Job Discussion Forums

[kev7161]

Hi all,

Many of you are familiar with me and my postings. Many of you know which school I teach. Right now we are in the midst of our summer "holiday" but I am still here in Hangzhou teaching for a summer program for another company. I'm staying at my apartment at my normal school. This will be rather long-winded, so please forgive as I want you to know the facts of my problem and, hopefully, I can get some sane advice (flamers and silly-a$$ responders need not bother):

In April, I signed a new contract with my school for the following school year (starting in September, 2005). The school gave me a generous raise and I am allowed to teach at the same level I currently teach (Senior). This school is not the greatest school but, from what I read here, it's not the worst either. The students are not the best students, but many are and I truly love them. I could have certainly moved on to another school, but I am hoping a second year at the same school will prove to be easier than the first. Okay, disclaimers are now out of the way.

As I was going over my new contract, I asked how I would be reimbursed for a plane ticket if I didn't have a new RT flight. I was told that with no ticket, I would get 5000rmb at the end of the contract. If I have a ticket, then up to 8000rmb. So, I decided I would fly home in August for a couple of weeks to resupply myself, visit family and friends, get away from China, and get that round trip ticket. I asked my foreign affairs head guy: "will the school pay for my re-entry visa?" I was told "sure, no problem" - - - they love me here, don't you know.

At the beginning of June, when it was time to start the paperwork on renewing my visa, I told the head guy that I had my plane ticket and I would be back at Hua Mei on August 31st, so please make sure my re-entry visa reflects that (in other words, make the dates for September sometime). My visa was due to expire on June 30th (as were my rights to live and work in China). Again, no problem.

Near the end of June, everyone that is needing help with visas are finding out that this school is having problems and is not even certified to hire foreign teachers! On June 30th, the actually do get certified. I'm a little worried as I don't have my visa renewed yet (they really dragged their feet on this)! Will I be deported? Will I go to Chinese prison? Will I be heavily fined? My school is telling me: "Kevin, no problem for you as you have signed a new contract. We will have your visa in a couple of weeks (it is now July 17th and still nothing. I've been told it will be here on July 19th).

Today, I receive a phone call from the head guy's assistant. "Kevin," she tells me, "you will have to pay the cost for your re-entry visa." WTF? Where did this come from? I have reminded them multiple times about my plans and have gotten VERBAL assurances (there's the huge mistake, by the way), that there are no problems - - although, as you can see, there are many problems.

So, I send an email to the head guy (as he is not in the office today), reminding him of all the things that have transpired. I have 3 weeks before I am due to fly home to the US. I am not enamored of this school or even enamored of China, but it is something I chose to do (for just one more year) and have planned accordingly (mentally, physically, professionally, and financially). If I go home to stay in August, then the money I spent on my satellite system is wasted (good investment for another year here, bad investment for only the 6 months I have had it) as well as the sofa I purchased (good investment for the next 12 months, not so good for the only 2 months I have so far used it), and other little things here and there.

I told him that, as I have already signed a second contract, that by their refusal to pay for my re-entry visa after assuring me they would, I wouldn't be able to fulfill my contract, but the burden is upon them (I don't know if all of that is really true, but . . . ). In other words, they would be breaching my contract and they would owe me for a plane ticket home and the penalty fee of up to US $2000. By the way, that RT plane ticket in August? Non-refundable. But you know what a "contract" is worth in China.

So, my options are:

1. Not go home in August, forfeit the plane ticket (and get reimbursed next summer - - probably), stay at this school and fume for a few months.

2. Not go home in August, find another job at another school, and leave many of my possessions behind, adjust to life in a new school, and fume for a few months.

3. Go home in August, stay home, start teaching (or sub-teaching as most jobs will be filled by then), leave many of my possessions behind, relax and chill out, get screwed by this school, have a bitter taste of China in my mouth, and fume for a few months.

4. Pay for the re-entry visa, be angry at the school, fly home and try to enjoy myself for a couple of weeks, come back and fume for a few months. (on a matter of principle - - this option would suck - - but it is probably the wisest)

Okay, that's all for now. So, I would really appreciate some feedback. And, again, all of you responders out there that like to make pithy little comments and then sit back and chuckle at your superior smugness, just take it somewhere else. Thank you.

[kimo]

No flame here. I only left China one time in three years on my original Z-visa. To re-enter the country I paid for my own visa. It only cost a couple/few hundred RMB. Don't sweat it, if you have a good deal otherwise, and assuming you get your updated visa in time. Go home and have a good time.

[e_jorgensen]

I suggest you just pay for your own visa. It's not that expensive (I got a double entry visa for about 70 bucks US). You might even want to invest in a multiple entry visa, (about a hundred bucks US depending on where you get it, HK is the best). Anyway, after you get a multiple, your school can just extend it at their cost. Outside of Guangdong province and other border areas, getting this can be a real hastle....so. Basicly, most schools only agree to pay for the visa that is required IN china, not entry and exit visas. It used to really put me off too when schools would make me pay for my entry and exit visas, but outside of close border areas, you kinda don't have any choice.

