Job Discussion Forums

[dfra]

Hi All,

I am in California near Los Angeles. Offered to teach grades 5/6 and Juniors 1/2 (? pre-high school). At this point in the hiring process:

"Hi Sir:
In order to shorten the process and simplify the visa application due to deadline, the summer holidays will start on 1st July and wont be able to meet the required 4 to 5 week application, the ZhaoQing School would like know if you are agreeable if the school issues you the Letter of Invitation for you to apply for a (one-year multi-entry) F-visa (Business Visa).

You will still bring along all the medical reports as required.

This would not be very different from the original z-visa application plan as this is the way to speed up the bureaucratic process. We also have some foreign teachers on this F-visa at the Guangzhou school and has not created any problems."

The school is attached to "English School attached to the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies in Guangzhou" with a new school in Zhao Qing, Guangdong.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thank you.

[vikeologist]

I don't think they would be able to change the F visa into a residence permit.

So, not very different other than the fact that you would be working illegally.

It hasn't created any problems for them because they haven't been caught yet. When they are, they, and you, will pay a hefty fine. You will probably be kicked out of the country. The rules on foreign nationals are about to be stiffened, so even in situations where schools have got away with this in the past, they might not now.

[dfra]

Hey thank you. I had thought as much but did want to get some solid input from those with more experience.

I finally replied that I would not accept an F-Visa so as to avoid "any negative events" down the line.

Thank you again for the great input.

[lemak]

Don't do it. It's their problem that they left the recruitment process too late to do things legally. They just want you to pick up *their* slack - in effect pay for their laziness / incompetence.

If they have other foreign teachers there on F visas then quite clearly it's an ongoing problem.

I'm all for experiencing as many aspects of different countries' cultures as I can, but learning first hand about Chinese legal bureaucracy, deportation procedures and potentially the condition of immigration detention centers are not included in this.

Look elsewhere, or if the school is really desperate someone is going to have to work a couple of days during summer vacation to cover for their tardiness.

[GuestBob]

It doesn't take 4 to 5 weeks to do what they need to do to get you a work permit and invitation letter - as long as you are quick about the medical examination at your end.

This is because they are either incapable of/don't want to bother translating a few documents for your application or, more likely, they don't have the right to employ foreign staff. I would err strongly towards the latter possibility which, if true, would mean that your contract would have no legal weight at all and you would end up working illegally in China on an F visa.

Sever.

[dfra]

I totally agree with you.

I do not have to report to the school till the 25th of August, so I still believe there is plenty of time to get the Invitation letters and take to the Chinese consulate here in LA.

Thank you.

[dfra]

Yes they had many accolades about their school and that the one I would teach at is a new one.

They have all my documents since last week so I thought there is plenty of time to get the letters, take them to the consulate in LA for the Z-Visa, then once I entered China, get the work permit and FRP.

Thank you too for the input.

[choudoufu]

"the required 4 to 5 week application?" that's the entire process, beginning
with your initial email contact to you getting your EMS package with the
work permit and invitation letter.

once you send them the scanned copy of your health report (is that
even required in guangdong to get the work permit?), they need less
than two weeks to get your package sent out.

once sent, they can go on vacation. it's all on you and the chinese
embassy.

"We also have some foreign teachers on this F-visa" means they don't
have the legal right to hire foreigners, and all their other teachers have
fallen for the same trick.

[dfra]

Thanks for the insight.

Again another helpful explanation providing great help on this process.

Thanks again.

[GuestBob]

Google translate is your friend and I make no claims as to how up to date this information is:

http://zfxxgk.safea.gov.cn/content.php?identifier%3D000014402%2F2009-00177

[dfra]

Thank you. I assume this shows the organizations who applied.

Thanks again.

[GuestBob]