Job Discussion Forums

[Wonderful Yunqi!!]

As most of you know, many schools are now requiring a Recommendation Letter, in addition to the Release Letter, in order to process a new Z-visa. I read the SAFEA suggestions and could not find the answer to my questions -

Besides the chop, do the letters have to have a persons full name, as it appears in their passport (First/Middle/Last), and must they be on school letterhead?

Thanks.

[Anda]

A Release Letter should only be needed if you have broken a contract and left early.

Changing Employers

http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/teach.html

When teaching in China, it is possible to switch employers; however, this can be a difficult process. In order to switch employers, the Resident Permit (Green or Red Book) needs to be transferred from the old employer to the new employer. Leaving an employer before a contract is up requires a �Letter of Release� from the employer. This letter authorizes other schools or institutions to register someone with the government and enables the teacher to transfer the Resident Permit (further information on the �Letter of Release� appears in the Contracts section of this guide). Please be advised that due to the complex nature of this process, further questions should be addressed to the local Public Security Bureau when in China, or to the Chinese Embassy or Consulates in the United States.


http://z-visa.com/work/

Teachers and employees who will working in China for one year require a physical examination form in order to obtain their visa. If you wish to extend your working visa while in China, you will need a letter of reference from your original employer saying that you completed the terms of employment successfully. Call us for rush service. (917) 421-9639

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http://www.tealic.com/visa.htm

The key issues regarding Z Visas & Resident Permits for teaching English in China revolve around an enduring debate: whether one can skip the delay of securing an invitation and getting the the Z Visa applied for first, OR if one should just arrive as a tourist with a Tourist visa, then scout around and see what jobs are where and which place you'd like to live before settling down.

The main merit of this landing-first method is manifest: it allows you to check the merchandise & investigate your surroundings before legally committing yourself to dwelling in and drawing from one particular corner of China for the next year.

The complications are more subtle. Remember, you're on a Tourist Visa. Even if you find your ideal school quickly, you won't have the right to start working until your Z Visa's been processed. While they are processing that, you are on the ground not working. And Tourist Visas are good for as few as 30 to only 90 days. Its likely that your Tourist Visa could expire before you get that Z Visa. If so, you'd have to leave for Hong Kong or Macao, reapply for a new Tourist Visa and return to continue your wait for your Z Visa. Even after that, your school might not be allowed to flip the Tourist Visa you have into your new Z Visa, which could send you to HK again.

If you're interested in surveying, travel first as travel. Then, make your arrangements and pre-arrange the Z Visa. There is an enduring and earnest segment of the teachers here who have taken the other course. Its doable, but perilous. You'll be pressured soothingly to start working on that Tourist Visa. That's done, but its illegal. Such teachers would be at the mercy of their employer, a situation not missed by those who can utilize weakness.

Wouldn't it be better to start off with everything clear? Then, you could start asking for them to make it a choice multiple re-entry Z. Arriving with the Z Visa in hand can do that for you.



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http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070927045000AAeqm3u

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The PRC.
5th Floor, Lower Block,
26 Harbor Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong.
Tel: 25851657,25851680,25851794.


Z Visa (Work Visa)

Required Documents
1. Your valid and actual passport with blank visa pages and at least 6-month period of validity (counting from the day you submit the application);
2. Fill in the Visa Application Form (Q1), attached with 2-inch passport photo (black & white or colored are all accepted);
3. A visa notification issued by the authorized Chinese unit (original and copy) and a work permit for aliens issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security or foreign expert's license issued by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, P.R.C.

4. Family members of the laborers who come to China for work should provide the visa notification letters (telegram or fax) issued by Chinese authorities or other documents (like marriage certificate, birth certificate and so on) which can sufficiently prove the relative relationship, but the approved employment document is not required.

Costs:US $100 for American, and $30 for Citizens of other countries.
The regular processing time is 4 working days. For express service, additional fees of $30 for 1 working day processing (applications presented before 11:30 am may be picked up between 2:30 pm-3:00 pm on the same day), or $20 for 2-3 working days processing will be charged.

For requirements for getting a Work Permit for China,look up :
http://www.china.org.cn/english/Livingin...
4 months ago
Source(s):
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zg...

http://www.china.org.cn/english/Livingin...

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[englishgibson]

Yunqi, welcome back!

This is a really helpful thread. I hope it can go on. Better than that I wish it became a sticky.

In fact, some regulations have changed and to many it's become rather difficult to quit or "pull a runner" as some contemplate when their employers "translate their contracts into some unreasonable requests".

I find Recommandation Letters highly interesting and that because there should be somewhere in there that YOU ARE RECOMMANDED.

This is a new regulation, so watch out everyone! Be aware that Chinese do not have a consept of how to recommand someone. They have been unwilling to "recommand" their employees to others. I'd suggest a really pro and friendly approach in your last three or four month on the job.

However, if one decides to move to another area, those letters might not be a big deal. I'd make a quickie to HK for an F first. Again, check your options first before you shoot.

