Job Discussion Forums

[living&learning]

I recently left a teaching position at a college as it had become unbearable (for many, many reasons - some being that our living quarters were coated in black mould, the students were rich, spoilt dropouts - not there to learn, permanently QQ-ing, USELESS administration, backstabbing and venomous co-workers and lie after lie, etc etc).

I was going to finish end-June. Thus I broke contract. I wasn't fined and I left the school and came back to SA to have a break and sort out the respiratory problems I've had since I was there (black mould?)

I'll head back to China, because I like China, I don't mind teaching, I have plenty of friends and I'm on the verge of setting up a small business there.

My FEC and multi-entry Z visa are valid until September 14th.

I take it I'll be able to come back in on that Z visa, and have it transferred to another school/college/uni. Or do I stand corrected?

Can the previous college cancel the Z visa and FEC or can they refuse to transfer it to the new school? Or do they have no effect on the above and my future job?

I may or may not work in the same city as I was in before.

Your advice greatly appreciated!

[suanlatudousi]

You will require both a letter of release and a letter of recommendation.

You will need to get a new Z visa to enter the country I'm quite sure in your situation.

[evaforsure]

[living&learning]

I only ever had a Z visa in my passport, a FEC (little blue book) and a 'Certificate of Health Examination' (little red book).

I went to Thailand during Spring Festival and came back in, no problem. Just had to show my passport at immigration.

I am/was in Fujian province - the college told me there was no independant Resident Permit document/book (as per a new policy), and that the Z visa in my passport was suffice to travel in and out of China as frequently as I wanted.

It wouldn't be nice to fly to China, and get told at the airport the Z visa has been cancelled..

[evaforsure]

Sorry .. but I can give you no help as I have never seen a z visa good for over 30 days and the 000 (I think it is three 0s) designation which I understand to mean one entry...

[suanlatudousi]

[living&learning]

[evaforsure]

If the RP....and it wasn�t cancelled in front of ya.. Then it is a chance it is still valid.. but til you take the plunge...anyway .. this could be a good chance to see it a school can 86 one with you being present...

The FEC...when you find a new job .. take to the new school and let them sort out the required paperwork to change the FEC.. if they cant .. a trip to HK with a new invite letter could be required...

[suanlatudousi]

If you are not in China then you'd be completely crazy to get on a plane and arrive in China to find that you have no valid entry permit (Resident Permit of Visa).

Contact a prospective employer, tell them your situation, and they can contact their local PSB and check your status.

All these issues can be "side-stepped" possibly if you simply take the time to research and have all available facts and information prior to making any decisions. Coming to China "in a hurry" is ridiculous for anyone.

[Mister Al]

When you check-in at the airport they will check if you have valid permission to enter China (a valid visa or a RP). If not they won't let you fly. Your RP will be good, of that I am 99.999% sure. When you apply for a new job you will need a new RP. You will likely need a Release Letter from your previous employer in order to do this. Good Luck.

[Hansen]

Dear L+L,

While I don't approve of your entire situation, my guess is that if you follow Mr. Potato's advice, you are going to be certainly banned. Basically, he's telling you to alert the authorities to your irregular status, i.e., holding an RP based upon employment at a school at which you no longer work.

I'm not sure how you should proceed. There is something to be said for fulfilling contractual obligations, if you plan on sticking around China.

It is possible that your previous employer notified the authorities after you left. Maybe your RP was cancelled, maybe not.

[suanlatudousi]

The two school's that I have been at routinely check the Visa/RP status of anyone we intend on hiring. Many of our new hires are in China already and we check their status. Twice (that I can remember) people were working at another facility either with an L visa or an expired RP and at no time were those people deported, fined, banned, or anything at all. They were told to get a Letter of Release and a Letter of Recommendation and when they came to our school they were registered with legal working documentation.

It's hardly an issue for a someone from a Foreign Affairs Office to call their local PSB and ask when a prospective teachers' permit's expire ! They'll be told the expiration date or that it's been canceled and/or they have no valid current permits.

Geez, talk about paranoia from Mr. Soda/Fruit Juice.

[China.Pete]

"I take it I'll be able to come back in on that Z visa, and have it transferred to another school" -- Living

My goodness, OP, such judgmental and even conflicting responses to such a straight-forward query! You left your school early, and say you weren't fined. Okay. Does that mean the school acceded to your leaving? Did you obtain a release letter and letter of recommendation (both of these are, in spite of their terms of reference, basically forms the school fills out and then "chops")? If not, would they be willing to provide you with them if you asked nicely? If the answer to these questions is "yes," then a new school should, given adequate lead time, be able to have your unexpired residence permit extended. As for being able to re-enter China, this should not be a problem, as long as your residence permit is still current and has not been canceled in your passport.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

[suanlatudousi]