Job Discussion Forums

[GeminiTiger]

Two years in a row while searching for a position in China I have looked at Chendu and greater Sichuan as a place that I would really enjoy spending a year or two.

Two years in a row I have been offered contracts in Sichuan province in different cities only to have the offered revoked suddenly when they knew I was in country over 5 years. Because of a little enforced 5 year rule.

The five year rule is that a foreigner may not work more then 5 years consecutively in China without leaving for at least a 1 year break. In the past this rule has been seen as enforced only mythically or not at all, but exists much as the 60+ age rule, seemingly random or selectively.

However the policy seems to be consistently enforced in Sichuan province regardless of location.

The purpose of this thread is more or less to wonder out loud why such a policy is so narrowly enforced, why is it enforced in Sichuan. I also wonder why if foreigners are now to pay in to the retirement/tax scheme if they should be forced to leave after 5 years. (Well according to the Sichuan visa office).

Of course if anyone has evidence to the contrary I would love to hear it, but I doubt two separate Universities in two separate cities would give me exactly the same answer if it wasn't indeed the case.

The irony of such a rule is that it makes me consider somewhat technically illegal options to skirt around this rule and reset my 5 year clock, that is actually going on 8 years.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Of course, if you have lived in China for over 5 years you can apply for the green card. This way, you cannot.