|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
rmatley21
Joined: 02 May 2014
Posts: 1
|
 Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 12:17 am Post subject: Age Requirement for Chinese Work Visa - any way around it? |
 |
|
I was interviewed for a very attractive position in Shanghai a few days ago and it was going very well until my age came into question. I am 18 years old and a pretty experience tutor/teacher/young professional. I know that the demand in China far out weights the supply, so I know I will be able to find someone willing to hire me (as I just did). Is there anyway to get around the 24 years old or above age requirement for a Chinese visa or is it a hard-locked regulation?
Thank you for your help. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
|
| Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 12:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Do you have a degree? Teaching exp? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 1:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Actually, your question should be whether you can obtain legal employment in China as an 18-year-old without a college degree and very minimal to zero paid teaching experience. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jtea
Joined: 22 Apr 2014
Posts: 69
|
| Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 1:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
This is something you should talk to your employer about. The guidelines are pretty clear but according to this website: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/visa/work.htm
| Quote: |
| There is some flexibility in these requirements so if you can find a willing employer they still have a chance of obtaining approvals for you. |
How much lee-way you will get without a degree, required age, and teaching experience I really can't say. Ask your employer if its something they can work around. It's China, if they want you badly enough they can find ways. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
|
| Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 1:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
What honest employer (whom you can trust to treat you fairly and fulfill contractual promises) is going to hire an underage, unqualified 'teacher?' This is just asking to be exploited.
What are you going to do if your future employer shafts you? Go to what authorities? Bad idea; get a degree first, go legally. The risks of living/ working illegally are real. It only takes a very little bad luck for things to go seriously wrong in such a vulnerable situation. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 2:22 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Ditto Spiral's comment. Moreover, keep in mind that more countries now require at least a bachelor's degree for legal employment. So if you somehow get some sort of teaching gig overseas with your young age and your current lack of degree and experience, that may seem exciting and an accomplishment for you for the moment, satisfying your immediate interests. However, in the long run, you'll be extremely limited and stuck in a cycle of working low-paying TEFL jobs that fall below the radar. Therefore, if you're really serious about being a "young professional" EFL teacher, get yourself enrolled in a relevant BA program before even considering any paying teaching jobs abroad. (You might even find a university degree program with a teaching practicum that includes a study-abroad option.) Anyway, a degree + a solid TEFL cert will open way more doors for you, and you won't have to look over your shoulder worrying about being caught by immigration authorities. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US
|
| Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 6:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
| spiral78 wrote: |
What honest employer (whom you can trust to treat you fairly and fulfill contractual promises) is going to hire an underage, unqualified 'teacher?' This is just asking to be exploited.
What are you going to do if your future employer shafts you? Go to what authorities? Bad idea; get a degree first, go legally. The risks of living/ working illegally are real. It only takes a very little bad luck for things to go seriously wrong in such a vulnerable situation. |
Who said anything about working illegally? The OP didn't say that. From what I understand, the regulation that teachers have 2 years of experience is flexible, and interpreted differently in different places in China (with, e.g., some places counting any kind of part-time work experience doing anything). So, my reading of the OP was that he wants to know whether this flexibility would also allow him to find legal employment. Though, of course, your caution against working illegally is still valid.
That said, the OP has a double whammy -- no experience, and no degree. I agree with what others have said, and would recommend holding off until after the degree is finished. Nowadays, an undergraduate degree is what a HS diploma used to be, and is a bare essential for most kinds of work.
It would probably be better for the OP to post this on the China forum, where people know more about the local situation. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 6:34 am Post subject: |
|
|
| rtm wrote: |
Who said anything about working illegally? The OP didn't say that. From what I understand, the regulation that teachers have 2 years of experience is flexible, and interpreted differently in different places in China (with, e.g., some places counting any kind of part-time work experience doing anything).
That said, the OP has a double whammy -- no experience, and no degree. |
No, that would be a triple whammy: 18 years of age, no degree, and zero experience. The legal age requirement is what the OP is hoping employers will overlook. Obviously, not having a degree and zippo on the experience are an issue as well.
| Quote: |
| It would probably be better for the OP to post this on the China forum, where people know more about the local situation. |
Ditto that, although I'm sure the responses will be similar to those in this thread. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
suphanburi
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 916
|
| Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 8:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
| rtm wrote: |
| Who said anything about working illegally? |
How, pray tell, does someone who is underage, obviously too young to have a degree and too young to have any legitimate classroom time get a "legal" job as a teacher when the visa requirements are:
- Degree
- 2 years of experience
- TEFL cert
- over 24.
