Job Discussion Forums

[adrian_sojourner]

Hello, I am hoping teachers in Shanghai can help out with some input. I am back and forth via email with a certain recruiter about a job in Shanghai. This is what the information document said about the visa:

"Here is some information concerning the processing of your visa. It is best that you get a tourist visa in your country so that you will be able to travel to China. If you arrive in mainland China without the proper documents, you will be asked to leave. When applying DO NOT say you are going to China with the intention of working. The Chinese embassy/counsel will not grant you a visa if you say that. Upon your arrival here in China, we will assist you in processing the needed paperwork so that you can legally work in China. The costs that you will incur for this process will total 1200 RMB which you will be required to pay and will be reimbursed to you upon the successful completion of your 12 month contact."

I responded:
"I do not feel comfortable with the information in the document regarding processing a visa. Is the school able to obtain a Foreign Expert License? I have learned that for the school to obtain such license, I will have to have a Z-visa upon arrival in China, any other way of doing this is illegal for me. I have read that changing a tourist visa to a FEL is not possible and illegal."

And this is her response:
"About the visa, Shanghai is the only city where Tourist visa can be converted to the working visa."

This contradicts everything I've read and come to understand about teaching English in China, about how illegal it is (or impossible) to go with a tourist visa and "have it converted."

Can anyone 'on the ground' in Shanghai, or previously there, or in the know, give some input and share their experiences?

[randyj]

[quanxie]

I have worked in SH on and off for over 8 years. It is the same as most cities in China, if you walk into the front door of local dept. of exit-entry (aka the man with visa powers) with an L visa, they will tell you to leave the country to get a Z visa. That being said, there is a back door, in which the power of connections can make anything happen. Without knowing who the recruiter is, I cannot comment on their ability to open the back door. In general, most recruiters are only concerned with getting the white monkey in place and receiving their commission.

Most private schools in SH, DO NOT process visas "legally" they use the back door or send you on a visa run to Hongkong...

[yaramaz]

When I first came to China 2 years ago, I came to Shanghai on a tourist visa (last minute, 2nd semester hire) that was promptly changed into a proper residence permit/FEC. However, the university I did this through paid for everything up front (inc. the medical exam that I did a week after arrival) and had all the paperwork ready as soon as I arrived. The fact that they expect you to pay for it with reimbursement dependent on completing 12 months makes it sound a bit dodgy. Also, the fact that yours is a recruiter rather than a direct hire sounds even dodgier.

[mgafunnell]

I've been in china 4 years now. every summer i go home for a visit and every time i come back to china, i enter on a tourist visa and my employer has never failed to have it changed to a proper working visa. keep in mind, i work for a legitimate company.

just go for it.

[rottenflesh]

I would be wary if you are talking directly to a recruiter (not to mention that Shanghai isn't the only place where tourist visas can be converted "under the table"). Seems they are just trying to get you here and get their commission.

I was talking to a couple of recruiters for jobs in Shanghai and they assured me they can convert a tourist visa to a FEC. However, when I talked to the schools, the schools mentioned that they have had at least one foreigner deported for working on the tourist visa (I have no idea why the school told me upfront, but I was thankful).

Then, I went back to the recruiters who changed their story about how I can make a trip to Hong Kong for the visa. Finally, they admitted that I should work for 1-2 years on a tourist visa, and then I can legally work with proper papers.

The risk of going to a new country on a tourist visa and "hoping" it might work out is way too much in my opinion. Plus, you're talking with a recruiter, not the actual school (you really can't trust them). Getting jobs abroad in Beijing/Shanghai is getting much harder (while possible) - so try looking into other cities such as Chengdu, Dalian, Chongqing, Wuhan, etc. You can move to Shanghai easily once you're in China with one year experience under your belt.