Job Discussion Forums

[kingkristopher]

Hi All,

Sorry if this is repetitive but I checked the first 5 pages and didn't see anything. Anyway, the question is, is it possible to obtain a Z visa without a bachelor's degree? I have an associate's degree, but I don't know how that would be received in China (it's from an accredited Canadian college). Well, anyone out there have any info on this, I'd hate to get to China only to have to turn back for something like this...

[eslstudies]

[HunanForeignGuy]

To the OP,

I write this with all kindness -- this has got to be the most discussed topic on this forum. There surely must be threads and threads and threads on this subject.

The information in a previous post notwithstanding, the direct answer is "yes" -- if you can find a school that wants to hire you badly enough, then this is China, the land of administrative miracles and all things are possible here.

As I have pointed out elsewhere, again and again, the SAFEA regulations, which you have been quoted, do indeed exist on paper; that being said, however, as those of us who are still in China know, SAFEA has become a toothless consultative body of late and thus the regulations that have been posted for your perusal should not cause you to loose sleep.

First, you need to go find a job here; there are 100's of agencies in China that places the 40,000 foreign teachers that are working here and if you can find one such agency and if you can persuade them to help you and if they can persuade a school to hire, then you will have a job and the school will handle the paperwork -- it's as simple as that, OK?

Just remember though -- you will have a lot of hoops to go through to get where you want to get.

And also remember that when you are receiving information on this Board, it is important to ask whether the kind person providing the information is actually still in China, as I am, or was in China in the past and is not there at present -- in which case, you should consider the fact that nothing ages quicker in China than government rules and regulations.

All the best, OP, and hope you can find your job. Now please go read those 40-or-50 threads that deal with this subject.

All the best,

HFG

[upchuckles]

You cannot obtain a Z visa without the basic qualifications.. Period..

z-visa.com - China Visa Service for ESL Teachers

[eslstudies]

Agreed. My information came from The 2007 Complete Guide for Foreigners Working in China, SAFEA Certified, so is unlikely to be out of date. To what extent not being in China somehow invalidates primary source information passed on eludes me.
I think that giving advice contrary to the law of the land is irresponsible, no matter how many times that law has been bent or broken!

And to the OP, it may well be that your qualification will be accepted. Simply fax it to potential employers so they can follow it through [ refer to note1 in my initial post]. Additionally, I wouldn't recommend "getting to China" until you've had a job offer and the promise of a Z visa. It could be an expensive vacation.

[therock]

In most cases the school's will not know the difference between a degree or an associate degree. So when they ask you to scan your qualifications just give them the associate degree and you will find there will be many offers you can choose from.

The key is to apply to as many school's as possible and don't get disappointed if they fail to reply. There are thousand's of positions out there. Also if you are willing to stay away from Beijing, Shanghai etc you will find your prospects greatly enhanced.

[cj750s]

[eslstudies]

[therock]

[cj750s]

[HunanForeignGuy]

[cj750s]

I too experenced a lot of bogus advice offered off of the pages of a web page and see the same happening all the time from folks who have agendas or who simply read about events from newpapers or new reports..the amount of folks who assume they know what is happening on the mainland are tainted by their own preconceptions of goverment and legal manuvers that subscribe to a well taught "party line"...as i have said many times..beleave nothiing you hear about China..not even from me..as my experiences may color my perception...China is something you have to find out on your own...the views expressed here are easily placed in to the real and imagined by those of us who actually have our feat (*feet) on the ground in the mainland...

If I had bought all the hogwash I had heard ..I would never have gotten a drivers licence..or own a bike bigger than a 125.( I now have three...two 750s (boxer/dual piston cylinder) an a shovel head 1340)..licenced a dog in beijing that was bigger than 31cm... if there is any advice I could offer ..it woud be to take every thing with a grain of salt..even this post...

[HunanForeignGuy]

[eslstudies]

If the OP ever returns to this thread he can make up his own mind.

I offered an objective quotation from official PRC sources which told him that he didn't need a BA, and then listed acceptable alternatives.

The invective laden responses were emotive and anecdotal, involving cats, dogs, motor bikes, a "kid" without a BA, and international schools. No hard evidence was offered. I trust these posters will be on hand to assist those who follow their advice and end up deported, or worse, as the result of not having legal status! And please don't tell us that this does not happen.

Given that, apparently, one needs to be "at ground zero, 24/7" to knowledgeably post on any issue, I trust the relevant posters adhere to their own rhetoric, and do not in future comment on any matters outside China, or to be more specific outside Beijing and Guangzhou.
Why? Because they're not there.

[7969]