to level the playing field. They are super friendly and highly knowledgable. Please check out their webpage for more info...

https://www.koubikovalegal.eu/en/

[email protected]
+420 728 166 832
Plaská 623/5
150 01 Prague 5 - Malá Strana
Czech Republic

"We are a multilingual law firm focusing mainly on cases with international element, cross-border cases and cases taking place simultaneously in several countries (jurisdictions). We specialize mainly in civil law, commercial law, corporate law, real estate law, inheritance law, family law and European law. Within the cases that we deal with, we cooperate with institutions and attorneys in foreign jurisdictions.

We provide legal services at a high professional level in Czech, English, French, Spanish, German and other languages."

Cheers and to an amazing week ahead!
VF

Andrea KOLESÁROVÁ has joined our team as an attorney. Thanks to her studies and professional experience in France, she is well acquainted with the functioning of French contract law. Her previous employment in an investment company managing qualified investor funds also provided her with insights ...

13/03/2023

Hello and happy Monday! Some kind visa advice for you on this rainy day.

The government (as of 2023) has created a databox for every trade license holder in the country. While the roll-out was an absolute mess on it's best day. There is a purpose behind it. The databox is meant to be a digital substitute to a mailbox allowing us to communicate directly with various government offices as opposed to using the very unreliable Czech postal system.

If you do not have a databox yet or have not recieved any postage notifying you of your login details (Kind of proving it's own purpose), please head to a CZECH POINT which is located at every Czech post office. If English is your go-to language, I would recommend the Ceska Posta in Prague 1 right by Wenceslas Square.
Once there, request a password change for your databox and if you do not have one, please request the creation of a new one and specify that it is for an ICO

06/03/2023

Happy Monday and hope you are having a great start to your week!
Today I would like to give a word of caution to you all. We had a client that was scammed out of a fair portion of money while attempting to secure a flat in Prague. This is an event that can take something joyful and life changing and turn it into a nightmare as most of us do not have large funds to simply lose. So I would like to leave some advice for you today.

1. Please make sure you visit the location you wish to rent. Never trust someone online who cannot meet you for whatever reason.
2. Before transferring any money to any location. Make sure it is a trusted firm, person, or entity. If something seems off. Look into it more.
3. You should already have keys in your hands by the time the transaction takes place.
4. Make sure you photograph the location in case they try to hold you responsible for any damages that were there before your tenancy began.

If you have any questions or feelings about a certain flat, you can always reach out to us at [email protected]. If you have the address and unit number, we can tell you exactly who owns that flat.
Thanks again and please stay safe out there!
VF

03/03/2023

Hello and Happy Friday! Today we are promoing our good friends in TEFLpros! They are a full online school based in the USA with a certificate style that allows YOU to plan when you wish to finish it. If you are a fulltime worker you can complete your course around your schedule, OR you can shotgun the course and get certified as quickly as you can. Their owner Whitney is honestly one of the most energetic business owners I have ever worked with and she definitely brings a lot of enthusiasm to the table with her course!

“In today’s world, people are struggling with how to design a career that is sustainable in an ever-changing environment. They are looking for high-quality and interactive online course options that suit their lifestyle and give them relevant training for a paying career.”
— Whitney, TEFLPros founder

They even did and interview with our beloved Operations Manager. Which we will link here.

You can check out Their webpage and contact.
Cheers!
https://www.teflpros.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFljyAy5X9w&t=9s

TEFLPros GIVES YOU THE POWER TO SUCCEED! Get the inside scoop on what you need to know to have a successful career Teaching English as a Foreign Language.