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OhBudPowellWhereArtThou
Joined: 02 Jun 2015
Posts: 1168
Location: Since 2003
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 Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 11:59 am Post subject: |
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They said that I could book my flight once I've received my temporary visa.
Is "temporary visa" your term or theirs? All visas are temporary, but if an employer uses this term, it could indicate hocus pocus.
I'm glad others have expressed things that I was reluctant to express. It's mid-june but still no invitation letter?
The reservations expressed by others are mine too.
It's not too late to get another job. I'd recommend a university with an English major program in a smaller city. The money will be less, but if you are trying to get a break from the chaos in the American class room, you'll welcome the change.
Hurricane season is upon us**. Tell them that your home was damaged by a severe storm and you need to stay at home to oversee repairs, then seek a job in another province.
** Assuming that you live in the U.S.
Last edited by OhBudPowellWhereArtThou on Wed Jun 17, 2015 12:24 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Action packed
Joined: 28 May 2015
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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| OhBudPowellWhereArtThou wrote: |
They said that I could book my flight once I've received my temporary visa.
Is "temporary visa" your term or theirs? All visas are temporary, but if an employer uses this term, it could indicate hocus pocus.
I'm glad others have expressed things that I was reluctant to express. It's mid-june but still no invitation letter?
The reservations expressed by others are mine too.
It's not too late to get another job. I'd recommend a university with an English major program in a smaller city. The money will be less, but if you are trying to get a break from the chaos in the American class room, you'll welcome the change.
Hurricane season is upon us. Tell them that your home was damaged by a severe storm and you need to stay at home to oversee repairs, then seek a job in another province. |
"Temporary visa" = That was their term. |
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Action packed
Joined: 28 May 2015
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Deats wrote: |
| jimpellow wrote: |
This is sounding very bad.
Considering the dire need for ESL teachers in China at present, there is no sane reason why they should be stringing you along like this unless they are inept and/or arrogant in the Chinese tradition that the employer has all the power, and you should just be grateful that you have a job.
They mentioned no health insurance? That is provided by the social tax you and your employer must now pay with legit employment. And a temporary visa? It sounds like they intend to bring you in illegally, which if true, is a disaster waiting to happen.
Chinese are some of the biggest bitchers I have ever met. Americans like myself being the biggest of course. Getting paid that bonus sounds tenuous. Personally, I think if you lead your life and career trying to please others constantly for 3000RMB, you will be ass kissing for scraps of income all of your life.
Beijing is an expensive city if you intend to continue living a somewhat Western lifestyle, meaning not eating noodles all the time, etc. 12000 after tax for 25 teaching hours, hmmm (but I am thinking you will be working illegally so that tax thing is no loss to them). And then 3000 for an apartment out of that if I read it correctly?
That leaves you with 9k a month if you get all of your bonus every month. I believe for 3000 you can get a decent apartment, but certainly nothing great in Beijing. So you would have to spend more there or settle on so-so housing. And to secure an apartment in China means an initial outlay of quite a sum of money.
Best to pay all that money yourself up front. Some Chinese schools will give you an advance, which if you accept, will indicate to them that you are desperate for money and an invitation to exploit and abuse you.
Did they mention to you anything about a pre-medical which is what you will need for Beijing. They can be costly. You will also need to have a criminal background check done and be able to prove two years experience. (unless you wish to attend a special TELF school in Beijing or Shanghai - at your expense - and then it will be waived. Some other visa requirements too which they should have made you aware of and asked you to start working on.
Is there a valid reason why you will be unable to have two consecutive days off. Once again it sounds like they do not have consideration for their employees.
From what you offered I would stay clear of it, like to the ends of the Earth clear of it. Don't let them guilt you over the signed contract. Few Chinese have any respect for contracts. They are simply starting points to attempt to exploit the other party to the greatest extent possible. |
I totally agree with this.
Run for the hills!
If they are trying to make you work illegally anyway, then the contract is not worth the paper it is written on. Do they even have an original copy of the contract? Or simply a scanned copy? My uni claimed without an original copy, it's worth jack diddly squat. I had to sign and post my contract before they'd start applying for me. If they weren't going to get you a Z visa anyway, then they were breaking the law and I doubt they could blacklist you.
