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Enkates
Joined: 11 Jan 2015 Posts: 58
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Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2015 10:54 am Post subject: Changing Sponsors after a year |
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So if I get a different job after completing a year contract is it easy to get my Z visa transferred over to another school? Do I have to leave China? |
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tlkdmc
Joined: 31 Mar 2015 Posts: 51
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Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2015 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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This goes beyond being a simple common question. Renew your credentials with a new employer before the current ones expire. Otherwise you are screwed and have to go back home. You would know this before entering China. |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China
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Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2015 5:50 pm Post subject: |
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Your new school is your best ally here.
Assuming your current visa (Z) is legit there shouldn't be too many problems. |
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jimpellow
Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 913
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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 2:59 am Post subject: |
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Non Sequitur wrote: |
Your new school is your best ally here.
Assuming your current visa (Z) is legit there shouldn't be too many problems. |
Agreed. Yet sometimes unfortunately the school will be vindictive for whatever reason, plain lazy as there is nothing in it for them, or the headmaster may want a bribe for the release letter, etc. |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China
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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 3:28 am Post subject: |
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All true Jim.
This happened to me in 04, but fortunately my new school was in the top tier and the miffed and trouble making school was a vocational. Guess who won?
OP will have difficulty if old school invited him to sign on for next year and he/she turned them down.
Things that seemed rosy, often go pear shaped at that point. |
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fchris171
Joined: 28 Mar 2015 Posts: 33
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Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 5:28 am Post subject: |
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I've familiarised myself with the whole process. however, i have one question as this is the first time that i will be going through this too.
as far as the SAFEA goes, does the release letter effectively end your employment with your school? I've heard that you can start a foreign expert licence renewal over 2 months before its expiry (which is what i will hopefully be doing to try and fit in with my wedding in the summer) but if i do change school i'm not sure if i can do it this early as i'll still need to work the final 2 months.
if the release letter was issued before the contract expiry (for changing schools) can you still work for that school until the end of your contract?
if not can anyone provide some info on this as my contract, licence and visa all end around the same time. |
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JellyRoll
Joined: 20 Dec 2014 Posts: 29 Location: Canada
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Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 6:48 pm Post subject: Legal Requirements |
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It's a LEGAL REQUIREMENT for a school/college/Uni to provide a Letter of Release. FREE OF CHARGE and in a timely manner.
If in doubt, visit CFTU!!! (this will probably get me banned, but I don't GAFF anymore!)
Way too many 'scams' in China operated by foreigners!
Way too much 'disinformation'.
Way too many 'lies'.
Trust ONLY people who are working here LEGALLY!
Otherwise, blame only yourself if you end up in jail and deported, with a massive fine and a worldwide ban on flying (yup, it goes onto the Interpol Database!). DO NOT EVER WORK ON A TOURIST VISA or FAKE visa.....it's not worth it!!
If you don't have a degree, GO AWAY!! You cannot be LEGALLY HIRED in China!!
Check everything a million times, and then check again!
If the college/school/uni will NOT put you in touch with previous/present teachers, RUN, don't walk!! There are thousands of jobs in China for GOOD, honest teachers!
You don't need SCAM recruiters!!! Just contact schools directly.
STOP THE SCAMS, ESL-CAFE!
It's just wrong, no matter how much you are earning in commission! You are ruining people's lives!
China deserves SO much better!!
Non Sequitur wrote: |
All true Jim.
This happened to me in 04, but fortunately my new school was in the top tier and the miffed and trouble making school was a vocational. Guess who won?
OP will have difficulty if old school invited him to sign on for next year and he/she turned them down.
Things that seemed rosy, often go pear shaped at that point. |
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zacharybilton
Joined: 23 Apr 2015 Posts: 118
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Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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While it IS a legal requirement that employes provide a letter of release in ALL cases of ending of employment, I'd love to know how JellyRoll thinks a self-proclaimed, illegal union, with no standing, authority, or intelligence or accuracy can help. Besides, now that JellyRoll has set "scammers" straight, it should all clear right-on up. |
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Trufranco
Joined: 02 Jul 2013 Posts: 5
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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I'm curious. I've heard of some new visa requirements for the Z visa coming into place for the next hiring season, however I also read that if you already have one then you're grandfathered into the old requirements. Would this still apply if my visa was transferred to another employer? |
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mysterytrain

Joined: 23 Mar 2014 Posts: 366
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 5:52 pm Post subject: Re: Changing Sponsors after a year |
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Enkates wrote: |
So if I get a different job after completing a year contract is it easy to get my Z visa transferred over to another school? Do I have to leave China? |
I've been under the impression that a Z visa, after being used to enter China legally for employment, is canceled when it is converted to a residence permit. Is this not the case? If it is, how can one "transfer" one's previous Z visa from the year before (or, in any case, the contract with the previous employer) to the prospective new employer?
I understand that (apparently) this can be done (transferring from one job / school / employer to another without leaving the country), but I'm still confused on the particular point of the Z visa being "transferred". |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China
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Posted: Sat May 02, 2015 4:25 am Post subject: Re: Changing Sponsors after a year |
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mysterytrain wrote: |
Enkates wrote: |
So if I get a different job after completing a year contract is it easy to get my Z visa transferred over to another school? Do I have to leave China? |
I've been under the impression that a Z visa, after being used to enter China legally for employment, is canceled when it is converted to a residence permit. Is this not the case? If it is, how can one "transfer" one's previous Z visa from the year before (or, in any case, the contract with the previous employer) to the prospective new employer?
