|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
North China Laowei
Joined: 08 Apr 2008
Posts: 419
|
 Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 5:35 am Post subject: See Below |
 |
|
| chris.m wrote: |
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. |
Chris,
Not all of the EF schools here in China are franchises. There are some schools in the bigger cities, like Guangzhou and Beijing and Shanghai, that are under the direct control of EF Stockholm. These are usually the most profitable schools. In any cases, these schools report to Stockholm via the Shanghai EF China Head Office.
As Eddy-Cool mentioned, some of the schools are better than others but it is truly a roll-of-the-dice. You really, really, really need to read all of the EF threads on this board to have a more thorough background idea of what you are getting in for. And you should talk to some of the teachers on the ground in the current school. Ask EF for names of current teachers, at least 2-3, and contact them. But be careful -- make sure these are actual teachers and not "dummy" email boxes created exactly for this purpose.
As for the medical, chances are almost 100% that you will be asked to redo in country. Again, this depends upon the province and even the locality within the province but these days, the PSB are usually only accepting medicals from the Chinese government-appointed within country special examination centers for foreigners. And if EF is hiring you, then they should pay for the medical, not you.
You can make up to RMB 10,000 per month with EF in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, etc., but my God, you will work long-hard hours, split shifts, etc., etc.
As for "converting" the L visa, well, it can be done, it is more and more difficult...but would I trust EF to do it? That's a big question.
Remember, the economy in China is also cooling down along with the rest of the world, perhaps not as much, for sure, and this is one time in my life when I personally would not want to fall into the hands of wolves. I would take a government school with decent pay over EF for a lot more money just because some of the EF franchises are on really, really unstable financial ground at present.
Last edited by North China Laowei on Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:42 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
cj750nomad
Joined: 11 Oct 2008
Posts: 252
Location: Beijing and
|
| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 6:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I would also ask as to the facilities .. the one I recently saw in Beijing in a mall was a fishbowl classroom with the class being held in a room with a grand window so tht the passer by could view a class in progress..children were standing in the hall making faces at the FT...and although a humorous situation for us.. I am sure the FT didn't enjoy being window dressing... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
arioch36
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 3589
|
| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Being new to this, I just assumed they knew what they were talking about |
Well, if u have been doing your research on Dave's, one thing you will find pretty uniform is the foolishness of this decision. No sarcasm, just the blunt truth they will lie to you as much as they feel like. And laowai that are recruiting for the schools will often be just as bad.
L visas can not be converted to z in country (though there are claims, many probably quite truthfully that this still happens. You can only get a z-visa out of country as the purpose of the z-visa is to come into the country. Just a fact.
Can you get th z-visa in Hong Kong? Don't ask us, ask some of the visa agents in Hong Kong. Everbright heads the list. Years past u could, this summer u couldn't |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
North China Laowei
Joined: 08 Apr 2008
Posts: 419
|
| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 3:26 pm Post subject: See Below |
|
|
| arioch36 wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Being new to this, I just assumed they knew what they were talking about |
Well, if u have been doing your research on Dave's, one thing you will find pretty uniform is the foolishness of this decision. No sarcasm, just the blunt truth they will lie to you as much as they feel like. And laowai that are recruiting for the schools will often be just as bad.
L visas can not be converted to z in country (though there are claims, many probably quite truthfully that this still happens. You can only get a z-visa out of country as the purpose of the z-visa is to come into the country. Just a fact.
Can you get th z-visa in Hong Kong? Don't ask us, ask some of the visa agents in Hong Kong. Everbright heads the list. Years past u could, this summer u couldn't |
Arioch,
Re the issue visa.
From this week, in SHANGHAI, multiple-entry year-long in-country L visas are available again. From this week, in SHANGHAI, six-month easily-renewable F visas have returned. From this week, again in SHANGHAI, a Z visa can be processed in Shanghai and picked up in Hong Kong, Macau, Korea, Japan, anywhere you want. True, the cost of all of this has increased considerably but it's almost business-as-usual.
So for Shanghai, F and L visas and extensions thereto, directly in Shanghai, provided one has of course some kind of already existent Chinese visa in the passport. Z visas processed in country, available at the most convenient "foreign" pick-up.
Very interesting move, to say the least. Additionally, the "capital" requirements for sponsoring a person on a Z visa have decreased. A company that has operating capital of only RMB 90,000.00 is now eligible to sponsor and secure Z visas.
NCL |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
arioch36
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 3589
|
| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 3:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| And of course find out who pays the cost of you going to Hong Kong for the z-visa. A hefty trip from here in Zhengzhou, or Beijing |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
CraigShanghai
Joined: 05 Nov 2008
Posts: 5
Location: Spain
|
| Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 1:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hi guys
Once again, thanks to everyone for all the information, although a lot of it is conflicting (!)
NCL, you say that from this week in Shanghai, an L Visa can be converted in a Z. Shanghai is where I'll be working (should I decide to go ahead with this). Do you mind telling me where you found this out? I mean, is there anywhere on the net I can look? EF did mention something about going to Hong Kong to pick up the Visa. And presumably I could do the medical for the Z in Shanghai?
