Job Discussion Forums

[dashanzi73]

Recently, it has come to my attention that the approval process for foreign teacher Z visa applicants has been changed. For example, the authorities will no longer approve apps for teachers over age 55 in Shanghai and Eastern China. However, teachers over age 60 can possibly obtain employment with approved Z visa apps in Beijing, Tianjin, Guangzhou and other cities throughout China. Can any of my fellow teachers shed light on this situation? Thank you.

[Non Sequitur]

If you have continuous employment I think your visa can be renewed up to 70 years.
New applicants may have trouble if over 55.

[Non Sequitur]

PS to the above.
I've just had a job ad land in my intray from a uni in a provincial capital - age up to 65.

[mike w]

Any age restrictions that you come across are being applied by either the school or the provincial government. Various reasons. The school wants 'younger, attractive white monkeys' maybe, or as people get older they may require more medical care - a whole plethora of invalid reasons - all of which are at a local level.

The question of age has been looked into extensively by myself and a foreign colleague who is a lawyer, as well as my company's legal department. There is NO statutory upper age limit or retirement age policy from central government for foreign experts, whatever local government may say. Unfortunately, the power behind these decisions quite often comes from local government and not central government.

But let me just reiterate - there is no policy from central government, irrespective of who or what you work for (as long as you hold an FEC and RP) regarding upper age limits or retirement age,

Incidentally, one of my colleagues has just has his contract and RP renewed without any problems - he is 72. Another one of my colleagues is 67. One foreigner recently left the company, his own choice, he was 66. I am 57, another colleague of mine is 56. There has been no indication that our contracts and RP's will not be renewed. Mine is due at the end of May. Having been with this company now for 5 years, I don't intend moving again before I retire, and that won't be until I am older than 65. My company knows my wishes, and has no problem with that.

The age question may be viewed differently by schools and universities, who may want to present a 'younger-looking' group of teachers, but any restriction is their policy, and not the central governments'.

[dashanzi73]

Thank you Non Sequitur. Re: my situation, I've been teaching in China since '07. I've currently returned to the States for a short period, but my Z Visa will expire before I return. Thus, the potentially disturbing news about renewal - my next employer will not be my current employer. Would you be so kind to share the name of the provincial capital welcoming a 65 year old teacher?

[Riviello]

I just read an ad here on Dave's from Jinan Universisity in Shangdong that said up to 65.

[Non Sequitur]

That's the one I was referring to - although it came to me via another site.
That's good in itself as it indicates the employer is serious.

[WanderingD]

I recently checked with Visa in China, an agency located in Shanghai, and here's the info they gave me regarding current age limits on Z visas:

For the new application: Female: 55 yrs, male: 60yrs.

For the working visa extension: Female: 60yrs, male 65yrs.

Hope they are right as I'm a 56-year-old male due to arrive back in about two weeks...

[mike w]

[YankeeDoodleDandy]

I will be 62 years old this month and I just signed a new contract. My school in Xian advised me that I will have to take a physical next year. Previous posters have mentioned that if you're already working at a school/university, it's easier to have your FEC renewed even up to 65 years old and beyond. Good news for me !!! I told my beautiful girlfriend , who is a sophomore, that I would stay in China until she graduates. She calls me Ye Ye or Ponce de Leon. Ha Ha >

[dog backwards]

A teacher at a school in my town is pushing seventy. He's also an excellent, well-educated teacher.

[slareth]

[Ariadne]

I was hoping he was joking.

.

[Oriented]

The information seems to be all over the place on this. And there may be a distinction between a new application and continued employment.

I recently renewed a Z visa (in a different industry with a smaller number of qualified applicants) at 57 (female). If I needed to keep renewing my visa, at my current job, I don't think it would be a problem.

I understand that foregn employees can be renewed up to age 65 as "senior managers" or similar titles.

Employers who cite age issues are I think using their own requirements (or should I say prejudices).

Most contracts at my current firm, including mine, aren't being renewed for budget reasons. Applying for new jobs, I'm getting zero response at Chinese firms. I definitely meet their stated requirements.

I would understand being turned down if they had interviewed me and didn't like me (but nobody contacted me), or had called references in China and heard bad things (but I have good local references).

Neither happened. So I doubt it's anything personal. I assume it's age.

[mike w]

It's like many things in China. The rules are actually quite clear - no age restriction for foreigners - but how the rules are interpreted are implemented is a mystery none will ever understand.

Sometimes it amazes me how provincial governments, city/town authorities, and even schools and companies can openly ignore central government rules and implement their own variations to suite their own purposes.