Job Discussion Forums

[mbryred]

I had posted my recent experiences elsewhere, but an experience person suggested I had a worthwhile topic. Here's what I previously wrote:

I had planned on going home this summer, after teaching in China four years. But this is better in some ways than retirement: doing something usually enjoyable, seemingly helping many great kids, and the cost of living, wow!!! So, after getting permission to stay in my Guangzhou school apartment until my visa expires, August 8, I started looking for whoever would hire me, at 60 years old. No luck in Guangdong, but a few possibilities in Hunan. So, with 2 weeks left on my residence permit, the race was on: get the release and recommendation from my previous school quickly, hoping I can get a new RP before my current one expires. I was considering a HK run, if necessary, but now if it comes down to it, thanks to this posting, I'll try to get a letter from my new school explaining the situation, go to the local PSB Entry & Exit building, and see what happens. Thanks again for the possibly useful info!

[mbryred]

First, it came down to my Guangdong Foreign Expert Certificate being needed for my new FEC in Hunan. Second, medical. I'll cover them in that order.

For some reason, my previous school, while nicely providing the needed formal Recommendation/Release (is there a difference?) paperwork to my new school, said they had already deleted and destroyed all my records. I researched online and got the required information to go to the local FE Board, and sent the information to my new school, as we have been working well together.

I got a call from the new FAO after I arrived at the FEB, saying she had just made a few phone calls and a lady would be sending her my GD FEB. My new FAO, Lily, sent me a scanned in copy this morning of the actual GD FEC! The opening page of the booklet has my photo and personal information. Page 2 has my 2012-13 FEC with that necessary official red stamp. Page 3 is for accompanying family members and page 4, the "Renewals" page, has a few red stamps which Lily says are the 2013-14 FEC which is what she needed. Yeah!!!

[mbryred]

I was sitting fat (literally these days), dumb (too often) and happy (often enough) this morning when Lily QQ'd that there was a problem with my medical documentation. I had no idea what she was talking about, and thought she didn't know what she was talking about. Turns out she did, and I learned a few things. To get the initial Z visa, a foreigner has to get a medical check-up done in their home country. When the prospective employer receives the those medical forms, they get sent to the local international hospital which then "verifies" the medical and signals a willingness to issue a "Certificate of Health Examination" to the local PSB, once the foreigner actually arrives and gets checked out by their own doctors. Lily nicely sent me an example of this CHE as I'll now call it.

The problem arises for us who transfer to another school or province that requires a new physical examination. If, as normal, you are already dealing with a prospective employer, you go for the physical, and you give your new employer's contact information. Previously unknown to me, in addition to your results (which I'm alw ays given a copy of, thankfully), a new CHE is also sent to the new employer as this is apparently required by SAFEA in order to issue a FEC. Are you confused yet? My problem is that, in early July I got the medical tests done and results, for myself, just to see if I still passed. They gave me a sealed envelope with my results to give to my school, to help them decide if I'm worth their trouble. But, no CHE! So, now, Lily called my local international hospital for foreigners, explained the situation, and I'm to go in this afternoon (mornings are for examinations here, afternoons to pick up paperwork), pay them 10 RMB, get my CHE (hopefully) come home, scan it in and if early enough, Lily will go apply for my new FE this afternoon, after she takes care of paying the required insurance and getting that form, which is also required for the FEC. Whew! I'm sweating just describing this bureaucratic rigamarole.

[mbryred]

I was sitting fat (literally these days), dumb (too often) and happy (often enough) this morning when Lily QQ'd that there was a problem with my medical documentation. I had no idea what she was talking about, and thought she didn't know what she was talking about. Turns out she did, and I learned a few things. To get the initial Z visa, a foreigner has to get a medical check-up done in their home country. When the prospective employer receives the those medical forms, they get sent to the local international hospital which then "verifies" the medical and signals a willingness to issue a "Certificate of Health Examination" to the local PSB, once the foreigner actually arrives and gets checked out by their own doctors. Lily nicely sent me an example of this CHE as I'll now call it.