Thanks  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dan The Chainsawman
Joined: 04 May 2005
Posts: 302
Location: Yinchuan
|
| Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 2:18 pm Post subject: Re: Medical for Z Visa |
|
|
| CraigShanghai wrote: |
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! |
When I went through the visa process they were trying to keep out us laowai who are aids infested drug addicts. That was in August or so and they absolutely required an aids test.
All I did was the siph screen and the aids test in the end. Of course that was for the Embassy in LA.
Friend of mine told me he faked his forms and forged the doctor's stamp. He never had a problem with any of it. The stamp on my medical was the office address stamp.
Now that probably means I got lucky being I'm so far out in the dingles, but you could get lucky. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
GoPies
Joined: 19 Sep 2004
Posts: 589
Location: Melbourne
|
| Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 3:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| So can anyone confirm whether or not an L can be converted to a Z whilst in China? |
I came to China on a Z visa but was unhappy with the school and quit after one year. I went back home for a holiday while negotiating with another school. Unfortunately they didn't have their act together on time so I came back on an L visa. They organised the paperwork then to have me transferred to a Z visa, but I had to go to Hong Kong to do it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
North China Laowei
Joined: 08 Apr 2008
Posts: 419
|
| Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 4:03 am Post subject: Visa Situation |
|
|
| CraigShanghai wrote: |
Hi guys
Once again, thanks to everyone for all the information, although a lot of it is conflicting (!)
NCL, you say that from this week in Shanghai, an L Visa can be converted in a Z. Shanghai is where I'll be working (should I decide to go ahead with this). Do you mind telling me where you found this out? I mean, is there anywhere on the net I can look? EF did mention something about going to Hong Kong to pick up the Visa. And presumably I could do the medical for the Z in Shanghai?
Thanks |
Not conflicting at all. I can't speak for the rest of China. As they all will tell you here, things are very, very decentralized in the end...and it really depends upon where you are.
Even this summer, while all the others were suffering problems with visa, where I am located, it was busines-almost-as-normal...at least for the visa holders from the five scheduled countries.
Anywhere here is the link that you were asking about:
http://www.visainchina.com/visa2.htm
They are the best agent in Shanghai...in fact, they were the ONLY ones that still rendered assistance during this summer fiasco.
You can come on an L but as Arioch said, you will be shipped to either Japan, or Korea, or Hong Kong or Macau to get it changed, and you will need to find out who will pay for it..
Unless of course they decide to do it in Shanghai entirely.
All the best,
NCL |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ms Bean
Joined: 11 Oct 2008
Posts: 110
Location: Wilmington
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 6:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Addressing the OP's question: I've noticed that SOME public universities are asking for a medical check in the home country. I assume that this would be submitted with the paperwork for the Z visa application. This is what I am seeing in some ADVERTISEMENTS for SOME schools.
Whether the requirement is imposed by the school, the province, or is something thrown in by the recruiting agency is not clear. In my shopping and research efforts to secure a contract with a good school, I see no consistency regarding this issue.
If in doubt, try to contact the consulate in your jurisdiction for an answer. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
arioch36
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 3589
|
| Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 10:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
MS Bean
| Quote: |
| I assume that this would be submitted with the paperwork for the Z visa application |
Ah, you know what haoppens when u assume. Just had somoen arrive from England, and the states, and Canada. The Beijing consulates had no interest in any medical exams, just the work permit/invitation letter, passport and cash, as of a month ago
Ms Bean
| Quote: |
| If in doubt, try to contact the consulate in your jurisdiction for an answer |
Excellent advice.
Even better, the agencies I use to buy my airplane ticket always will get my visa fo me no extra charge. They know exactly what is needed as they do this frequently. Or any visa agent in the city, especially if the consulate is far from your hometown. What you save in transportation and waiting more then pays for the small charge an agent costs |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ms Bean
Joined: 11 Oct 2008
Posts: 110
Location: Wilmington
|
| Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 9:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| arioch36 wrote: |
Even better, the agencies I use to buy my airplane ticket always will get my visa fo me no extra charge. They know exactly what is needed as they do this frequently. Or any visa agent in the city, especially if the consulate is far from your hometown. What you save in transportation and waiting more then pays for the small charge an agent costs |
Hmmmm... could you give me the name of your ticket agency? The uni that I'm working for in Feb requires that I procure my z visa stateside. Furthermore, I must pay about a hundred bucks to the Chinese consulate plus another seventy bucks to the visa courier. If your agent could do some work for me, it'll save me 200+ bucks.
PS I wasn't born yesterday and this isn't my first China tour. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
arioch36
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 3589
|
| Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:46 am Post subject: |
|
|
Pm me and I will ask one of my Chinese friends in America. Or if you can, at my American university I would just ask some of the Chinese grad students who they used, they would give me 3 or 4 names, usually small companies in NYCity
I don't have any now because I use an agent in China. if I remember, the next time I e-mail my Chinese friends in the states I'll ask who they are now using. But with a name like Ms Bean, you are not from Emgland? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
