I am surprised to read all the negative comments. I was gutted to have to forgo a post at Kokshetau due to a delay in getting my passport renewed. The pay and conditions certainly were enticing. It was my understanding that everyone already working in the NIS has renewed their contracts too. Seems like I got off lucky.

I can get a temporary passport, while I wait for my actual passport to be processed, but this does not help with regards to getting a work visa to Kazakhstan.

My passport is a few months shy of being valid for 2 years, which is a prerequisite to get a work visa to Kazakhstan. Unfortunately, the waiting list to get an appointment to renew my passport renewed in London is 3 months. After that is another month to process the passport. I have been for the appointment, but as I will only have a new passport in my hand by the end of June or early July, I feel it is cutting it a bit close in case something goes wrong. I have decided to withdraw my application for this academic year but would seriously consider reapplying in 2013-2014 as the package (if transparent) is hard to beat.

What will you be teaching Higgsboson? Have you already had your work visa sorted out?

[quote="higgsboson"]Money though - how much can I save on a US$54,000 net + free housing? And how easy is it to repatriate that money?[/quote]

Higgsboson, USD54000 net salary means that you will earn USD5000 a month. If you are working in Astana, the salary is USD4000 a month, which amounts to USD43000 after tax.

Kokshetau

I have been offered a post at the NIS starting in August 2012. Like higgsboson, I am also seriously considering accepting it largely because of the potential to save money.

With a USD 54'000 net income and utilities and housing paid for, I expect to save $40000. It would take me 4 to 5 years to save that kind of money in the UK, and I am on the highest point on the salary scale.

My only reservation is leaving the UK for a few years and then coming back to find that it is even more difficult to get a post that it is at the moment.