Job Discussion Forums

mnguy29 · Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 155 Location: USA

Well, I have accepted a job at a Canadian run school in Xiamen, my city of choice from the beginning. Excited now, but a little worried about visa. I would appreciate helpful info and opinions on this. Here is what happened to me last year. I ended a teaching position in a city near Shanghai and I was looking for a new position. Looked at many. One of them wanted to see my passport and visa and to my complete surprise, I was on an expired visa by about 10 days in China! I had no idea! The supposed visa in my passport did not have an L or Z or anything on it so I did not know what it was. ?? The dates were confusing too. Of course there were alot of Chinese characters, but? I was told I would have to leave immediately for the USA and they accompanied me for two days until I boarded a plane home. I was not charged a penalty in RMB which was nice. So now with my new job I am hoping that when I apply for the new Z visa in USA with the invitation letter that there is no problem. I am not very happy with the school I was working at there, as I know they knew all about this and did not say anything. I just hope there is no problem now.

hot_water_hillbilly · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 97

Your complete surprise? You had NO clue of your own visa expiration date? Please.........................

How long did this "supposed visa" sit in your passport without you knowledge? You never opened it? Never seemed to be confused upon receiving it?

WOWeeeeeee

Miles Smiles · Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1294 Location: Heebee Jeebee

First, you COULDN'T have been working legally on just a Z visa.

If you worked for a term in a school, you would have been issued a residence permit. THAT is what probably expired.

Go look at your passport again and report what you found.

mnguy29 · Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 155 Location: USA

Yeah, residence permit.

Jeremiah · Joined: 26 Jun 2010 Posts: 32

I'm not exactly sure of the process, but, I'm under the impression that in order for the school in Xiamen to get you an "Official Letter of Invitation" they have to go to the local PSB with a letter saying the school wants to hire you and a copy of your resume.

If your previous school did not give you a Release/Recommendation letter/form, then take it off your resume. If the PSB notices previous experience in China, they will ask to see the Release Letter.

This happened to me several years ago. I was working "illegally" (L visa). After awhile I left China for a few months and applied for a university job from the US. When the school went to the PSB for the Letter of Invitation, the PSB noticed the previous job in China on my resume and asked for the Release Letter. Since I didn't have it, I changed my resume and applied to a different school and every thing was fine.

Back then, they only required 2 years of work experience, not 2 years of teaching experience though.

mnguy29 · Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 155 Location: USA

Well, my most recent school gave me a release/reference letter. However, my first school in China did not. I had to return to the USA for a family emergency at that time and this is on my resume. I did not finish this contract.

Jeremiah · Joined: 26 Jun 2010 Posts: 32

Then you're fine. All that matters is that you have the letter from the most recent employer.

Good Luck!

merkinachina · Joined: 07 Jul 2010 Posts: 6 Location: Chongqing

You must have a valid employment Z visa in you passport to appear physically at work or get paid, and the passport must be with you and in your possession.

It is a complex process to get a Z visa and the employer must at least handle some of it. DO *NOT* rely on agents or promises.

If you have overstayed by honest mistake, contact the immigration immediately by visiting them in person and explain.

Usually, if they believe you, you are given a temporary visa, are fined from a few hundred to a couple of thousands of RMB, and that is the end of the matter.

Bert in Chongqing