Job Discussion Forums

[bluetortilla]

Is it just my corner of the world or is immigration suddenly cracking down big time on visa renewals, almost like they've got a quota?
It takes digits from both my hands to count the people I know who have either had a really hard time getting their visa renewed or have actually been forced to leave (no visa). Some were not in education but most were. Of course with so many people to count there are many anecdotes but here's two:
A French man married to a Chinese national taught French at the same college for 8 years and was just denied a renewal but given no reason. He did not hear from students that he was being replaced by a new French teacher but who knows? He's now back on a spouse visa and cannot work (and yes his wife is quite resentful).
A man I know in inner Mongolia, fully qualified with an MA in TESOL to boot, worked 7 years in a college in Inner Mongolia. The school liked him a lot and promised him he could work there as long as he wanted, and the PSB had been quite friendly. This year however they flat out told him he was too old (he's 63) and that's the end of the road bub. He tried to talk to some people and even the attache at his school tried to help but no budge. To really scare him off last week the PSB people suddenly came to his apartment, invited themselves in and demanded to know his ISP.
OK, one more. A British guy was working at a high school in Gansu and he was well liked by both students and facility. Last week he was taken to dinner and told that they couldn't renew his visa because the new rules say he needs to submit a criminal background check. When asked why he wasn't told that earlier, they said sorry friend but it's too late now. They gave him just two days to pack and go. He's in Beijing now with his thumb in a pie (or whatever you know what I mean).
I'm leaving China for a while for other reasons (happy it's voluntary at least), but is this a fluke or is it a real crackdown? I would hate to be any of these sorry people's positions.

[Alien abductee]

There's no crackdown because what you've described has been happening for years. First, beyond the end date on a contract no-one should delude themselves into thinking they've got job security. Second, some schools decide they no longer want anyone over 60, other employers just don't want certain individuals back, and things change. Maybe you didn't need a criminal check last month but today you do. Some of the people you mention could even have been working illegally and now they've been caught and are being tossed. C'est la vie.

[bluetortilla]

[Listerine]

A lot of provinces this year seem to have started enforcing the "5 year limit at the same school" rule that has supposedly always been in place, but largely ignored - just as last year the big one they decided to suddenly make a deal about seemed to be the 60 ~ 65 year age limit thing. God only knows what will be under scrutiny next year - maybe the contents of our bowels?

[Simon in Suzhou]

I'm going to go with the 2nd option: Or what.

I have heard a few anecdotal stories like this that are scant on details. But I know a ton of teachers from 3 different provinces and NONE of them have had any problems whatsoever. That's my anecdotal experience. Of course, all of the teachers I know are qualified, native speakers from countries they should be from to get a teaching visa in china, have degrees and experience, are not working illegally under wrong visas, and under 60 years old. I have been here for 5 years and have had no new hoops to jump through in that time.

Often the "your renewal has been mysteriously denied by the PSB" is total BS. This is the way chinese bosses get around being confrontational about letting teachers go who they don't want around anymore. It's easy to blame the government and the teacher is none the wiser. My guess is this lie is being used in some of these cases.

In some places the PSB really will not give visas for people over 60, but usually this is just the school scared to have an older teacher die on their premises. Besides the liability issue, it's just bad for the school's reputation. But again, the lie blaming the gov't is much easier than having to take responsibility for letting a teacher go.

[Bud Powell]

[bluetortilla]

[Alien abductee]

[bluetortilla]

[auchtermuchty]

I think the application of the age limit will gradually become the norm across the country. It's hard to see why they would be giving out visas to foreigners over 60 when 60 is the retirement age for males here and foreigners are (nominally) being brought into the social security system. Of course, an increase in the retirement age is under consideration here, so the limit for foreigners might also rise.

[wangdaning]

[bluetortilla]

[wangdaning]

Thing is, my mom was going back to the US. Just came to see me after 5 years.