Job Discussion Forums

[naturegirl321]

I’m going to work for another school in another city in China. I’m going to go straight there.

I have a Resident Permit and an Alien Employment Card that are good until next August. In the Resident Permit, there are pages for change of address and change of employment. In the Alien Employment Card, there is only a page for change of register, whatever that means.

Are these cards mine to keep and I give them to my next employer? In my passport, they just put a stamp across my old F visa, which expired in July saying that the issued the above cards to me and that I’m legal to stay in the country until they expire. I don’t have an actual Z visa in my passport.

What other information and documents do I need to get from this employer before I leave?

[Susie]

Why are you leaving?

I think that you might need a letter of release from your employer and a letter of reference as to your work.

[naturegirl321]

Well, I only have three hours of work, the school hasn't kept all its promises. And I've come to realize that I need to live in the city and not a small town.

[Roger]

I am not clear about your visa status, but what is certain is that your school is your sponsor, and as such, they must get you cleared with the authorities when you quit or leave for home!
It means you must obtain their permission to move to another place, which you can by obtaining a release letter, which has to be stamped by the PSB.
I do not remember if you keep your residence permit; in any case, you will probably have to hand it over to your future employer who gives it to the PSB for registration there.

The question of release letters has cropped up half a dozen times over the last 3 to 4 months; you can check old posts to see a variety of suggestions.
If you and your new employer stick to the rules you will have to undergo another medical examination and pay for a new work visa (the old one will have to be cancelled).
The costs may very well sway your employer's intentions...

[Klamm]

Nature Girl,

You can just go. Roger gives the by the book way but everybody who knows anything in China knows that you can just go to another school. Be as forward as to explain that you're running and will be technically working illegally with them. Explain you had some problem etc... . Very simple really. There's a spot or two in Shanghai where you might need to be careful, otherwise it's pretty much across the board no sweat.

I don't mean to be actively encouraging this sort of thing. On the other hand, there are a lot of clueless employers out there. It's amazing with the salaries being generally as low as they are that employers still mess around with folk and take an uppity attitude to boot.

Good luck.

[naturegirl321]

So, do I get to keep my Alien Employment Permit? Because in my passport, that's the only documentation that I have that makes me legal here. My old visas have expired in July.

[Susie]

How come your visa has expired?

I have kept my previous Alien's Employment Permits from previous jobs in China, but my circumstances were not like those you are facing. My visas have never expired yet while I have been in China.