Job Discussion Forums

Voyager2 · Joined: 20 Apr 2013 Posts: 34 Location: S.E Asia

Dear all,
I know I risk the potential wrath of some China forum users, for this is likely to be a much asked question, but one I cannot locate in this particular forum. So I'm reaching out for some current advice please.

I'm currently in Seoul, and hold an Australian BA: ECE, with a year in a Tokyo preschool (2-6) as a mature-aged graduate, before needing to return home for some surgery. Now, with more energy than ever before I find myself on the Korean peninsula, and being actively encouraged to look at work in China instead, due to increased opportunity there.

I'd like to respectfully ask please, how I'd go arriving on the Chinese mainland on a tourist visa from Seoul and finding a legal work avenue? In my very limited prior knowledge, I believed I had to have had two years work experience in the field after graduating before being eligible for a Chinese work visa. Has this wrongly dissuaded me? With thanks

Toast · Joined: 08 Jun 2013 Posts: 428

China is different to Korea in that there's not really a consistently enforced nationwide immigration policy. Different provinces, cities, and even (depending on their sway with the PSB) schools within the same city will need to follow different rules. Some - although this is becoming increasingly uncommon - will be able to organize the paperwork for you in country, take your passport down to the PSB office and change it directly over to a work visa / residence permit. Definitely don't count on this though - was much easier to do 5 years ago.

The second option is you'll be required to do the paperwork in country, fly to Hong Kong, change to a Z visa, come back and do more paperwork again to get a Residence Permit. This one is a little erratic, and certainly many provinces no longer allow it these days.

The increasingly most common and costly third option is paperwork will be done in country, you'll need to take it back to your home country (or if you're extremely lucky a third country), get the Z visa and then fly back to China to get the RP.

Some other dude was claiming the policy of the Chinese Embassy in Korea had changed and that he could get the Z visa done in Seoul now....why not go that option and just get the job and visa lined up before you arrive?

Voyager2 · Joined: 20 Apr 2013 Posts: 34 Location: S.E Asia

Toast I'm grateful for your thoughtful reply thanks. I'll give it go. Regards

GeminiTiger · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 6:24 am Post subject:

If you arrive in China without a Z-visa in your passport that is ready to be converted over to a resident permit your doing it wrong.

Doing it wrong might work once or randomly, it is not advised. It is not legal, it is not smart. It's also very likely you you could enjoy a $2000 flight back to America or wherever.

Is it really that hard to do it the right way?

kungfuman · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 6:38 am Post subject:

Nothing wrong with coming to China as a tourist and scouting locations and prospective employers.

GeminiTiger · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 7:00 am Post subject:

mike w · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 7:39 am Post subject:

kungfuman · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:08 am Post subject:

Halapo · Joined: 05 Sep 2009 Posts: 140 Location: Jiangsu, China

They just made some changes to Visa and entry, as of July 1st.

One of the things they were trying to correct was people coming and staying on tourist visas. In the past there was a system of converting the tourist visa to a work permit and then to a resident permit. How legal or illegal that was is not really important anymore.

The system is designed that you "should" apply for a Z-visa ( work visa ) in you home country ( again, people would go to Hong Kong and apply, rather than fly home. I am wondering if this still works? ). Once you get into China with a Work visa, you can then convert that to a Resident Permit.

In between the Work Visa and Resident Permit is where the medical "should" happen, but some recruiters like to make you get your own before and, so they know you will pass the official Chinese one. This is also when they "should" get your expert teaching certificate, but again, some recruiters/schools like to get this done early, in case you don't pass. This can mean sending your original degree/diploma ahead...

So can you come look for a job as a tourist, I would say yes. Can you stay and convert that into a Resident Permit? I would say that is what these new changes are trying to prevent.

Again, in the past, it was pretty standard to go from Tourist -> Work -> Resident Permit in the first part of a school year ( in the less desirable provinces they bent the rules more. In a place like Shanghai, the recruiters are not as willing to bend the rules) . Maybe not legal, but nobody was getting to upset about it. Now however, somebody with some power has made this an issue, so the people at the Entry/Exit Offices are following the rules.

My own opinion now, no real facts: I don't think the Chinese Gov cared about immigration for the the past 25 years. However now they have lots of people ( not just EFL teachers ) looking to get in and work. So while education standards might be part of the reason for changes down at the Entry/Exit office, I think the biggest change is that so many people WANT to live in China.

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

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

My advice is to get the job first by applying from Korea.
When you have a legit employer on your side, they will find their way through the morass.
If you apply to schools in Dalian, you could economically visit to confirm things. There is an air link to Seoul and a ferry also I think.
By meeting you face-to-face and making a good impression, your new employer will be more likely to go on the offensive. A visit would also give you the opportunity to ask for an assurance that getting a Z will not involve a trip home.
If you want something in the public sector for Sept start, you had better get going as most FAOs will be on leave shortly.

GeminiTiger · Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 2:18 am Post subject:

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

mw182006 · Joined: 10 Dec 2012 Posts: 310

Hope this isn't much of a thread-jack, but a similar question. What about taking an F-Visa in order to start the September term, allowing the school to get the paperwork in order before the winter break, and then heading home to get the Z visa during the time off? Seems like a pretty risky, not to mention potentially expensive, proposition. I'm trying to do everything I can to get that Z, but it's proving more cumbersome than I expected.