Job Discussion Forums

SpedEd · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 143 Location: Shanghai

Hello people:

Recently I was introduced to a school that was supposedly in need of a foreign ESL instructor. After the initial meeting, I was reluctant to sign on despite the circumstances I was facing financially. However, after passing the demo class, I decided that it was likely in my best interest to sign on with them to relieve the pressure I was under.
The foreign staff at the school actually seemed nice enough but the admin was playing a lot of Chinese mind games, imo. Meanwhile, the 'Z' visa had been applied for after completing the medical and getting the Foreign Expert Certificate. Things came to a head when one morning (after I was fingered for being a 'complainer' regarding the lackluster teacher's desk and dorm) the director insisted that I do yet another demo despite the fact that at that point I hadn't taught any classes. At that point I knew that something was amiss and I was being a puppet for the wrath of the admin or something. I inquired about how many people would attend the class and no answer was given, nor would the director tell me *how many times I would do these demo classes.* According to her, 'Every class is a demo class at our school.' What a nice feeling. So, I flatly refused to work there and the fallout was quick. I had to clear up my things to get off the property in record time. However, just when I was about to leave the next am, the head teacher told me the director would reconsider the circumstances and let me stay.
At this point, I've had to apply and pay for my own 'L' visa extension in an emergency maneuver as it was expiring the next day. The thing is, the school's signature needed to be on some papers in order for me to do so. If not, I would have had to dole out a *lot* of money to the PSB to verify that I indeed had enough funds to support myself while travelling in China, to the tune of $100 USD daily. This was a non-starter and I had to use the school's sig to process the tourist visa. Better this than paying a 500RMB daily fine, imo.
The school will have me working on this visa, and I know it's not legit to do so. What should I do to resolve this? The admin is apparently too high and mighty for me to attempt to talk with in person; instead, I have to go through someone else to address these things, so it's slows down the communication. I want to work legally in China and I think it's reasonable to ask my current 'employer' to resolve the visa issue or let me go. What's the best way to approach this unusual situation?

Lobster · Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 1:20 pm Post subject:

Find a legitimate school that can convert your tourist visa to the full TRP. Wait until you get paid; then walk away. Why you'd need the school's sig to get a tourist visa is beyond me. That has nothing to do with them. If they hassle you say, "I was just doing a few demo classes for you."

RED

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

an L visa extension.... you should be able to get that on your own. tourists extend those visas all the time in china and no employer should have anything to do with that.

sounds like youre not in the best financial position here. if you have enough money to tide you over a month or two in china (living cheap), i'd quit that job right now and start looking for something else. things arent off to a good start here. if you dont have the money to get by, then work for them until you get paid and/or until you find something else.

anyway, you're on a tourist visa. youre free to do as you please, and the school has no power over you at all.

Kram · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 152 Location: In a chair

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

At a guess I would say that you have made an enemy amongst the foreign teachers and that there is someone wanting your job. Anyway you have had a fallout somewhere.

There are plenty of institutes that will employ you on a tourist visa still but mainly in out of the way places where it is hard to get a teacher. I would look for a stop gap situation like this until you have some money saved to do a visa run to Hong Kong. Learn from this and don't get caught without some money in hand and a backup plan in future.

I don�t know what is currently happening but in Jiangsu they have been allowing our lot to change from a tourist visa to a Z visa. Provinces that won�t allow this you are stuck with a visa run to Hong Kong.

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Lobster, Kram are on the money, especially, GET PAID, and then leave.

You may not want to follow the next bit of advice, but it's true. You can go to the PSB (I assume you know where because you extended the L visa) or the provincial waishiban (FAO) tell them that this school , you think they are lying to you, but I want to work here legally. Does this school have the legal right to hire me? If not, can you recommend a legal school to me?