Job Discussion Forums

Totemic · Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 118 Location: Nanjing

There is a rule in place that people older than 65 can not be issued a working visa.

Just wondering if any of the users here know of anyone older than 65 who has been issued a working visa?

Reason: I am trying to help out a friend.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

Totemic · Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 118 Location: Nanjing

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

Yeah, keep working on it. But being older than 65 isn't really a good thing in any employment market. How much older than 65 is your friend? An F (business) visa might be the best he can do, which isn't always a bad thing. Plenty of people are working on F visas in China, and I did it once myself.

tianfuoe · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 36

Each province is going to be different as far as interpreting and following any rules. Sichuan province, for example enforces the "no working visa for over 60" rule very strictly. However, I know of a few teachers that are over 60 and still teaching here. I know one that is 72 and still teaching. It all depends on whether or not your school has the "guangxi", and how much they are willing to put forth as "gifts" to get an elder teacher an RP.

It also depends on how many teachers they have in the "que" that want to teach at their school. If they have prospective teachers that are young enough, they wont put any effort into keeping a seasoned, experienced teacher. It just isn't worth the effort or cost for them to do so.

chengdude · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 294

Another issue that bears on the topic: The older the foreign teacher, the more difficult it is for a school to get an insurance policy issued. That has been a stumbling block at my school and it's in Jiangsu.

Totemic · Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 118 Location: Nanjing

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

I know of one teacher who was rehired by a reasonable uni until he turned 70 and then no more.
Then again he amassed about 8 years of continuous service and was good at the job.
No degree and no ESL cert either.
He finished at the end of June 2010 and I feel things are progressively tightening.
So, not sure about new hires after 65.
Let us know how it works out.

mike w · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 12:46 pm Post subject:

There is NO rule about age limits for working for foreigners.

I have had this checked by my company's lawyers, and by an independent lawyer.

Central government has no such rule in place. In my company we have two foreigners over 65 and another one who will be 74 this year - contract just renewed.

However, as we all know, rules are open to some very dubious interpretation at provincial and even city level. Some schools may use it as an excuse to keep their teaching staff looking younger, or they may fear increased medical problems with age, or just an excuse to off-load someone. There are numerous reasons.

But there is no age limit set by central government for foreigners to stop working, or to be denied a 'Z' visa or RP.

sistercream · Joined: 18 Dec 2010 Posts: 497 Location: Pearl River Delta

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Mike W
You mention 'company' not school or uni.
Care to clarify?

mike w · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 12:18 am Post subject:

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Thanks Mike - I'm sorry if I put you on the defensive.
As most of us work in schools and unis, our age hiring limits may be different if only because there are more people coming in the younger age cohort and employers have more choice.

mike w · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 6:48 am Post subject:

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

My point exactly.
The biggest limiter is competition.