Job Discussion Forums

eslteach · Joined: 28 Sep 2010 Posts: 94

I have been talking to a school for the last two months about working there next semester. I did sign their contract and send it to them in the mail. During all that time, they have not gotten me a proper work visa. They want me to come to the school on a tourist visa and then they tell me I can get the work visa later.

I have had two contracts at other schools. Both times, I had a work visa before I went there. Both schools needed less than a month to get all this done. The new school says they cant do anything because they are on vacation, but this was not a problem for my other two schools.

I wrote an email last night saying that if they don't "solve the problem" of the tourist visa, they "will need to find another teacher."

I dont think that is me breaking the contract, but the school wrote back saying that "since I am breaking the contract" I will be "reported to the National Administration of Foreign Affairs" and be put on a blacklist for 3 years.

What is the best way to deal with this?

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

ignore it. you haven't broken anything, as you haven't actually
signed a contract. that comes after you arrive, when they have
you sign the real contract, then have it stamped/sealed.

regardless, isn't one of the terms of the contract that they will
supply the appropriate visa?

Shroob · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 1339

Don't come unless you're on the right visa. Regardless of what the school tells you.

If I were you, I'd take this as a warning about the school, it's probably indicative of later problems if you were to progress with the school.

eslteach · Joined: 28 Sep 2010 Posts: 94

they are telling me they will get the visa after i arrive. i did since a few different papers and mailed it to them. Some of it was in chinese, so I assume they are going to say i actually signed the contract.

Opiate · Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 630 Location: Qingdao

Choudofu and Shroob are both correct. To elaborate on Choudofu's post a little....

The contract you signed has no weight at all. Only an official SAFEA contract has meaning and that is not what you signed. You'd have been asked to sign one upon arrival. Since you have not...this is a non issue.

So yeah...ignore it.

Lobster · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 10:44 am Post subject:

Do you have a copy of a contract, signed by both parties and chopped with the school's seal? If not, the contract isn't valid.

Asking you to do any work on a tourist visa, even while your RP is being processed, is a violation of law. No way they can insist that you arrive on a tourist visa and then apply for work, because that would mean you'd be forced to lie on your visa app regarding the purpose of your visit to China.

If you are outside China, they should have helped you apply for the proper work visa to convert to an RP. Why didn't they do this? If inside China, they should just transfer your RP.

You can pose these questions to the person making all those threats. You may add that you'd find it difficult to trust a contract from a school that seems so willing to break the law. If there are any further threats, you may inform them that you'll be discussing the matter with their local education board, SAFEA and your local Chinese consulate to get their opinions.

RED

Miles Smiles · Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1294 Location: Heebee Jeebee

If the school could hire you legally, it could apply for- and send you a letter of invitation to teach, the very first step in securing a z visa. You know the rest of the process. The job is starting out as a headache. Move on to something else.

eslteach · Joined: 28 Sep 2010 Posts: 94

rogerwilco · Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 1549

peewee1979 · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 1:30 pm Post subject:

eslteach · Joined: 28 Sep 2010 Posts: 94

peewee1979 · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 1:45 pm Post subject:

eslteach · Joined: 28 Sep 2010 Posts: 94

Ill post the email I was sent, start to finish:

Thank you for helping me make the decision to report to National Adminstration of Foreign Affairs that this guy could not apply for working in China any longer for his breaking the contract.

Why should you always complain ? When I checked the flight on airasia, the price was 377 RMB, I was recommended by another US foreign teacher who has booked his flight there. If you booked the flight when I told you, it would be cheaper. Even a kid knows when the time for booking is close to the departure time, the price goes higher. Just as I said, even the flight cost more, we will cover the cost and we will also cover the visa extentions and other possible cost it will cause. We have shown our sincerity and our tolerance. What we did to you is an exception. We do what we promise, not like you.

<<note: the flight I was booking for the tourist visa was for March 20th.>>

If you insult our school, I would insult some US citizens. How could US citizen be so rude and unreliable? I am not insulting you but one of US foreign teacher told me only US citizens who could not be accepted by their own country would like to apply to work in other countries.

thanks

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

There ain't no blacklist. First hand experience.

vikeologist · Joined: 07 Sep 2009 Posts: 600

I'm totally of the opinion that teachers should see out their contracts and treat schools with respect, but in this case - there is no contract, and the school don't merit respect. It's the school that could be reported to SAEFA, not you, for trying to hire you without a valid visa.

There is a blacklist (sort of), but they won't, and can't put you on it, and even if they did, nobody looks at it, or even knows it exists.

The email from the school is a disgrace, and, though sharing private correspondence would normally be unprofessional, perhaps you should name and shame the school to make it less likely that other teachers will be jerked around this way.