Job Discussion Forums

[fortunatekooky]

This report comes from a financial website with a weekly webcast. I'm not sure how long the link will work because it may be archived for paid subscribers only.

http://www.financialsense.com/financial-sense-newshour

Scroll down to like the 4th segment or so , from 8-4-12 , the one with Erik Townsend in the sub-heading. The relevant clip begins at minute 43. It's about 5 minutes, not too long.

In brief, Mr. Townsend says his sources in Hong Kong are saying that many Americans are being denied visas at the consulate there. He says it is a sudden thing, and only affecting US citizens. In the clip, they talk specifically about English teachers having this problem.

Not sure what to think about this, so I'm just passing it along. Mr. Townsend is asking for people with more info to email him, and they plan to do a more in depth show -- perhaps ready next weekend -- about the beginning of what he sees as a cold war between US/China. He thinks the visa thing is part of it.

He says that English teachers are having trouble renewing visas. I wonder if these are actually teachers who started working without the zed, then tried to do a HongKong run and were denied? In one case, he says the teacher had an apartment in China already, and was refused re-entry, not even an L so he could retrieve his stuff.

I guess if this was an illegal teacher and they found out, I can understand why they'd refuse re-entry. I mean--if he had a legit visa already, he wouldn't have had to leave the country to renew it, yes?

If this person and whatever other cases Townsend alludes to do not fall into this category, then what is going on?

Anyways--not sure what this is all about. It was odd to hear about the plight of ESL teachers in a financial webcast, but there it is. Link for the show was still working at the time of this posting. Info might be more complete in Townsend's future interview.

Just passing it along.....

[sistercream]

[The Edge]

It's probably a load of nonsence.
However, diplomatic relations between the USA and China are not good at the moment and I have noticed a lot more anti-american sentiment knocking about these days.
As a British expat, the only piece of this that I occassionally hear is that your country just follows what America does.
Nothing anti-british about that in my opinion as it is a fair comment about the wagging tail of the big dog.

[GeminiTiger]

The Olympic games will settle this!

[samhouston]

Might have to do with that 100-day crackdown that I haven't heard much about since it began. The guy in the audio clip doesn't mention what type of visas were being denied.

[JamesD]

Could be the start of a Cold War, BUT he does preface his remarks with "My contacts in HK are telling me that suddenly there's a rash of rumors about American citizens being denied........."
Doesn't boost my confidence in his sources.

Could be something there but could also be a simple tightening of regulations affecting people who do not have proper paperwork.

If you're staying at the same job or changing and have your release letter a HK visa run to renew isn't really necessary. These denied visas could be people trying to circumvent the rules by buying an F or using shady paperwork to get a Z.

Anybody have firsthand experience in HK within the last few days?

[JamesD]

Found this which is interesting and may apply (though a bit vague).

http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/china-2020-legal-and-regulatory-develo-17781/

China Adopts New �Immigration Law�

On June 30, 2012, Standing Committee of the National People�s Congress adopted the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People�s Republic of China (�the Law�), which will take effect on July 1, 2013 and supersede the Law of the PRC on the Entry and Exit Administration of Foreigners and the Law of the PRC on the Exit and Entry Administration of Chinese Citizens. The Law provides new visa policies for foreigners who wish to enter and stay in China, which include: (1) introducing a new type of visa for the importation of talents; (2) requiring Chinese domestic entities or individuals to comply with the requirements of overseas PRC embassy/consulate/other institution commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when issuing invitation letter to a foreigner and be responsible for the authenticity of the letter; and (3) clarifying the staying and residence period of foreigners in China. In addition, the Law requires the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs to formulate a catalogue guiding the employment of foreigners in China in consultation with the relevant departments under the State Council, and requires the Ministry of Education to take lead to launch a work-study program for foreign students in China and set forth regulations on job scope and time limits of the work-study program. Penalties imposed on foreigners who illegally enter, stay and work in China and employers who illegally hire foreign employees in China have been enhanced.