Job Discussion Forums

[Contradicto87]

Alright friends.

I'm trying to get to Shenzhen and teach English.

So I have been waiting since May for a work permit to be issued.

I've been told that it was finally issued about a week ago, but other documents are still needed before the company can fedex me the package.

However, this company is supposed to put me to work in a public school. I'm supposed to be in China right now! Now the company says my job is compromised, and I haven't heard any response in days.

But I haven't even been able to have my Z-visa processed yet.

Whether the company is at fault, or the labor bureau, either way my question to you is this: am I screwed?

More specifically:

Am I able to search for alternative employment in China even if I (supposedly) have a legitimate work permit issued?

[roadwalker]

The only other document they need so far, if they are being straight with you, is the Visa Notification letter, aka an invitation letter. They should have no trouble getting that once they have a work permit. If they don't have it within another week, definitely find some other work. Not getting back to you when they have nothing good to tell you is common in China. It's also common with people who are lying, so I understand your worry.

As far as finding other employment elsewhere when there is already a work permit issued on behalf of School A, that's a good question. My first reaction is that it shouldn't pose a problem, but I really don't know. Perhaps someone else here has had that experience?

Also, are you thinking about teaching exclusively in Shenzhen? That may affect the answer to the above question.

[chinatimes]

[Contradicto87]

Thanks for the quick responses.

Yes, I'm trying to go specifically to Shenzhen.

As far as the long wait time is concerned, I misspoke, I meant July. (idk why I wrote May).

I figured, and was told, that the long wait time was typical.

[bestteacher2012]

[A593186]

I'm at a loss why someone says it's not a problem to get another job. A work permit is issued and exclusive to the employer, just as the FEC and RP.

[Bud Powell]

Is a "work permit" something new? I've never been issued a work permit as far as I know. Is this something that one's FAO would keep? I see nothing in my passport that indicates that it is a work permit. I always thought that the FEC was the work permit, and that was not issued until the teacher arrived at the school.

There was a time that whenever one converted money, he had to show an FEC to prove that he earned the money legally.

[choudoufu]

[Bud Powell]

[Contradicto87]

Thanks y'all.

So let me restate my original question:

If the company (supposedly) has an actual work permit issued by the labor bureau, but there is no school lined up for me, would I be able to:

a) use that existing work permit with another employer
b) work for another company, applying for a new work permit (a.k.a. can I have two existing work permits in my name?)

[choudoufu]

no, you can't use it with another school. the working permit is issued
(paid for by the school) listing the school name and the contract dates.
you deliver that to the embassy along with the invitation letter (on the
school's letterhead) and the visa notice, and the healthy certificate
(if required). everything gots to match. regardless, a working permit
without a visa notice is worthless. next employer must go through the
same process, get work permit, then get visa notice.

don't know if there would be a problem with two simultaneous work
permits, plus one or two visa notices being processed. i would assume
maybe. the folks that do the permits/notices would notice two
identical names, probably kick back the second application. but i'm
just guessing. plenty of applicants (from reading the posts) give up
waiting and try second and third employers, many are successful.
could be they are trying in different locations.

[mw182006]

That sucks OP, hope it works out. For comparison's sake, my school started the work permit process on 8/20 and told me this past week that it was completed and they're now waiting on the invitation letter. So < 1 month processing in Sichuan province for the work permit.

[sui jin]

"everything gots to match. regardless, a working permit
without a visa notice is worthless"
sorry to veer off-topic slightly .. but when i went to get the Z visa in HK recently , an agent there said I was missing one document (the visa notice?) which authorised my employer to sponsor visas.

After panicking , I went to the Chinese Consulate , handed in my invitation letter, and work permit, and passport (not the health cert.) and got the visa without any problem . No request to see the visa notice. Huge relief.

So maybe the process varies depending whether you are in China or not when the company /school prepares the docs for the Z visa. My health check was done in Shanghai , so that's why they didn't need it (?)

[sui jin]

To try to answer the OP - if the company has a work permit for you in its possession , then the Shenzhen or Guangdong Labour Bureau knows your situation/credentials. But the 'work permit' is really just part of the invitation package . Nothing is active yet . After all you are not here , and have no visa.

So if you applied again for a new job in Shenzhen , and a new company applied for another work permit, maybe the Labour Bureau has your records, maybe not. In any case , plans on both sides fall through all the time, maybe the old company changed its mind... etc
So I don't see why the Labour Bureau would not issue a second work permit - they are getting another fee. Even if you have two work permits you can only get one visa.