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Do you have to be 24 to work in China?

 
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powerrose



Joined: 14 Apr 2003
Posts: 119
Location: Shenzhen, China

PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 2:41 am    Post subject: Do you have to be 24 to work in China? Reply with quote

My friend is 23 and applied some places and they told him that the "visa requirements" were to be 24 years old. He's got a BA and CELTA and has 2+ years experience (counting tutoring, summer camps, etc).

I call BS, but what have you guys heard?
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chinesearmy



Joined: 08 Apr 2010
Posts: 394
Location: canada

PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 3:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

most ads I saw said 22 is the limit.

if you're 23 they can bend their rules to you as long as you pass the interview and seem mature enough
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hot_water_hillbilly



Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Posts: 97

PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 3:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Many locales are enforcing minimum age requirements for the visa and is not dependent upon the schools' desires.
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MisterButtkins



Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Posts: 1221

PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 5:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Complete bs, I'm 24 and I'm starting my second year here. I worked at a college last year and a new college this year. I've met 18 year olds fresh out of high school teaching here. I'm in the northeast and they don't seem to have problems with younger kids working here.
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CJD



Joined: 19 Jun 2009
Posts: 116

PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

to get a z-visa you usually need to have 2 years of work exp after graduating university or be 24 (which is usually the same thing i think). but of course some schools can get you a z-visa if you don't meet all of the usual requirements

other schools will just hire you on an f-visa if they can't get you a z-visa, and others will just get you to come on a l-visa

so basically the answer is no, you don't need to be over 24 years old to work in china
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LanGuTou



Joined: 23 Mar 2009
Posts: 621
Location: Shandong

PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Chinese might say you have to be 250 to want to work here! Very Happy
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mike w



Joined: 26 May 2004
Posts: 1071
Location: Beijing building site

PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:

other schools will just hire you on an f-visa if they can't get you a z-visa, and others will just get you to come on a l-visa


As long as you are happy to be working illegally.
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Gilka



Joined: 22 Jun 2010
Posts: 54

PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 5:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, it isn't complete BS because of a few personal anecdotes. I'm sure some teachers are turned down because they are too young, and some happen to contact the right school at the right time and find work. Based only on what I've heard, it seems more likely that the former will happen.

Are they still counting tutoring as experience? I think they mean two years of fulltime experience, not teaching kids while you're at uni. In that case, I have six years of experience!
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dharma86



Joined: 05 May 2009
Posts: 187
Location: Southside baby!

PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 5:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Not complete bs, depends on the people and circumstances surrounding.

He should alter his preferences, he'll definitely find something.
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cormac



Joined: 04 Nov 2008
Posts: 768
Location: Xi'an (XTU)

PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 12:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Where i worked in Xi'an, I was the oldest there being 31. The other 4 teachers were all under 24, two being 19. Funnily enough the 19 year olds, were in their second year of teaching at the school. So, no, 24 isn't the requirement everywhere.

Different provinces/cities enforce different rules. Cast your search outside of the major cities (Shanghai, Beijing etc) and you should have few problems. (and TBH you'll probably have a better time too)
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