Job Discussion Forums

[jimpellow]

"More and more employers require"

Some good points but is it really the employer requiring? I would argue it is really the government making these requirements. This should be a good thing for those with legitimate certifications, degrees, work experience and such. But the problem seems to be that they have asked more from the teacher, but the industry and government have not reciprocated. Salaries have been mostly stagnate in the face of an increased tax burden and a steady real inflation rate. Pollution has increased. Scams and the fun little daily frustrations of teaching and living in China remain entrenched. The effort, expense and time period to obtain a z-visa has increased substantially.

I will agree there is a growing demand for ESL teachers higher up the food chain so to say. And for those the rewards can be worth it despite the downsides. I am of the opinion that buyer beware even for these position as the scammers have figured out there are hefty margins to be skimmed from the uninformed candidate in the specialized and licensed market segment.

But that segment does relatively well. But it is still a very small percentage of the overall foreign teachers in China, which is a dwindling supply in a market of increasing demand.

"When demand and supply are in a constant state of disequilibrium, something is stinky with the chou dou fu."
-John Maynard Keynes

[Brunouno]

Today I applied for a Z visa with the consulate in Ho Chi Minh. Despite the signs on the walls of the building stating that foreign applicants need to have a residence or work permit to apply for a visa, they accepted my application with only a tourist visa. The officials seemed to only care about the invitation letter stating that I can apply in Vietnam.

So, I just thought I'd add my 2 cents to the confusion of applying for a Z visa outside of your home country

[shamblaram]

Hey Brunouno,

Thanks for keeping me/us updated on the z-visa process from Vietnam. I'd spoken to the Chinese embassy in Hanoi and they'd said the same thing which is great.

Except... despite my University in China, and the Brit Univ which it is partnered with, knowing I'd be applying in Vietnam- and me reminding them again and again; plus my medical was done in Hanoi and my personal information forms also shows a Hanoi address- they've just emailed me the 'letter' which states I need to apply for the z-visa at an embassy in the 'UK'!

Will that definitely cause a problem do you think? I'm not in Hanoi for a few days, so I can't go into the Embassy and ask till next week, but I wondered what you think...

Also, did you need to present the original hard copy of the 'letter' and 'work permit', or were print-outs ok?

I look forward to hearing from you if you get a chance. Thanks in advance.

[JamesD]

The application location in the letter has to match the country in which you are applying. If the letter says "apply in the UK" then you have to apply in the UK. No embassy/consulate outside of the UK can accept it.
The last time I needed an invitation letter the original was required but that was a few years ago and with this danged new interwebs you kids have things may have changed.

[mysterytrain]

[mysterytrain]

[mysterytrain]

[shamblaram]

Thanks, guys, for your replies.

I'd checked with the Embassy in Hanoi and they were fine to process a z-visa, even for someone on a tourist visa (legal residence wasn't required). I also followed Deats' advice, and had stated very clearly that I'd be applying in Vietnam and that all the documents needed to match this. The DOS and HR at the Brit University, who I'd been liaising with, have been aware of this all the way through, but can't have impressed the importance of this onto their counterparts in China.

I'm asking to see if the 'letter' can be reissued (it's also got the wrong 'date of first entry') and I guess I'll find out soon if that's at all possible. The DOS is back from holiday so might be able to help out. But has anyone been able to have a 'letter' re written?

Otherwise, it'd not just mean a trip back to the UK but also a whole new process because the medical was not done in the UK so wouldn't be allowed (as others have stated)... And that'd be the end of that. And at this late stage with most good jobs (around the world) filled for the next academic year, looks like I might well be picking up hours teaching kids in Vietnam for the next year! I can't say I wasn't warned but it's still disappointing

[mysterytrain]

[shamblaram]

Thanks, MT. I guess I'll find out in the next few days if a 'letter' can be rewritten, and properly this time.

Although I've been asked to arrive at the University at the beginning of September, the semester doesn't actually start till the middle of the month, so a slight delay might be ok.

Otherwise, if it all falls through, that would mean clowning around in a kids classroom will be my only options for teaching work for the next year, and to be honest the thought of that (no, no, no) would mean time to leave teaching and start yet another career. Oh well...

[jimpellow]

You can probably find out real quick if the jurisdiction from which the government's invitation will come allows visa applications to be processed in third countries.

Just google it with a recent time frame of say six months and see what comes up.

I am thinking you are screwed here, but hope I am wrong.

You would really fly back to England and restart the process, including a medical, for a uni job? Is it really worth it? Why not just get another job in a jurisdiction where the requirements will allow you to do it from Vietnam, or get one in Shanghai where they will now convert tourist visas like the good old days. Just some options...

[mysterytrain]

[shamblaram]

Sorry, MT, if my post sounded derogatory about teaching kids. It wasn't meant to be. I have huge admiration for those that do. It's more just that it's not for me. Although I like an active classroom, I've never taught kids and I feel I'm too old..

Jim, I've googled a fair bit, and found a couple of sites that state for z-visas in Hebei province- where my job would be/would have been- I could go to my 'nearest Chinese embassy' with all the paperwork, none stipulate that I'd need to return to my home country. So, unless the local authorities have recently become more strict about this, the Chinese HR at the university didn't remember/know to ask to have Vietnam, not UK, stated on my 'invitation letter'.

I'll find out soon (I hope) whether the letter can be rewritten. I definitely won't be going back to the UK to resolve this. So, I've started looking elsewhere. The options in China are pretty slim at this late stage, but I think I've found something pretty good here in Vietnam as back up, at least for next 6 months. My melodramatic 'time for another career change' was just one of those f*!k this moments of exasperation. Whatever happens, it'll all be fine in the end : )

Thanks, everyone, for the advice.

[JamesD]

[mysterytrain]