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Xian : teaching with a F visa ?

 
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adw



Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Posts: 49

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 9:50 pm    Post subject: Xian : teaching with a F visa ? Reply with quote

Anyone knows if it's possible to teach in Xian with a F visa ?
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Renegade_o_Funk



Joined: 06 Jun 2009
Posts: 125

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 10:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sure it's possible. It's possible just about anywhere in China. You could even stay & teach without a visa if you were feeling a little froggy. Exclamation

The question is though, why do you want to be on an F visa ? Can the school not get you a Z visa ? Or are you planning on coming over on an F visa & then looking for a job ?

I don't understand people who do that, it seems a little sadistic when one could easily secure a job before leaving their home country.
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JGC458



Joined: 30 Jan 2006
Posts: 248
Location: Shanghai

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 10:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ADW, frankly, if someone replies "Yes, it's possible" what is that going to mean to you? In China, and within China, you can't generalise - paradox notwithstanding...Wink

Teaching on an F visa is still actually illegal, though some people get away with it - often thanks to a school's guanxi I believe. Though why anyone would want to live in constant fear of being caught or with the chance of having their visa revoked when that guanxi just doesn't cut it any more in the changing political climate, I don't know.

You must have a very good reason for not getting a Z visa that is so easily obtainable and avoids the problems of working in an irregular situation.
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Mister Al



Joined: 28 Jun 2004
Posts: 840
Location: In there

PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 1:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Xi'an, I would imagine, is just the same as anywhere else. Teaching on a F visa is, as you know, illegal. You will be simply taking your chances that you don't get caught and get fined/deported. Your choice, mate.
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The Ever-changing Cleric



Joined: 19 Feb 2009
Posts: 1523

PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 2:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't know who rats who out here in China, but I've never heard of or met anyone who was kicked out for working on an F visa. The police/authorities don't seem too worried about the problem here.

On the other hand, Korean authorities actively seek out visa violators in the hagwons and you routinely hear of police sweeps where a number of people are kicked out of korea for teaching on the wrong visa, or for breaking the contract in some way.

I don't suggest to teach on an F visa (did it once myself though) but the chance of trouble seems limited to not being paid, therefore giving you little chance of settling (legally).
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adw



Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Posts: 49

PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Ever-changing Cleric wrote:
I don't know who rats who out here in China, but I've never heard of or met anyone who was kicked out for working on an F visa. The police/authorities don't seem too worried about the problem here.

I don't suggest to teach on an F visa (did it once myself though) but the chance of trouble seems limited to not being paid, therefore giving you little chance of settling (legally).


Thank you for your reply. Just curious : are you a well informed person ? Surprised
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nhat



Joined: 30 May 2009
Posts: 19

PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 7:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Ever-changing Cleric wrote:
I don't know who rats who out here in China, but I've never heard of or met anyone who was kicked out for working on an F visa. The police/authorities don't seem too worried about the problem here.

On the other hand, Korean authorities actively seek out visa violators in the hagwons and you routinely hear of police sweeps where a number of people are kicked out of korea for teaching on the wrong visa, or for breaking the contract in some way.

I don't suggest to teach on an F visa (did it once myself though) but the chance of trouble seems limited to not being paid, therefore giving you little chance of settling (legally).


My experience says otherwise. In 2006, I was working at an Aston School on a tourist visa. They said they would change to a proper visa, which amounted to going to Jinan (in a different province from where I was working) and getting me a business visa. About a week later, while teaching a class, one of the course consultants brought in a person to "listen in" on the class, which was the practice for prospective students. They immediately showed police badges and demanded I hand over my passport. The passport had just been returned to my boss from Jinan, so the police went in and took it from her. They assured me that everything would be fine, that the owner was taking care of the police, but I still had to go in for questioning at the police station. They pretty much told me to lie about why I was there, making me sign statements and seal with red fingerprints. It was so wack, I had no frikking clue what was going to happen. Luckily, the school owner worked his guanxi and nothing resulted, but still, I will NEVER take that chance again.

In my city anyways, before major holidays, police crack DOWN on the illegal schools in hopes to get no less than a bit of extra money. Might depend on where you are, though.

Nevertheless, go for the Z if your sole purpose is to teach, as opposed to posing as a student/tourist/etc.
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frank d



Joined: 07 Dec 2005
Posts: 155

PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

nhat's story is a very potent one. The most important thing to remember about visa (IMHO) is that if anything is found to be improper (such as teaching with an L, F visa) then the FOREIGNER is found to be at fault, not the school. This is why schools/employers will play fast and loose with the truth (with FTs) because they know the ax will fall ultimately on the foreigner, not them. The foreigner will be forced to leave quickly -- and of course, at their own expense. Don't be a sucker for any excuses regarding anything but an actual proper Z visa. Anything else is just asking for trouble.
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vikuk



Joined: 23 May 2007
Posts: 1842

PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you teach at a bad school - have to endure terrible consitions - then I'm afraid a Z visa is also a crock of shiite, since it ties you to your employer - with all that bunk over release letters etc etc.

As for giving you legal protection - well if you're well versed in the rules, can find you way around typical Chinese officialdom. have language talents or are in the company of a local who is prepaired to help - well............ newbies are going to find it difficult.

Z's are sometimes more risky than F's - both can lead you into trouble Idea Idea Idea Idea
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evaforsure



Joined: 26 Jun 2004
Posts: 1217

PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I agree.....

but if an F is sponsored by a local school is valid...it is also tied to the employer...only an F given by an agency is not tied to your employer....

it is a chance either way....
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mikethemule1998



Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
The Ever-changing Cleric wrote:

I don't know who rats who out here in China, but I've never heard of or met anyone who was kicked out for working on an F visa. The police/authorities don't seem too worried about the problem here.


I can tell you that 4 FT's and I were all kicked out of China in April, 2008. We all had either "F" or "L" visas and were waiting for our company, "Linguaphone Shenzhen" to obtain the proper "Z" visas. We were told "don't worry, we are working on it", but nonetheless we were brought to the police station, fingerprinted and compelled to sign statements of our guilt. "Linguaphone" gave the police records of our pay and knew the police were coming in, yet didn't warn us. The police said "if we cooperated, nothing would happen to us", however we were then given exit visas and forced to go back to our home countries. The police said " you can not work in China without a "Z" visa, yet some went back to "Linguaphone" with new passports and worked again without it.
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