Job Discussion Forums

[samhouston]

There was a thread a few weeks ago about experiences people have had starting English schools in China. Most of the posts were bad news. I have never wanted to start an actual English "school" or training center, but I am intrigued with the simple idea of teaching small groups of students at my residence. Many teachers here have taught or are currently teaching privately off the books. Is it a real stretch to increase that to five or eight students at a time?

It sounds foolish, but I don't know why a policeman or any government agent would ever think to bless me with a surprise visit. But if they did, what would they be investigating? The type of visa I have? A business license of some sort? I have an F visa which I guess entitles me to "do business" here but not to be employed or to make money.

There have been many threads about the perils of teaching on a tourist visa. I wonder if a business visa like the one I have allows for more gray area? And are people that have proper work visas really allowed to teach privately? I work on the outskirts of Shanghai, where it wouldn't seem to have the outback law enforcement that some people in the hinterlands report. Of course, I never see the police or any government people that I am aware of, so I really have no idea.

My main question is: If I were "caught" teaching privately with an F visa, what kind of trouble would I be in? And could it affect my main teaching job? If attempting to double my current salary could result in my being booted out of the country altogether, or even just losing my main teaching gig, I'm not sure it would be worth the risk.

[Anda]

You are self answering your own question. Doing it with a Chinese partner with some local pull might work but on your own you are asking for trouble. Only a fool thinks that you can keep a secret here in Asia when one is a foreigner. All eyes are watching us as we are top gossip news.

[kev7161]

[Wonderful Yunqi!!]

You have to love the logic.

"The type of visa I have? A business license of some sort? I have an F visa which I guess entitles me to "do business" here but not to be employed or to make money." - Sam Houston

The way I see it, you're free to go.

I assume the regulation pertains to people receiving a legitimate salary from a Chinese company. They may pay for your expenses, but, if the Chinese organization compensates you for your time "lecturing", then an infraction may have occured.

I would fathom that any cash you come across in whatever way, besides nefarious dealings, shouldn't be a problem. But, that is just my fuzzy legal knowledge typing.

If Chinese employers logic dictates that an employee can't earn any unreported income on the side, then my recent airline experiences weren't that bad.

If someone is paying cash, how would BB know? Beware of infidels amongst you.

If what SH typed is what the law truly intends, the logic is missing.

We will give you a visa, F, to "do business" in China, but, you can't make any money.

Beautiful. Who's making the dough?

CHINESE LOGIC

1. People removing the snow at the Shanghai airport with shovels and brooms.

2. People being told to take their carry-on luggage and disembark a plane in order to board 1 bus to the terminal. Upon arrival at the gate, the door is locked. 5 minutes later, the door is opened. 15 minutes later, the passengers now board 2 buses and head back to the same plane.

Granted, the cabin was cleaned and I did enjoy the cigarette break.

Back to the topic at hand.

I'd say that if your main job entails teaching in a school, whether private or public, on an F visa �nd you receive documented funds from them, then, a problem may arise.

Good Luck!

[kungfucowboy83]

i would highly advise against advertisements if you are planing on doing this as that would be hard proof of what you are doing.

so lets say you do this. and the cops show up (hahaha chinese cops doing something, but lets pretend). what you say is...

"welcome to my free english cornor did you want to join us?" when they ask what's going on you can tell them that theese people are all your friends and you are volunteering to help them learn in your spare time because you love ow hardworking theese poor students are and how they can't afford an over priced language school. The money you supposedly recieved? Only birthday presents and thank you gifts from the dear students to show how much they love you, not really even all that much right?

wost case senario they say this is illegal, your eyes suddenly get big oh gosh golly gee offcier i had no idea, thank you for letting me know it will never happen again. I mean seriouslly do you really think the police care if you are giving private lessons to a few people(this is assuming it stays small not if you are running a language center out of your home).

there are only a few ways you can get in trouble for doing what we are talking about one of the main ones is if you steal students away from someone with a fair bit of guanxi. so do what you want and just be careful

[Anda]

First off it is not a police matter but another government department that I can't remember just off my head. Working at a second place on a Z visa (teaching Visa) without a permit is a 1,000 RMB fine.

[andrew_gz]

Rumor mill is spittin' out news of no F visas issued after April 30th and before the Olympics...
Only two month F visas issued prior to April 30th...
No news on what happens after the Big Show...

[cj750s]

Generally, you will have no problems unless a complaint is made....for example..if teaching classes in your home, a neighbor may turn you in...
advertising, if making hand bills then the ad may fall in the hands of someone who cares...but putting a small note to a bulletin board likely would cause no notice.

It would be a good assumption to figure the police know what your up to at all times, (but I do recall when the local Changchun police "lost" 13 Arab men who had exited a plane in their city and could not explain where they went) and as to surprise visits, most are procedural and are just a exercise of administration.

[jeffinflorida]

Worked with a guy in shenzhen. he had classes in his aprtment on a regular basis and made more money than he would have at a school.

never had a probelm and he was happy and the students were happy. thats all that matters...

[arioch36]

Illegal, yes, as your are not actually investing money in any kind of business

Does anyone care? 97.83% no. Law in China is not the same as law in the west.

CJ