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Is it illegal to work part-time on a business visa?

 
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RiverMystic



Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 1986

PostPosted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 9:52 am    Post subject: Is it illegal to work part-time on a business visa? Reply with quote

I would have thought so. I have an admin person trying to swing this one, but I assume you can't teach legally in a school on a permanent, regular basis ona business visa, even if the contract is shifted to part-time status. Can someone confirm or deny this?

Cheers,

RM
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JamesD



Joined: 17 Mar 2003
Posts: 934
Location: "As far as I'm concerned bacon comes from a magical happy place."

PostPosted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 12:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If it's a foreign (non-Chinese) company or school that pays you through their foreign office then yes, that's what a business visa is for.
But I'll bite and reiterate the party line. Working for and being paid by a Chinese company requires a Z. Full or part-time.
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Non Sequitur



Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China

PostPosted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 7:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If the school paid you into your home country bank account it would be below the radar - but still illegal.
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jimpellow



Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Posts: 913

PostPosted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 10:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Non Sequitur wrote:
If the school paid you into your home country bank account it would be below the radar - but still illegal.


Yes, but it will appear on radar real quick if the teacher is caught in a "visit" by the authorities, which has been occurring more over the last two years. Personally, I think it would almost be worth the fine, apology letter, deportation, five year ban, execution followed by harvesting of one's organs etc...to see everybody who works at the school deny they even knew who you were..let alone ever worked there.

If he did do it, I am sure they would pay cash. It would also leave no paper-computer trail.

I did it in my five years a couple times to help out a couple people I knew. Not that the Chinese were ever very grateful about it in retrospect. But I personally don't think it is worth the risk anymore.
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Markness



Joined: 30 Dec 2009
Posts: 738
Location: Chengdu

PostPosted: Sun Apr 05, 2015 1:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's not legal, but if I am reading what you said correctly (I just woke up, sorry), then they can't really stop you either. You are not legally an employee so there is nothing they can really do Laughing
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toteach



Joined: 29 Dec 2008
Posts: 273

PostPosted: Sun Apr 05, 2015 1:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This must be how some schools get around the "over age 60" school Principal... (Get them a Business visa and pay money into an overseas account).
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Non Sequitur



Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China

PostPosted: Sun Apr 05, 2015 2:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Generous out-of-pocket refunds might be a way, but would hardly amount to a salary.
The big one would be airfare refund.
On balance I think Jim is right.
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jimpellow



Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Posts: 913

PostPosted: Sun Apr 05, 2015 5:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

From the Chinese Embassy:

"Some Americans run into serious legal problems with the Chinese government because they either work in China on tourist or other non-Z visas or they accept part-time employment or private classes without obtaining the proper permission. Violation of Chinese laws can result in severe penalties including imprisonment, fines of up to 500 RMB a day for overstaying a visa, or deportation. It is the employee’s responsibility to understand local laws and obey them."

From lawandborder:

"When is a Z (work) visa required, as opposed to an M (business) visa?

A Z (work) visa is required if a foreign national has a labor relationship with a PRC work unit. In addition, a foreigner with a foreign labor contract and foreign source of remuneration will need a Z (work) visa if engaged in work-like activities for 3 months or more. According to a Labor Department order:

For foreigners working (工作) in China, if the labor contract is concluded with a domestic work unit (in its legal place), regardless of how long the work in China will be, it will be considered employment (就业) in China. If the labor contract is concluded with a legal entity abroad, the source of compensation is abroad, and the work in China is for three months or more (not including foreign engineers and technicians and experts implementing a technology transfer agreement), it is considered employment in China, in which case an employment license should be applied for at the Labor Department’s license-issuing authority according to the Regulations, so a work visa should be applied for, as well as a work permit and residence permit."
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roadwalker



Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Posts: 1750
Location: Ch

PostPosted: Sun Apr 05, 2015 1:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jimpellow wrote:
From the Chinese Embassy:

"Some Americans run into serious legal problems with the Chinese government because they either work in China on tourist or other non-Z visas or they accept part-time employment or private classes without obtaining the proper permission. Violation of Chinese laws can result in severe penalties including imprisonment, fines of up to 500 RMB a day for overstaying a visa, or deportation. It is the employee’s responsibility to understand local laws and obey them."
. . .

[url]
http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/acs_teach.html[/url]

That's from the US Embassy in Beijing's website, not from the Chinese Embassy. Good advice though. Yeah, you might not draw attention to yourself or get caught up in an investigation of someone else, but then again, you might. If you are qualified to obtain a legal entrance for the purpose of employment by the book, it's not worth the risk of taking shortcuts in my opinion.
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RiverMystic



Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 1986

PostPosted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 6:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks. Some great and very direct responses here which answered the question.

RM
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tlkdmc



Joined: 31 Mar 2015
Posts: 51

PostPosted: Tue Apr 07, 2015 1:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am confused at the confusion. A business visa is a business visa. An employment visa is an employment visa. That simple.
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asiannationmc



Joined: 13 Aug 2014
Posts: 1342

PostPosted: Tue Apr 07, 2015 5:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

tlkdmc, YOU HAVE A REAL TALENT FOR THE OBVIOUS
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