Job Discussion Forums

MsBlackcurrant · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 77

In a tangent on another thread someone said that if you're in Shanghai on a tourist visa and then you find a job in the city you can switch to a work visa without having to leave the country. Is this true, and is it legal? It might explain why there are more TEFL courses in Shanghai than Beijing.

(The alternative for me as a British person would be to do a course in Europe and then apply for a job in China, but depending on the upcoming EU referendum that might become complicated too. But my main concern is that it would simply be less expensive to do a course in China and then work there.)

Would it take a long time to find, say, a university or high school job in Shanghai after doing a course in the city?

Shanghai Noon · Joined: 18 Aug 2013 Posts: 589 Location: Shanghai, China

You can't change a tourist visa to a work visa in Shanghai. They stopped doing this in 2013.

MsBlackcurrant · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 77

Ah. In that case, I wonder what TEFL course leaders in Shanghai mean when they say they'll help you get a job after the course. Are they expecting foreigners to fly home to sort out the paperwork and then fly back again??

Is there actually anywhere in China where it's still possible to change a tourist visa to a work visa?

getbehindthemule · Joined: 15 Oct 2015 Posts: 712 Location: Shanghai

Short trip to Hong Kong.
Once you have all your paperwork in order, you can change your tourist visa to a work visa in 2 days.
Then when you come back to SH you will need to go to the PSB and convert your work visa into a residence permit. (within 30 days of your arrival back, I think).
Pretty painless, as long as all your paperwork checks out!

Shanghai Noon · Joined: 18 Aug 2013 Posts: 589 Location: Shanghai, China

Shanghai doesn't allow first-time applicants to convert their visa in Hong Kong.

jimpellow · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 913

I believe Shanghai liberalized away from the 2013 Immigration Law starting last August 2015 or so (at least in intent). One of the goals being conversion of visas within Shanghai for those who will work in Shanghai.

getbehindthemule · Joined: 15 Oct 2015 Posts: 712 Location: Shanghai

MsBlackcurrant · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 77

So what's the difference between those candidates who can get a work visa in Shanghai and those who can't?

On a related point, would it be possible, in theory, to arrange a job from outside China but then do a short TEFL course in China before taking up the job? This would mean making one's own way to the TEFL training centre, training for a short time while on a work visa, and then arranging to be picked up by one's new employer afterwards and sorting out the normal paperwork before actually starting the job. Would employers (or the authorities) have a problem with this?

getbehindthemule · Joined: 15 Oct 2015 Posts: 712 Location: Shanghai

I believe it boils down to the school's or education company's relationship with the powers that be. If the school has guanxi, visas can be converted in HK easily.
I don't know of any newbies who have converted to a work visa without leaving Shanghai though.

MsBlackcurrant · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 77

wangdaning · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154

When they say they will help you get a job they do not mean they will get you a job. Probably means they will give you a list of schools and then it is up to you.

MsBlackcurrant · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 77

The course providers are obviously not going to write your job application for you, but they must at least ensure that the companies they list are willing and able to help candidates get work visas. Otherwise, what use is their 'help'? You might just as well pull a list of addresses off the internet.