Job Discussion Forums

[dan allan]

Some dumb questions:

I AM CANADIAN, 50, NO DEGREE, 2 teaching certificates, 6 YEARS LATIN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE mostly as a freelancer teaching company classes.

I am thinking of coming in on a tourist visa and going to Shanghai or Bejing. Can you enter on a one way ticket? Is it hard getting freelance work? What would the pay range be? Best to get a 6 month business visa?Possible to get one in any city?

It seems much better to come on your own and negotiate a good job after arriving. True?

Sorry for all the dumb questions; I profess to know little about China.

Thanks in advance,

Dan.

[lfclouds]

The ticket depends on your countries relations with China as far as I know.

I came in on a one way ticket and tourist visa with the intention of working.I was asked a few questions at the embassy back home (Ireland), but no hassle beyond that.

Contract offers are pretty easy to find but I cant say about working freelance.

If I were you I'd have a good scout on the net for possible contract work incase the freelance thing takes a while to get going.

Good luck.

[lfclouds]

Oh!

and technically you cannot (of course) enter on a tourist visa with the intention of working so make something up.

Though you are also required to have a degree, it should be a fairly easy issue to get around....its quite a stupid rule as far as I'm concerned.A degree in History does not a good make teacher.........when I find out what does I'll be sure to let you know

[lfclouds]

Oi Sunaru,

Not everybody fits that bill mate

Give em a break eh

[Shaolin Monk]

Certainly depends where you come from as far as the one way ticket thing is concerned, although both times I've had a return and never had to show the embassy anything except a passport...the only people to see my ticket were the airline!

[albert]

Sunaru,
You sound like you take yourself extremely seriously. Someone with six years teaching experience asks for advice & you respond with a self-righteous tirade, throwing the middle-aged .poster into the category of "moronic backpacker." Huh?
Maybe you should go home.
Albert.

[Roger]

This guy should seriously think of working legally, which is a concept that is at odds with the term of "freelancing".
He can come to China on a tourist visa, but he should seek a regular employment situation offered by a sponsor that offers him a work visa.
That will most likely remove the right to work on his own, but it will take good care of his everyday needs.
A visa to enter China - and demonstrable teaching skills can sometimes lead to a job that nominally requires a cert that qualifies you as a professional.

[dan allan]

Can anyone suggest some cities? Also, school names or other useful contacts? Just get tourist visa on arrival?

As I stated in my thread, I'm weighing getting a job on the internet vs coming and finding a good job or freelance gigs. I have some ongoing contracts with some multinationals here, so I'm rather flexible on how long I stay here.

If I can help anyone with Mexico City info, fire away.

Cordially yours,

Dan Allan.

[Roger]

You are a buccaneering opportunist. China has plenty of your ilk although most of them are of Chinese nationality!
Just seen on the Jobs Offered forum:
Positions available in Iraq!

[Buttercup]

I almost came to Shanghai on a one-way ticket, after I was assured that it didn't matter to the Chinese government - and it doesn't, as long as you have a visa.

The problem is the AIRLINE won't let you board the plane! (that was in Canada). We found out in time, cancelled our tickets and bought return tickets. The airline (this was Air Canada) has a list of countries that are "difficult to enter" (or I don't know exactly what), such as China, and they won't let you fly there on a one-way ticket, in case the country denies you entry - because in that case, the airline has to fly you back to where you came from, at their own expense.

So entering China on a one-way ticket... seems ok if you're coming from Ireland, and a big no-no if you're coming from Canada.

[goeastyoung(ish)man!]

I had a similar experience to Buttercup in the US. I was going BACK to Spain on the back end of a round trip ticket, and the airline in the states would not let me on the flight unless I bought an expensive but fortunately refundable ticket to nowhere before I boarded. Of course in Spain nobody gave a rats assssssssss. Now I am going to China with an Open ended round trip ticket. I think that is the way to go. You pay only a little more, it shows intent to leave and you have the freedom of deciding your departure at a later date.

[Cobra]

Hey Dan Allen:

Sunaru was right the first time around. Stay Home or at least stay out of China.

And I do not take cough syrup.

[Ozone]

Hey Dan Allen,

Don't let the negative posters get to you. You have six years TEFL experience--that's the most important qualification. I have very little experience in China--was just teaching there for a month. But I highly recommend working legally--start with a no-more-than six month contract. If you like it, you stay. Arriving here without a job and without a visa is a bad idea--you'll probably find work, but you will get screwed.

[arioch36]

I believe for business visas you are suppose to already have business with China, or have an invitation letter from a company in China. But all of this can be found by looking at the Chinese embassy/consulate web site...yes?

But seeing how you have no respect for Chinese law, the best way to break the law, work illegally, and stand in front of students saying how much you respect their country (I assume your fingers will be crossed behind your back) is to come on a tourist visa. Most Chinese border officials seem to still turn their back on noticing a "tourist" who has been here for two years. Although China is starting to become more...we do to you as your country does to us.

Don't know what country you are from..but how do you feel if foreigners illegally come into your country, work, pay no taxes, etc. If you are fine with this, then you are not a hypocrite. Otherwise, why not think about working here legally. It is quite easy to do:)

[arioch36]

while schools often ask for a degree, I was not aware that it is a requirement in China. I don't believe this is the case, though I believe for Japan it is.