The problem arises for us who transfer to another school or province that requires a new physical examination. If, as normal, you are already dealing with a prospective employer, you go for the physical, and you give your new employer's contact information. Previously unknown to me, in addition to your results (which I'm always given a copy of, thankfully), a new CHE is also sent to the new employer as this is apparently required by SAFEA in order to issue a FEC. Are you confused yet? My problem is that, in early July I got the medical tests done and results, for myself, just to see if I still passed. They gave me a sealed envelope with my results to give to my school, to help them decide if I'm worth their trouble. But, no CHE! So, now, Lily called my local international hospital for foreigners, explained the situation, and I'm to go in this afternoon (mornings are for examinations here, afternoons to pick up paperwork), pay them 10 RMB, get my CHE (hopefully) come home, scan it in and if early enough, Lily will go apply for my new FE this afternoon, after she takes care of paying the required insurance and getting that form, which is also required for the FEC. Whew! I'm sweating just describing this bureaucratic rigamarole.

[Riff Raff]

Good luck to you.

Starting out, the hurdles of paperwork were an adventure. Now I don't have time for it.

China is cool. The hurdles involved to secure a low paying, dead end job in a polluted area doesn't seem worth it. There are very few exceptions.

You're already chugging along. Staying makes sense. That you may someday be given the boot makes me wonder if it's worth bothering at all. Unless you got a job that provides money to invest, odds are you won't be allowed to retire in China.

What will you do when you've got no option but to return to your home country?

[mbryred]

What's life without some challenges? Yes, we could make more money in America working at McDonald's, but here in China, about 97% of what I earn is money for me to do with as I please. Working at nice schools that offer housing, utilities allowance, meal and transportation card is one side of the coin of what keeps me here. The other side is the overwhelming appreciation and support of the students I teach. I make English fun and interesting, which for most isn't what college becomes after a few days.

I'm partly retired now and in a few years, as soon as possible, I will tap into my social security. It won't be a lot (especially as I've realized the projected pay out decreases every year I'm not contributing) and health in the declining years is always a big issue. But, I've had a good full life, and as the saying goes: "everyone dies some day, but not everyone lives." I know too many people who retire and die. As long as I live, I want to live to the fullest.

And regarding those international medical checks, a word of advice. When you get one, tell them you want a "red book" copy of the results and pay the 10 yuan. The "red book" is the official "Certification of Health Examination" required for a Foreign Expert Certificate." It went well at the hospital yesterday, though actually where the paperwork's done, across the street, is called the Guangdong Healthcare Center for International Travel. As soon as I got there, I was on the phone with FAO Lily who explained what I needed. The nurse looking receptionist gave me a form and a number, pointed to where my number would be called, and told me to ask for the red book. About two minutes later my number was called and I went to booth 10 and asked for the red book. She said "red book' with the questioning yet confirming tone, wrote some information of the form, had me put my name on it and sign it, then gave me another number, directing me to wait across the room where payment is received and results are given. This wait was about 10 minutes. The nice lady asked for my passport copy (whoops, I forgot) and another photo (whoops, left it in my apartment), and 10 RMB. She asked the question I failed to clue in on "How many copies?" I simply replied "One," thinking "why would I want more?" So, I went next door (literally, 10 steps), got the photo and photocopy and returned to the nice lady (lady #3 I call her). She took all she needed and said to be back in an hour. I found a nice little cafe where I had an "English breakfast" and a nice beer, returned an hour later, got another number, waited another 10 minutes... then was handed another, normal copy of my results. Waaaa. ... I couldn't believe it. I said, "I asked for a red book." "Oh really" they say. "Well they cost the same." Fortunately, lady #3 arrived at that moment and said "Oh, you wanted the red book? I'm sorry, wait here 5 minutes." Ten minutes later I happily walked out the door with my red book; after I sat down, 'scanned' the pages and sent them to FAO Lily via QQ. In America, I'm rarely happy after going though a bunch of bureaucratic BS. In China, I actually sometimes do smile, usually because I know that most of the time in America it takes longer and costs more money to accomplish what's needed.