I understand that (apparently) this can be done (transferring from one job / school / employer to another without leaving the country), but I'm still confused on the particular point of the Z visa being "transferred". |
My understanding is that the visa gets you in but it is the permit that lets you stay.
The conversion of visa to residence permit must be completed by the school within so many days.
When changing schools, say over summer, the release form enables your new school to renew the residence permit, which in China states your address.
I'm not up-to-date on multiple entry privileges for the Z but I think you Could go home for a January visit i.e. halfway through your contract, and not have to get a new Z to come into China again.
So in answer to the specific question, getting a residence permit does not invalidate the Z. Only the expiration after say 12m does that. |
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zacharybilton
Joined: 23 Apr 2015 Posts: 118
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Posted: Sat May 02, 2015 4:54 am Post subject: Re: Changing Sponsors after a year |
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Non Sequitur wrote: |
mysterytrain wrote: |
Enkates wrote: |
So if I get a different job after completing a year contract is it easy to get my Z visa transferred over to another school? Do I have to leave China? |
I've been under the impression that a Z visa, after being used to enter China legally for employment, is canceled when it is converted to a residence permit. Is this not the case? If it is, how can one "transfer" one's previous Z visa from the year before (or, in any case, the contract with the previous employer) to the prospective new employer?
I understand that (apparently) this can be done (transferring from one job / school / employer to another without leaving the country), but I'm still confused on the particular point of the Z visa being "transferred". |
My understanding is that the visa gets you in but it is the permit that lets you stay.
The conversion of visa to residence permit must be completed by the school within so many days.
When changing schools, say over summer, the release form enables your new school to renew the residence permit, which in China states your address.
I'm not up-to-date on multiple entry privileges for the Z but I think you Could go home for a January visit i.e. halfway through your contract, and not have to get a new Z to come into China again.
So in answer to the specific question, getting a residence permit does not invalidate the Z. Only the expiration after say 12m does that. |
2200+ posts and this user still has only a "my understanding" per visa issues.
The definition alone is that a visa is nothing more than permission to enter the country; at least for China. The Z-visa is a one-time use, one-entry visa. It allows you to enter the country for purposes of employment.
A Resident Permit is then required to actually live (thus the word resident) or reside in China. Resident permits can and usually include the ability to exit/re-enter the country during its period of validity - allowing you to travel during its duration.
A Z-visa is not "canceled" when it is "converted" to a resident permit. A visa simply allows you to enter the country at the airport (or other POE; Point of Entry). It is then by default, used, invalidated as it is one-time use only. There is then a 30-day grace period in which you must then register with the local police authority to obtain a resident permit.
People here simply don't have the wherewithal to learn the basic vocabulary, which is sad, since you're supposed to be language teachers. Semantics is not the issue - actual facts and proper usage are. A Z-visa isn't transferred. It is used at the time of entering the country. Going to a new job, before credentials expire, then allows for a reallocation or transferring of the employer - so it can be reassigned to your new employer - the resident permit sponsor is changed. If your credentials are expired or canceled by your first employer, then you must leave the country and obtain a new VISA and start the process again.
Again, a visa can be considered an ENTRY PERMIT and that's all.
Per dictionary.com, a visa is:
"an endorsement made by an authorized representative of one country upon a passport issued by another, permitting the passport holder entry into or transit through the country making the endorsement."
It is not the right to live in or reside in said country.
It is not so much that a visa is invalidated as much as it is used-up. Once it is used, its purpose is no longer needed.
It is only common sense.
It's all terminology, but should still be used correctly.
Thus, find a new employer well in advance of your FEC and RP expiring, get a letter of release, give necessary documents to the new-to-be employer, and your new credentials are issued/reissued/transferred to the new employer. Must be done before expiration or without having been canceled by the first employer. You are then free to travel in/out of China as a holder of a resident permit. |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China
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Posted: Sat May 02, 2015 5:10 am Post subject: |
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You: A Z-visa is not "canceled" when it is "converted" to a resident permit. A visa simply allows you to enter the country at the airport (or other POE; Point of Entry). It is then by default, used, invalidated as it is one-time use only. There is then a 30-day grace period in which you must then register with the local police authority to obtain a resident permit. (from your post)
Me: Q: I need to entry/exit China from time to time. Can I get a multiple entry Z visa?
A: Yes, but only after you enter China. The Chinese consulates in US will only issue you a single entry Z visa. After you enter China and go through the procedures at the local police department, you may apply for a resident permit there, which acts like a temporal US green card and allows you to enter/exit China freely. (from the Chinese visa guidance site)
The visa regime changes all the time and as I haven't been in China for 3 years I wouldn't presume to dictate what the situation is now.
Also I'm not US so my situation may be different to other posters - hence my caveat.
Even though I'm not currently in China I do find opportunities to post in response (a) to people genuinely seeking help (b) know-it-alls. |
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hdeth
Joined: 20 Jan 2015 Posts: 583
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Posted: Mon May 04, 2015 6:18 am Post subject: |
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If you change the sponsor of your residence permit within the same province it's an easy process. My school wouldn't give me the release letter until I was done with my classes and they didn't know they needed to cancel my FEC. If you're moving in the same province you should be grandfathered in.
If you move to a new province it's a more complicated process and depends on which province you're moving to. |
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