Job Discussion Forums

[tyroleanhat]

This is a post about .. starting a job in China.
It's not to discourage people, but as a warning of how it can go if you're unlucky, and how to maybe avoid one or two things that happened to me.

Uni where I worked two years ago for one semester.
Back then it was easy, I don't even recall sending them a copy of my diploma.
One thing was that I accidently put my middle name in my application documents, but forgot that my passport doesn't state my middle name. So, one step had to be repeated.

Now, two years later it's hell.
Sent all my documents and medical results (xray, blood etc, more than 400 dollars).
After two weeks the FAO tells me - sorry new rule, my highest degree needs authentication in my "home country". (Wrong, because it needs authentication in the country of the attended university, took me some time and calls to find this out. Of course my consulate didn't know about it)
Also, damn, I don't have the original diploma at hand and my alma mater is closed in summer.
Two weeks later I got the original anyway, authentication process goes through 4 offices in 3 cities, costs more than 340 dollars.
Sent everything, waiting.
FAO says: please scan all "signed" documents and contracts again, because my signature needs to "match the passport exactly".
Thought I am crazy, I never had problems with my signature. Practised the passport signature for 4 hours, until it was like a duplicate of my passport signature (my passport is several years old, so the signature is slightly different than my recent signature)
Sent her again, she says, no it's not OK, please write EXACTLY as in your passport.
While I am starting to lose it, after some back and forth (and a third drive to the faraway print shop during my Italian vacation) it turns out that she meant I should sign my name in handwritten capital letters. Obviously she didn't know the word "capital letters", so this cost me another week of sheer despair.

I am thinking, NOW I shall be awarded for my effort and finally everything will be fine in bureaucracy land. Far away from the truth. Now she says the FEB (foreign affairs bureau) wants a translation of the diploma (I wonder why, if they already have the authentication stamp from the Chinese consulate in Europe).
Fine, another 70 dollars for an official translation from a translation service.

After sending it, the madness continues. She said she sent everything, but the FEB sent everything back. Reason: my doctorate is missing in the documents. But the doctorate isn't my highest degree, because I didn't complete it yet (dissertation not yet finished).
Explained everything to my FAO. Now it's quiet since one week.
It gives me shivers when I think about my degree not being a "master's degree" in the modern sense, because Germany didn't have the international bachelor/master system at the time of my studies. For sure some crazy hoops about this will follow.

To summarize: It already cost me more than 1000 $ (including travelling) and 8 weeks of constant headache. And i am not finished, I didn't even start with the z visa yet.

To be continued..

[Spelunker]

One has to wonder, does China even WANT qualified teachers anymore? Madness.....I would tell them to stick it, and work elsewhere with less of this nonsense.

[D. Amokachi]

The whole process is extremely laborious, expensive and time consuming and it seems the goalposts are constantly being moved in terms of what the Chinese authorities want from you. Their demands are getting ever more exhausting.

It does make you wonder if it's going to start putting people off coming. I suppose if you're already in $1000 deep then you might as well follow it through though. Hope it works out for you.

[jimpellow]

[Lord T]

A friend of mine (native speaker, MA in Applied Linguistics from a good university, 15 years teaching experience) decided he wanted to teach in China.

He didn't need big money; he just wanted to do a good job for his students, and learn about life in China.

He accepted an offer from Meten who then insisted he provide background checks from every country he'd ever worked in. He said sorry, I can't, and walked away.

He accepted an offer from EF (?) who then changed the offer they had originally made to him. He walked away.

He accepted an offer from a college in Beijing, started the laborious and expensive visa process and whilst having his degree notarized, showed the solicitor the contract he'd been offered. 'Walk away,' said the solicitor, and so he did.

[Non Sequitur]

[creeper1]

One thing I'd like to point out is that you will probably be able to claw back some of these costs.

It will always be time consuming but if you keep receipts of your medical fee, visa application fee etc I think a good employer will reimburse you for the expenses.

Sigh. It's really regrettable that things have become like this though.

Leaving China is now (almost) an irreversible decision for us (or at least not easily reversible).

[Spatula City]

I usually assume that when the process is ridiculously difficult the FEB is looking for a bribe and the person dealing with your stuff isn't giving it to them.

[donkeydonkey]

Wow, application nightmare is very well titled. I have to say that Chinese people not knowing the difference between a signature and printing your name has been something I have noticed before. I was in the English department this week filling out paper work and my co-teacher said to sign a form. There was an empty sheet of paper so I signed my name and printed my name and asked like this or like this. She wanted my name printed. Maybe something to pay attention to. Hope you get through the bureaucratic snarl soon op. best of luck

[tyroleanhat]

I worked in that school before, and I know they are on my side.
But right now the FAO is not answering my emails since almost two weeks. I asked about news from the FEB.
It makes me extremely nervous if I think about all the investments being in vain. Other job offers I already turned down, and its too late to come crawling back to them.

[astrotrain]

Wow, what a nightmare indeed. All the monetary expenditures even worthwhile for a low paying Uni position?

Where is the city this job is in, maybe heavier regulations.

Kinda wish I signed on for another year and stayed in China, my salary was high and the city was great for my needs. Now back in Canada experiencing reverse culture shock, feel bored and mundane in North American life unlike the travel, vibrancy and excitement of the PRC.

After reflection I really had it good, my school handled all the Z visa and residence paperwork with 0 hiccups -during the whole process was accompanied by one of the admin girls and chauffeured in the bosses car to these appointments , paid for my flight over upfront and paid more than expected for my flight back. 15K for roughly 18 hrs. Got to travel to GZ and southern China resorts on my off time. I think I lucked in but after extensive searching and negotiations.

I see now a lot of schools will never do what I listed above. I really hope my second opportunity will be half as good there.

Come to think about it I should just beg my employer to take me back. lol

I hear from a fellow FT who worked at the same school, now moved on to Nanjing that there and southern china don't need your degree notarized.

Not sure where that requirement is required.

G.L to OP wish this school will get its head on right and give teachers considerations.

I see in my 1 year experience there, hundreds of millions of Chinese require foreign experts to teach English or other subjects. My G.F is having so much trouble finding a person that can do both Chinese and English to help her with her Visa application to come over and see me. It is incredible how many businessmen, successful and wealthy Chinese that cannot understand a simple government Visa application form.

The Chinese government needs to rethink its policies to allow more western professionals in to narrow this divide.

[tyroleanhat]

Update:

After a lot of pushing, calling different offices, the FAO finally answered after two weeks.
She said the FEC still didn't approve my "situation" (of my unfinished doctorate, which obviously confused them).
She said she will go to the top leader of the FEC to clarify it, BUT:
"we are not able to get the work permit for this semester, it's too late. Please wait until next semester"

Of course now the catastrophe is perfect. I am fighting for the work permit since 3 months, for this job I turned down another great offer before the break, and now I am sitting here with nothing but debt - waiting 6 more months.
As I said, I trust the school and the FAO, because I worked with them before. But why can't I just start late in the semester? Is this a new government rule in Hunan too? "You either start on September 1st, or you can only start next sem." ?
I wish I could find a way how to persuade them to still start this semester.

I just wrote the other school (in Chengdu) which I turned down before. Crawling back to them.. Hoping that there is still a chance - at least my documents are all fresh and ready.

Any thoughts?

[The bear]

[tyroleanhat]

[The bear]