Job Discussion Forums

dragcity · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 2

Hi I'm hoping for some advice about taking a TEFL course in China and sorting out a job for afterwards.

I am taking the TEFL International course in Zhuhai in January 2007 and when I originally booked this I thought I would get a job lined up in China for when I finish.

However, there seems to be a problem doing this beacuse of the visa situation, so I was wondering if anyone has been in the same situation and could give me some advice.

The problem is that I need an F visa to do the TEFL course and a Z visa to start teaching. However from what I can work out I can't apply for both simultaneously and I can't convert an F visa to a Z visa once I'm already in China. So it looks like I will have to take the TEFL course in China, then go to Hong Kong and get a job (and the Z visa) in mainland China from there.

Does anyone know a way around this? (i.e. how I can get a job and Z visa sorted beofre I go, and still be able to get a business visa for the TEFL course in he meantime)?

Steppenwolf · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 1769

You will get a formal invitation letter to apply for your work visa; this depends, of course, on whether you are lucky in finding an employer willing to hire you.

But that should not worry you just yet.

China.Pete · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 547

There is probably no simple answer to your question. In theory, you might have to leave China to convert another kind of visa to a working visa. Then again, depending on your timing and location, you may not. It depends largely on the practices in effect in the province you are going to work in. Your school may have some experience with this. Otherwise, you'll just have to wait and rely on the knowledge and contacts of your prospective employer to deal with your visa situation.