I would personally contact them and ask if you are getting a Z visa invitation at present. If they say no, then tell them you have spoken to the Chinese embassy in your home country and they have informed you it is illegal to work without this and therefore you won't be working for them. Tell them you feel cheated and the contract is null and void. I can't believe they are doing it legally if you don't even have insurance.
If they tell you they are applying for a Z visa, then you may have problems getting issued another one, if one is already being processed. I don't know about that, it's just speculation.
Bear in mind that to get a Z visa even if you have all the documents (security check, medical check blah blah blah) then it will take 25 working days to process it by the bureau in China, then another week to send the contract by post, then however long to process the visa in your home country, then however long to pack your stuff and fly to China. That's not even taking into account you still need to find another job... If you apply outside of Beijing and Shanghai, maybe the process will be slightly easier/less demanding therefore quicker.
Personally I wouldn't feel comfortable taking any job where you are given an allowance for rent. You are tied to that school, because you have paid so much money up front for your property, that you won't want to leave even if you are miserable. |
The contract is a pdf file. I signed it electronically. Does that count as original? |
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Deats
Joined: 02 Jan 2015
Posts: 503
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 12:58 pm Post subject: |
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My uni told me it had to be hand signed and posted.
My old uni accepted it scanned, but the second I arrived I had to hand sign the contract again. That makes me think the scanned/PDF or whatever digital format is not enough.
If they aren't giving you a Z visa (surely they aren't as you seem to be missing paperwork for Beijing), then there is no contract to break anyway, as you would enter China illegally. Do NOT do this, the risks far outweigh the rewards... especially with the contract they have offered you! |
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Deats
Joined: 02 Jan 2015
Posts: 503
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 1:06 pm Post subject: |
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According to this: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-33160738
Beijing is not a cheap place for expats to live, so a guaranteed $1000 a month seems too low to uproot and move halfway round the world for.
Last edited by Deats on Wed Jun 17, 2015 2:33 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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7969
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 5782
Location: Coastal Guangdong
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 1:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Deats wrote: |
According to this: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-33160738
Beijing is not a cheap place for expats to live, so a guaranteed $1000 a month seems to low to uproot and move halfway round the world for. |
These Mercer lists can safely be ignored by most expat ESL teachers because many of the costs they measure are for things ESL teachers will never need to worry about - ordering in foie gras, renting a villa in a gated expat community, sending your kids to exclusive private schools, hiring armed security to protect from local thugs and the like.
| Quote: |
| The consultancy compares the cost of a basket of over 200 goods and services, including food, transport and accommodation. The results are then used by governments and multinational companies when determining salary packages for employees being sent overseas. |
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Deats
Joined: 02 Jan 2015
Posts: 503
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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That's true 7969, I was wondering how Beijing and Shanghai were so high up - I wondered if it was CoL compared with salary. Or simply CoL - in which case it seems quite bogus.
But what we do know is 6,000RMB (guaranteed) for Beijing is pretty appalling. You would expect to get this from any uni around China and way work less with more days off and holidays.
We also know Beijing is the most expensive (or top 3 at least) city in China. You should be taking home 10k+ to even contemplate living amongst the smog and crowds.
Any bonus incentive, especially with a company that is hiring you illegally, is sketchy at best. |
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mattyko40
Joined: 05 Aug 2014
Posts: 37
Location: Taipei
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| Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2015 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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People say the govt. is cracking down on temp visa teachers in BJ. So, I wouldn't waste my time for that crap money plus they are pulling your chain and playing games. Do you have a BA? Teacher cert? Even if you don't its easy to get a job paying that much or more elsewhere where its much cheaper.
You could just play with them if you wanted to. They are more then likely breaking the law , so you could just threaten to call the appropriate authorities on them(again BJ is cracking down on this stuff). If they wrote all this nonsense in an email- hell act like a Chinese person and bribe them. It sounds like you deserve it anyway for them wasting your time. Anyway, I meet people who are blacklisted and still here. |
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