I can see an employer getting one of:
- the experience or
- the TEFL cert or
- the age
waived but a waiver for all 4? Not likely, even in China.
Illegal work (wrong visa, no residence permit, whatever) may happen but ...
Using fake documents (visa fraud) is a good way to land in a real Asian jail (as opposed to being fired, fined and kicked out for working on the wrong visa).
ALL of the ASEAN + 6 block of countries (meaning all of east Asia) will, by 2015, require a first degree as a minimum to get a visa to work as a teacher.
And after he gets screwed in China, then where?
Street beggar in Bangkok or Manila to get airfare home again?
This has the makings of a disaster looking for a place to happen and there are lots of young folks who get royally screwed every year.
This isn't 2002 when all you needed for a visa in most places in Asia was a white face, TEFL certificate and a passport from an anglophone country.
OP: get your degree 1st. If you want to stay in while collar work it is the minimum for entry level jobs (and not just as a teacher).
Baring that:
- if you are American, try Mexico. At least, after your adventure, it is close and easy to get home again (even if you are broke).
- if you are from the UK, try Spain.
. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US
|
| Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 11:11 am Post subject: |
|
|
| suphanburi wrote: |
| rtm wrote: |
| Who said anything about working illegally? |
How, pray tell, does someone who is underage, obviously too young to have a degree and too young to have any legitimate classroom time get a "legal" job as a teacher when the visa requirements are:
- Degree
- 2 years of experience
- TEFL cert
- over 24.
I can see an employer getting one of:
- the experience or
- the TEFL cert or
- the age
waived but a waiver for all 4? Not likely, even in China.
|
I agree with you that it is unlikely that the OP will be offered legal work. My point was just that the OP didn't state that he was looking for illegal work, so assumptions that he is intending to work illegally should be tabled.
Of course, I agree with the recommendations that the OP should get a degree first, and that he should not try to work illegally. Even if the OP were able to get an offer (which may not be outside the realm of possibility), an employer who would need to go to the lengths necessary to get such an underqualified person would probably not be worth working for. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
|
| Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 5:41 pm Post subject: Re: Age Requirement for Chinese Work Visa - any way around i |
|
|
| rmatley21 wrote: |
I was interviewed for a very attractive position in Shanghai a few days ago and it was going very well until my age came into question. I am 18 years old and a pretty experience tutor/teacher/young professional. I know that the demand in China far out weights the supply, so I know I will be able to find someone willing to hire me (as I just did). Is there anyway to get around the 24 years old or above age requirement for a Chinese visa or is it a hard-locked regulation?
Thank you for your help. |
Actually, I would like to salute you for wanting to go abroad and teach/live in another country, esp. China!
http://www.globalcrossroad.com/paid_teaching/teachandmakemoney-benefits.php
I don't think there's any age limit, even if the pay is low, it's enough to live on outside the Tier-1 cities in China, since you get accomadation included.
Get a TEFL/TESOL.
Best Learning might hire you, if you're American or Canadian, white, blonde hair is a plus.
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/china/index.cgi?read=31833
Or you can try this:
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/china/index.cgi?read=31918
Or study Chinese and get a student visa, work on the side is certainly possible:
http://www.east-westconnection.com/program/university-program/
http://www.study-in-china.org/Admission/Visa/20093261041441338.htm
http://www.studyinblcu.cn/lxs/_02001
Another Visa Site for the X-visa:
http://www.z-visa.com/Student/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mr. English
Joined: 25 Nov 2009
Posts: 298
Location: Nakuru, Kenya
|
| Posted: Mon May 19, 2014 12:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| As Gringo says, in China there are no limits. While things have tightened up a bit in the past year, China is still the wild wild east. You say you are experienced; what relevant experience when you are only 18? If you were here you could find work, but have some cash to get you through a slow start. Do not go to Beijing — too many rules and too much air pollution; I would recommend starting in Guangzhou or Shenzhen but be willing to move to the boonies. The mommies here in China are hyper-critical, but they love cute, young teachers. If you are good with 1 to 5 year olds (yes! 1!), there is a market for you. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
