Job Discussion Forums

[maj0915]

Hey everyone, I just received my Z-Visa and am going to be flying out to China in a couple of weeks for my first job abroad! Therefore, I want to make sure I bring all of the appropriate documents. Will it be necessary to bring any official documents other than the Passport and Z-Visa when I travel, such as my college diploma, TEFL, etc.?

[vikeologist]

You should bring your original degree certificates, and any other original certificates you think you might need. Your initial job may not need originals, but you might move on straight to another job or opportunity that does.

Incidentally the words 'college diploma' worried me. Maybe it's my poor American English, but does this mean you don't have a degree? Does your school know this?

A degree is a prerequisite for (/of?) getting a foreign experts' certificate. Of course, people sometimes play outside the rules, but I just wanted to check that the school and you are on the same page.

[johntpartee]

[JamesD]

To actually get in and start work you only need the visa in your passport. You might need your diploma and certs if you plan on staying and change employers. A scan will usually do but play it safe and bring them.

If you plan on being here a while like some of us old-timers you might bring your birth certificate or a notarized copy. I know I'll get jumped on by people who think it's overkill/unnecessary but over the last 18 years it has come in handy a couple of times.

Check that your driver's license is good for at least another year - I've used mine as ID once or twice when I didn't carry my passport, you may want to get a Chinese DL, it's a good prop for lessons.

[johntpartee]

[GreatApe]

I agree with JamesD ... I've rarely had to use the original copies of my degrees, transcripts or my birth certificate. I generally just use my scanned copies which have been saved on USB (as well as emailed to myself, just to be safe).

However, there have been a couple of times that I've been glad that I also have the original hard copies too.

Good Luck in your new job, and Welcome to China!

--GA

[vikeologist]

Sure, I accept that originals aren't always needed.

In Ningbo though, no original degree certs, no residence permit; end of, (subject to the standard things might be different now or I might have been lied to etc).

[Bud Powell]

[Bud Powell]

[JamesD]

Technically there is a difference but many people use diploma to mean the piece of paper and degree the abstract.

"I have my degree and here's the diploma to prove it."

Not actually correct, just common usage.

[Non Sequitur]

My certificates are mounted on card, so I took scanned versions and left the bulkier items in an envelope at home to be mailed to me if needed. They weren't.

[johntpartee]

[vikeologist]

[johntpartee]