[lagerlout2006]

Kev--Option 4...If it makes you feel better most schools do not cover re-entry visas..Except maybe GZ...Seems to me schools cover the Z visa. If you want to travel abroad--or to HK-it's up to you to get the visa...Last winter break we all had to do this. I went to HK-150Y for the re-entry. A friend went to the US--his was closer to 500...I'd give them the benefit of the doubt and call it a misunderstanding...

You lost me a bit with they "can't hire foreigners." Have you been illegal?

[struelle]

Hey Kev,

Sorry to hear about the actions of the school and how they affected you. If it was anything like my contract last year, they don't deliberately try to screw you, but there's terrible communication and organization among the management. Put simply, the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing.

Since you signed a contract and the plane ticket is non-refundable though, I'd suggest option #4. Make sure, before you leave, that the school promises you in writing that they will reimburse your ticket next year. Get it signed and chopped by the highest authority figure you can find. Better yet, have it prorated into your salary.

Another thing - be sure your visa is in order before leaving the country. I wouldn't trust your school to do it right. Didn't they promise before and botch it? Jump on their case about this, because you have to pay a fine if you overstay an expired visa.

As a general rule I don't trust schools when it comes to visa paperwork and prefer to do it myself. The way I look at it is that it's my passport and I'm the one responsible, not the school, if anything happens with customs and immigration. Even the schools agree with this, so the visa had better be in order.

Steve

[kev7161]

You lost me a bit with they "can't hire foreigners." Have you been illegal?

No, the school is in cahoots with a "company" called Times Education Management and all foreign teachers were hired as "educational consultants" (legally, valid visa and all). Then, the company loaned us out to the school to teach. This is one of those ways of circumnavigating the fact that the school didn't have a certificate to hire foreign teachers, but they sure wanted parents to know they have them. Now they have finally been certified.

Later today, I was sent an email by the head guy saying that, although it wasn't in the contract and he had forgotten he had told me the school would pay for it, they will go ahead and pay for the re-entry visa (I pitched a b i t c h - - the squeeky wheel and all). But, it's a lesson learned for me and for anyone else that may read this thread. However, I'll believe it when I see it (supposedly this Tuesday, 7/19). Thanks all for your input.

[millie]

kev wrote:

[kev7161]

Except for when your earnings are in Chinese RMB, "a few hundred RMB" is quite costly. Yes, of course, I will spend more at home, but the biggest grrr-factor is that they had said they would pay for it and then were seemingly backpedaling later. Did they make a mistake? Was there miscommunication? Quite possibly, but tomorrow is the "big" day. Let's see what happens.

[nolefan]

Kev buddy,

Maybe just this one time, the grass could be greener on the other side. Maybe my wife and I are spoiled by our school as it seems we've had 2 or 3 issues in 6 months, but there has to be better schools around and better folks to deal with.

The satellite ain't waisted as you can box it and carry it over to your next place. you can propably find someone to buy your sofa or just consider it "sunk costs".

[shenyanggerry]

I think it is partly their way of seeing things. I was promised a contract for next year to be signed before I left China. A week before departure, they decided against it. When I squaked loudly, they changed their minds - again - back to my way of thinking. Looks like the same happened to you. Good luck with next year.

[kev7161]

A quick update for anyone that is interested: Yesterday I was given my new FE Certificate (expires next 08/31/2005), my new Resident Permit (expires 08/31/2005) and a one-time re-entry Z visa (expires 09/29/2004) for when I come back from the US at the end of August.

I showed much gratitude to the lady who took care of all this for me and I will remember the FAO when I come back with some nice gifts from America.

Saying all of that . . . why does EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERY LITTLE THING in China have to be so hard and stressful? I know the Chinese have to endure just as much (or more) than we foreigners and I really feel for them, but surely some routines (school scheduling, banking practices, visa apps., etc.) could be more, well, ROUTINE by now. I mean, really, how hard can it be for the banking institutions to have a set procedural list on how to exchange currency? (That is way off topic, but I'm just using it as an example) It just wears me out physically and psychologically!

[shenyanggerry]

Reminds me of Heinlein: "In a mature bureaucracy civil servant equals civil master".

I suspect that the endless controls imposed by a communist government are still formally in place even though real economic policies have changed. There are clerks whose job depends on having all the forms filled out correctly. Trying to change paperwork is a slow tedious job.

Some examples ridiculous paperwork from CN Rail where I used to work:

In 1965 they finally discontinued the requirement that every passenger train conductor send in the form showing how many half-fare Japanese immegrants were carried to work on the railway. The last one had been carried in 1911.

A late 80's survey of computer reports produced turned up one addressed to a man retired for fifteen years.

I suspect any large organization has similar tales in its past. It's just frustrating in the Chinese present.

[dandan]

[kev7161]

Yes, I'm sure that's it. Your comment just now solved all problems. Thank you and good night!

[Xin]