Job Discussion Forums

[mk177]

I have recieved a job offer with ASTON for 6 months and 25 hours a week, and earn 6200RMB/ month. Is this reasonable? WIth acommodation provided.

It is difficult for me to do a medical exam in the UK, so the school are askin me to come on a tourist visa. This is an extract from the email:

I am writing to you with regards to your application for a working visa here in our school.

Earlier this year the local government stopped issuing visas to foreign nationals due to the risk posed by the H1N1 virus and have just recently resumed processing visas. Since the process can take anywhere up to four weeks, and our term starts on the 1st of September, this leaves us in a tough situation.
We have recently had a meeting with the local government here in Yinchuan, who suggested a solution to our problem. The process will now be as follows:-

1. You should apply for a tourist �L� visa in your home country
2. You can use this �L� visa to enter China and make your way to Yinchuan
3. Once you arrive in Yinchuan, we can take care of the formalities such as health checks etc and change your �L� visa into a work permit
The government has assured us that this will pose no problem, and we would like you to know that any expenses that arise from doing this will of course be borne by the school. I will also contact you by telephone to discuss this over the next few days.

Should i do as they say and come on a tourist visa?

Thanks

[TexasHighway]

mk177 wrote:

[dharma86]

I had a similar situation where I needed to get the medical in the UK in order to process the invitation letter. I couldn't afford it and their only alternative was to go over on an L-visa and get the Z-visa in Hong Kong after the medical.

I declined this because I think it's only right that you get your Z-visa before going over no matter what kind of school it is.

You should look around if you really can't do the medical because rules and regulations seem to differ from place to place.

[Songbird]

I believe the Aston accom is shared- a no no for me (even negotiated this out of my new contract!)

[mk177]

But there is so little time left till schools start, or jobs available now.
This is the best i have recieved, but as Aston is a well known company, cant I trust them to keep their word and provide me with a z visa.

In terms of number of hours, it is only 5 lessons (45mins each) day for 5 days a week. This does not seem excessive
Should I ask for 20 lessons a week instead (pays 5000rmb)

thanks

[Sinobear]

If you can't afford the medical in your home country, you can't afford to come to China...never just come here because you are desperate.
A "well known" company does not mean that it is reputable. McDonald's is "well known" too, would you want to come and work for them?

You seem to really be putting yourself behind the 8-ball. Take some time to really research and source out a better deal.
One common element that I've been noticing recently is that a lot of overseas posters are being recruited by obscure or shabby organizations. Keep in mind that there are a lot of FTs here looking for (second) jobs. With such a readily available pool of FTs in-country, why do you think that these organizations are recruiting from overseas?

Cheers!

[Renegade_o_Funk]

[happigur1]

The school just signed a contract with me about 2 weeks ago. School officially begins tomorrow (August 21st). I am going to miss about 2-3 weeks of school, IF NOT MORE. They DO NOT want me working on a tourist visa and is doing everything the legal way. So we are waiting for the paper work to come through so that I can get a Z visa. They are getting other teachers to take my place until I get there....

Reading up on other thread, teaching on a tourist visa is risky and illegal. This time around was the first time I did the physical to apply for the visa. I found the cheapest clinic I could find in California and it all came out to a little less than $200 USD (with blood work, x ray, ekg, etc. etc.). Is that too much? Maybe look around on google and see if you can find cheap clinics.

[nickpellatt]

Its a 6 month contract. Isnt there some chatter around the forums about F visa being acceptable for 6 month contracts? On the basis its only a 6 month gig I 'believe' the F visa is fine.

I dont know Yinchuan. Is it a major city? Perhaps the wage would be low for a major city, but I have worked for less than this, or certainly similar in terms of hourly rate.

If this is the posters first job in China ... and its only a 6 month contract, this may prove to be a good stepping stone to go on from. If I was happy to work in Yinchuan, and was happy with the age group of students, I would be prepared to take this job.

I wouldnt worry about shared accom either ... I have shared on two occasions ... the first place I shared was a student dorm type room. Me and one other teacher, but that was only for 3 months.

I then went on to share a 4 bed house with one other teacher for an 18 month contract.

My next job does have a choice of housing ... and I have been offered a single room in a shared block. I guess I will have my own room in what will probably be like a 60rmb a night hotel. Im thinking I may ask to change this and share with someone.

Maybe its just me. I would take this job without being too concerned.

[mike w]

[nickpellatt]

Mike, Im sure I have read somewhere on here that it is legal to work on an F visa for short term contracts. Not just that it is just a regular practice, but also a legal one?

[mike w]

[vikuk]

Nick I think you're starting to put out hazy info by talking about F visas in general -

We all know that F visas are pretty easy to get - but for it to be truely legit the visa must be issued in the name of school - which is a whole other ball-game.
Lots of folk who used to work under an F visa just got them over the counter in HK - or through some Chinese company that's allowed to use an overseas business consultent (F visa gives the right to act as consultent).
To be a legal tax-paying teaching expert - its a z visa (thats reagardless of 6 months or 1 year) - otherwise if your company does have the right to hire folk on 6 months F's you sink into the grey-world of teaching consultent - and the benovolence (or lack of it) of your local PSB office. If the brown-stuff does hit the fan while working on any F - have enough funds to get out quickly - those who come penniless are looking for trouble

[TexasHighway]

mike w wrote:

[mike w]