Job Discussion Forums

CraigShanghai · Joined: 05 Nov 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Spain

Hey there

Wonder if someone can help me with this. I did post this in the medical thread about a week ago but didn't get any responses so I hope it's ok to post it here :p

Basically, I'll be working for EF English First in Shanghai from the end of November. They instructed me to get a medical done in my home country (UK) prior to coming to China and to acquire an L visa, which they would convert to a Z shortly after my arrival.

The problem is, I never got the medical done (mainly due to time/cost), but also because I've heard from various sources that I will get one in Shanghai anyway after I arrive.

What's causing me to worry is that they (the company) said that from 1st May 2008, it is compulsory to get the medical done in your home country to be eligible for the Z.

Can anyone put my mind at rest? And does anyone know if this particular date has any significance with regards to medicals???

Thanks a bunch!

Mister Al · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 840 Location: In there

Don't know about any law change there. As you say getting the med in China has often been a requirement once your here anyway, whether you've had it done in your home country or not.

You could try www.shanghaiexpat.com

chris.m · Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 16

I'm starting with EF Shenyang in a few weeks.

They asked me to have a medical in England which I then posted to them around 2 months ago. It wasn't fully complete, but they said it'd do, so i'm not too sure if they are genuinely necessary. (I think it's maybe just so they won't fork out money for the visa process only for me to arrive there and fail the real medical).

mikefriend · Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:07 pm Post subject:

The cost to get one done in China is about 300 rmb. It's much cheaper done here so don't listen to them telling you to waste money in your home country instead of doing it here - especially when they tell you to come and work on an L visa.

CraigShanghai · Joined: 05 Nov 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Spain

Al, Chris & Mike,

Thank you so much for the replies Smile

I'd already guessed as much, but was just seeking confirmation (reassurance :p) for my own peace of mind. If it's only going to be around 300 RMB for the medical, then I'll definitely wait 'til I get there *^^*

Chris, are you based in the UK at the moment??? And are you coming in on an L???

brsmith15 · Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1142 Location: New Hampshire USA

I'd steer very clear of EF if I were you. You're only going to be very sorry later when you face their reality as opposed to what they tell you. This business about converting an L visa can be dicey indeed. You should come here with a Z visa in hand.

chris.m · Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 16

Yeah I'm setting off to Shenyang from Yorkshire a week on sunday.
I recieved my Z-visa 2 weeks ago. When I first started to look for my first teaching post (which this one will be), I had offers from a few schools which invited me to travel in on an L-visa. After doing some research and asking around, I was advised against doing this and told to make sure I have a Z-visa in my passport before leaving England. Apparently it's common for some employers to assure you that they can exchange an L-visa, but that's not always the case and you could end up working illegally and landing yourself in trouble with the authorities.
Once i'm in Shenyang, i'll be taken to the local PSB(?) who will exchange my visa for a Residence Permit, which legally entitles me to live and work in China.

Ask around for the opinions of the others on here who already have experience of these matters. Like I say, this is my first teaching job, so I'm not really in a position to be advising you on what to do, but this is what I learned from the research I did.

eddy-cool · Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 1008

SOmething is phishy - you need a medical exam to obtain a 'Z' visa; for the obtention of an 'L' no proof of physical fitness is required (of course). Why did they ask you to apply for a tourist visa? It is because they do not wish to take you on board as a full-fledged and fully-entitled FT. EF is known to ignore government regulations sometimes.

If you come on a tourist visa you will most likely not get your RP as the tourist visa cannot be converted into a work visa. A work visa is valid 30 days, during which period you apply for a RP; one of the conditions you may have to meet for the obtention of tyour RP is that you passed a medical exam in China.

There are some locations where you would not have to undergo a local medical - but don't bank on one of these.

JohnC · Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 47 Location: London

chris.m · Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 16

Had a bad experience working for them did you? What branch?

I'm interested to know what happened to you

JohnC · Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 47 Location: London

Use the search function to find some very good threads on EF.

Also, take a look into how an EF center gets set up in China. It's all online.

Ask yourself this: China is swarming with FTs nowadays. And most of these FTs would prefer to teach adults.

So why is EF constantly looking for people online?

Feel free to send me a PM for more information and good luck.

chris.m · Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 16

I'm aware of all the bad reports on EF schools from the months of research i've put in prior to accepting a position with them. (Think I must've read every single one).

But i've also had contact with lots of ex and current EF employees who've had better experiences than all the reports would suggest is possible.

I've learned that a lot can rely on the management of each individual branch, and that it's not possible to tar every single centre with the same brush. For example, I've not read one bad report on the Shenyang EF, but instead come across numerous good ones.
If there had been bad reports i'd have taken them into serious consideration and would have most likely looked elsewhere, but I suppose i'll be able to build up my own opinion soon enough as i'll be there in 2 weeks.

Thanks for wishing me luck by the way.

CraigShanghai · Joined: 05 Nov 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Spain

So can anyone confirm whether or not an L can be converted to a Z whilst in China?

Why did EF they ask me to come in on an L? I have no idea. Being new to this, I just assumed they knew what they were talking about. To be honest, I would've been more concerned about it had it been a smaller, more obscure school that was aking me to do this (I know this may sound naive).

John, can you tell me why EF look for people online? Sorry, I didn't make the connection. And do you mind telling me how one of their schools is set up?

Chris, who is it you've been dealing with from EF? Katie?

chris.m · Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 16

I've been dealing with Antony, but he's actually from the EF school in Shenyang.

I think some of the EF positions are advertised from offices in London or Shanghai or wherever, but the schools also recruit for themselves.

eddy-cool · Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 1008

I know some EF branches are good as they are owned by a franchisor that follows the letter of the law to the dot on the eye.

But 'some' doesn't mean 'many' or 'all'. In the above case I am really worried they might not be scrupulous enough.