Job Discussion Forums

GeminiTiger · Last edited by GeminiTiger on Fri Jul 26, 2013 6:42 am; edited 2 times in total

Something I find fascinating and also annoying about China is it's diverse enforcement of regulations for employment of foreigners in different cities and provinces that according to many teachers even vary within the same city depending on the employer.

I would like to offer up a short list of possible roadblocks encountered by teachers that other teachers have avoided completely, not all areas will have the same requirements. Possible requirements are:
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Native of - US, UK, CAN, AUZ, NZ and maybe IRE, SA
Bachelor Degree required. (some require ORIGINAL document).
Experience - 2 years "required" teaching experience.
TEFL or other certificate required.
Appearance - young, white, beautiful preferred.
Gender - Female, preferred. (90% (?) of expats are male)
Health Certificate - some places every year, some places only once.
Age minimum of 23 or 24 required.
Age over 55 or 60 you risk losing the ability to get a visa in many places.
Continuous work in China less than five years! (Sichuan province)
Test - Psychological Online Test Required. (not a joke)
Zvisa - Maybe issued in-country, maybe in HK, maybe go home to get it.
Criminal Record Check - Especially serious in Inner Mongolia and Beijing
Reference Letter - Required from previous employer - Stamped!
Taxes - Some places will tax you, others won't, others will pay your tax.
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NOTES:
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A) In many places these rules don't exist at all or can be circumnavigated.
B) The other rules that are enforced can be over come if a school has enough guanxi (pull).
C) Other times these rules are suddenly enforced when a school wants to get rid of a teacher.

I'm sure I missed quite a bit of random regulations, I hope people can contribute to this list and make it really complete.

Edit: Updated by suggestions provided below.

therock · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 1266 Location: China

Looks pretty complete to me, but one thing missing, all provinces require release and recommendations letter if you have previously worked in China. Also some provinces for new applications require recommendations letter from previous employers outside of China, they must be stamped with the company's stamp. Too bad if the company doesn't use or have a stamp.

Lobster · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 2:34 pm Post subject:

Need to clarify whether these rules and regs are encountered at a school or government level.

Others: Criminal record check, need to have health insurance. need to have return ticket, PSB re-reg when returning from holidays. Minimum age 24. Cancel FEC.

RED

GeminiTiger · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 2:55 pm Post subject:

Those are quite useful additions. I had forgot about the job offer in Inner Mongolia that wanted a criminal background check. Although I had fancied something new I wasn't sure how to get this paperwork done while living in China so in the end I could not accept the job.

GeminiTiger · Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 9:43 am Post subject:

It seems the criminal record check is becoming a serious requirement in many places this year instead of just "that thing to work in Inner Mongolia".

cloud_pleaser · Joined: 29 Aug 2012 Posts: 83

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

It pays to find a good job and stick with it. Moving from job to job to job is starting to sound like a huge hassle. I've had one mandated health check 8 years ago (I've had my own health checks since then for my own well-being). I've never had to do the whole Z visa thing. I just get a new RP stuck in my passport each year, all taken care of by the school; easy-peasy. Criminal background check? What's that? Native USAmerican? Check. White skin? Check. Less than 60? Check. 2 years experience? Check. Diploma in hand? Check. School pays my taxes (I suppose)? Check.

I don't have a care in the world! Wink

Harpo48 · Joined: 01 Jul 2013 Posts: 3

I'm running into problems in Guangdong. A university wants to hire me but the agent is saying there may be a problem getting a visa. I have 2 years teaching experience, but its not post bachelors degree ( graduated in 2013). I can understand if they are trying to avoid young new graduates but I'm over 30. Anyone have any experience with this problem?

Kysorb · Joined: 30 Jul 2010 Posts: 253 Location: Beijing

theoriginalprankster · Joined: 19 Mar 2012 Posts: 895

Songbird · Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 1:16 pm Post subject:

The whole 24 hours rereg IS ridiculous...and I said so last time I fronted to the police. I've been in and out of China several times over the last year, and other than the original first time I registered, I never went back any other time except for a month ago to update my new passport and address, then the FAO did it for me a week ago after the visa was renewed. Granted, I will go back after I come back from Australia only because I will be using the new passport.

Lived in Shenzhen last year so obviously went to HK every month or so. Can you imagine trying to do this EVERY TIME you cross the border? I know the guy at the PSB thinks it's absurd too, because every time he reminds me, he says, changing his voice to official tone, "According to Chinese law bla bla bla" with a huge look of scorn on his face Laughing

!

NoBillyNO · Joined: 11 Jun 2012 Posts: 1762

Foreigners subject to the new law in Beijing....

davelister · Joined: 15 Jul 2013 Posts: 214

responding to the above post; for UK nationals, if and when this is required for you, links are:

http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/apply-online/ (for all of UK)
http://www.acro.police.uk/subject_access.aspx
https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised
http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/lsfw/legalization/

the first three can be done by post, but the embassy doesn't accept documents posted for legalization.

subject access might also be accepted (I'm guessing) as well as a disclosure, as they are both official documents showing if a person has a criminal record