Job Discussion Forums

[davelister]

I will be returning for another stint of teaching in China. My time there before, the school asked me to get an L - Toursit visa, which they changed to a Z - Work visa when I arrived. The school I'm in contact with now also asks that I do the same. I'm interested in how common this is.

Thank you for the responses. An update: The school I mention above did later offer me a job, I declined it and instead accepted an offer last week with another school (better conditions of employment) and which gets me out on a Z visa, after doing the BG -14 form health check in the UK.

[johntpartee]

I've never done it. I wouldn't do it.

[mwaltman]

It's far too common for those who purport to have a college education and yet cannot go online and read the visa rules and regulations (conveniently provided in English) and believe that they are the only exception to a country of laws.

[dean_a_jones]

I came on a business visa, and late. My original job fell through quite late, and I took the risk of coming over for a uni position based on a fair bit of research, discussions with current teachers and the prestige of the school. I also didn't arrive until 3 weeks into the semester, one of the reasons why they wanted me over ASAP. I had to do a HK run, which was tiring and potentially expensive (it was covered).

That was years ago, though. I would not be doing what you are doing today, especially as I just responded to your other post in which you suggested you had all the right qualifications. Things have tightened, especially the new visa rules, in part to try to stamp this stuff out.

It shifts all the risk onto you--potentially a school wants to 'trial' you (and might not actually hire you), or worse wants a few options so gets a few teachers over this way, and then keeps the one they like. If this happens, you are on you own, needing to find something else quickly or head back home. Even if you get the job, you have to hope a visa run to another country works, which you might be paying for. Seems a stupid risk if you are qualified and this is something you want to seriously pursue.

[Zhejiang_Man]

In August 2011 I was in Thailand having just completed 12 months at Pannasastra University of Cambodia. That was a good experience but the pay and conditions were woeful and I went backwards financially.

Anyway, I was trying to decide whether to do another stint in Thailand (already did 5 years there), do another stint in China (likewise, 5 years already), Vietnam or Indonesia.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a decent university position in Zhejiang on the China job board - a previously recruited teacher pulled out at the last minute.

The university wanted someone to begin teaching on Thursday, September 1 so there was no time for processing the usual paperwork. The school agreed in writing to fully fund a visa run to Hong Kong within the first month.

On August 29, 2011 I flew to Hong Kong and got a one-day F visa via an agency. I decided to pay HKD200.00 extra and get a double entry visa. I arrived on campus at midday on August 30, and began teaching on September 1.

You can view the F visa here - http://i44.tinypic.com/vhwc5e.jpg

Over the following 3 weeks, I went to Hangzhou and did a medical exam and my school got a Foreign Experts Certificate for me.

In week 4, the FAO called me to a meeting to discuss travel arrangements to Hong Kong and rescheduling (making up) missed classes. I hadn't previously given any thought to the possibility of having to do make up classes for classes missed during a visa run.

I asked the FAO whether the Public Security Bureau (the police) would convert my F visa to a Foreigners Residence Permit given that I now had an F.E.C.. Despite her confidence that they would not, I insisted that she at least ask.

Well, the PSB did convert my F visa to an F.R.P. which can been seen here - http://i39.tinypic.com/ev3kue.jpg You can see that the F.R.P. was issued on September 29, 2011.

Part Two - I stayed at that university for 2 years; my (renewed) contract finished on July 12. My second F.R.P., which is still valid until July 30, can be seen here - http://i41.tinypic.com/fxaxig.jpg

In May of this year, I secured a new job in a Guangdong beginning September 1. I did another medical exam in Hangzhou which I sent to my new school along with a release letter and a copy of my (renewed) F.E.C..

By June 19, my new school had secured a new F.E.C. for me, which can be seen here - http://i43.tinypic.com/2a7vax1.jpg. The only thing left to do was to get a new F.R.P. in Guangdong.

My new school told me that it usually takes only 5 days to get an F.R.P. so I decided to fly down to Dongguan on Sunday July 14. My new school would apply for the F.R.P. on Monday July 15 and it would be ready on Friday July 19. I would then leave China on Saturday July 20 to begin my summer holiday.

Unfortunately, a spanner was thrown into the works. When applying for an F.R.P. for another newly recruited teacher (also, already in China), the P.S.B. told my new school the F.R.P. would take 2 to 3 weeks to process.

My new school told me that I could move into my new on campus apartment anytime after July 5, so I had somewhere to stay for the 2 - 3 week processing time, but I wasn't very keen on spending half of my summer break sitting around doing next to nothing in Guangdong.

So, I asked my new FAO to ask the PSB whether they would convert an F visa to an F.R.P. given that I already had a F.E.C. for 2013 to 2014. The FAO confirmed that the PSB would do so in an email which can be seen here - http://i44.tinypic.com/33e0fbc.jpg

Once again, I will get a one-day F visa via an agent in Hong Kong (which I've already confirmed by email despite the new July 1 visa rules) and, for the second time in 2 years, I will be entering China on an F visa which will be converted to an F.R.P. without me having to do a visa run to Hong Kong.

[davelister]

just to say, I appreciate the responses, especially dean_a_jones & Zhejiang_Man

..and by-the-by, is it odd, somewhat, that there are 113 views and 16 votes and 5 replies? feels as if we are chatting in a goldfish bowl, ba?

[mw182006]

[Zhejiang_Man]

[Non Sequitur]

[Banner41]

[Non Sequitur]

What's that saying about 'I am here and the Emperor is far away'.
The law in China is situational, not absolute.
Over the cut off age? Well that depends.
Can't convert a tourist to a work? Well that depends.
Private tutoring not allowed? Well that depends.
Must be in the gate by 11pm? Well that depends.
And on and on..
Add value or don't post is my advice.

[bestteacher2012]

[Zhejiang_Man]

[GeminiTiger]

When you arrive on a z-visa you have a 100% chance of getting a RP.
When you arrive on anything else your flipping a coin.

[NoBillyNO]