Cheers and beers

[arioch36]

Full name is always advisable. I would say that letterhead that has a seal of at least the school waishiban office, the higher the level of the seal, the better. But you know, TIC. I think it would be impossible to 100% say what is needed. For instance, my name has been spelled wrong at the PSB for three years. It is no big deal with them. But tomorrow they could apply the hot irons to me.
So letter of release , your name, passport # (perhaps work/invitation number), clear reason why the work was terminated early, and a stamp of the highest person/office possible
Letter of recommendation name, times worked, and stamp from the waishiban office. If the delay, write it yourself, keep it simple and ask them to stamp it


My understanding is the same as Anda's...

Letter of release is when for some reason you have left the school beofre the expiration of the contract. I believe this may set up a red flag in your file, which may cause the provincial waishiban to look twice at another school offering you a contract
To the best of my knowledge, provinces don't share this information.

Letter of recommendation, technically, has always been a requirement on the books, but not always, or even usually enforced. When you contract is nearing completion your school should give you a letter saying that you were a good boy, did all your work

These two, Letter of release, Letter of recommendation, to the best of my understanding, are diffferent, and the letter of release should have clear explanation of why work was stopped ealy.
But my caveat, we are dealing with Chinese concepts which have been translated

[tw]

I just looked at my scanned letter of recommendation from my last school, which had also sent the form to me while I was in Huhehaote, and it did fill in my FULL name in English and my first name in pinyin. Also, there is a field which shows the contract's period and to me, this letter of recommendation should also act as a release letter. Unfortunately, my rather green FAO guy didn't think so at the time, so I had to ask the employer to type up another letter that states I had indeed finished my contract.

[Mei Sheng]

I appreciate the information, but am still confused. I was under the impression that the "Release Letter" basically said I worked there between such and such dates and completed the contract. The "Recommendation Letter" said that I was a good teacher.

Besides that, something that Anda wrote about concerns me - the Residence Permit book. I do not have it in my possession. I don't recall ever having it in my possession at my 2 previous employers either, nor did I give it to any new employer. I have had 3 employers up until now and will soon start my 4th job.

I'd rather not type bluntly; I hope you can read between the lines. Previous employees of my last school were given the run around in regards to ascertaining the required documents; it took 2 months for one individual to receive the "Recommendation Letter". Upon completion of my contract I received the "Release Letter" and was told that they would not give me a "Recommendation Letter".

I explained my dilemma to the new school and they said they would coordinate with the previous outfit. I also told a friend about my problem. I now have both "official" letters on school letterhead with an "official" chop.

I hope everything works out fine, but wonder which path to take. If the new school has to contact the old in order to get my Residence Permit, things may turn sour.

Is honesty the best path?

[arioch36]

there has been no separate residence permit (RP) book for years. The residence permit is a sticker put in your passport. The dates of this are important. if you have a new job offer, and have two weeks left in the RP, all becomes easier. The passport definitely should be in your possession??? Look! If your RP terminates before your contract, you've got problems. Did you come on a z-visa? There are certainly the stickies. If for any reason you do not have a passport and a RP, you best be upfront about it, first to your new school, then the province waishiban, or you can be in deep doo-doo

In my terminology, if you have a letter of release, no letter of reccommendation is needed. To me, a "letter of recommendation" will not usually say you are a good teacher. It is best to write it yourself if you want. In the states, few companies will say you were a good worker or bad worker, simply that yes, the person did work here in the position they said, and left with no problems. In China, it is important for the "letter od recommendation" to say the period of contract, and that all work agreed to was completed.
Some would call this a letter of release.

When I refer to something as a letter of release, and I believe Anda is using the same terminology, is when you are leaving a job earlier then the contract end date. Then, it becomes important to state the reason, as this is a red flag to the provincial waishiban and lack of explanation may impede a future job.

Honesty is the best path in that you tell your new employer, "if you want me to work here, I am interested, but I don't know what I need from my previous school"

[Mei Sheng]

What about the Foreign Experts Certificate (FEC)? Do I need that? I know for a fact that my last employer has it, even though it says I must have it in my possession.

Does the new school need the FEC in order to process a new visa?

[arioch36]

The FEC is not that important to you, though you are supposed to have it and return it to the school when you leave. Technically it serves as an ID card, but every place wants your passport (copy suffices). if you change money at the Bank of China with this card you pay no fees, and get the actual exchange rate,

The school needs it to have oneto get you your RP, so I understand. But it does not need to be the same one. Again , the school is supposed to ask you for it when you leave, and the new school gets a new one for you. I have also had the same one reused by two schools. Not something to worry much about

"contract" (letter of intent) then invitation letter (unless you are still in country, but the school still must ask for permission from the provincial waishiban for you to work) then to consulate to get the z-visa (unless already in country legally) ... then sign contract ... then school gets your FEC ... then school (or you or both) go to PSB and get your residence permit