Job Discussion Forums

alexcross1986 · Joined: 12 Nov 2010 Posts: 2

ok so last year i worked in china for 7 months on a tourist visa

i came with an agency that was a bit of a scam, i worked on a poor salary and the promise of a Z visa was never met.

i came home, worked for a few months, saved up, and now i want to go back.

i have been in contact with a lot of schools who are keen to take me, but nobody who can provide me a z visa before i come to china.

so i applied for a tourist visa, but was told i could not have one because i had too many tourist visas this year, and they doubted i was a genuine tourist.

any ideas on finding a school who will sort a z visa out before i come? it seems impossible! or any other ideas on how i can get a visa to enter china?

lechoixnormal · Joined: 02 Feb 2011 Posts: 3

I'm also applying to schools in China, and I'm on the lookout for someone who is willing to provide me a Z visa.

While not a Z visa, the Buckland group (a recruiter, not a school) stated that they would send an F invitation letter (a business visa). Their reasoning was that there wouldn't be enough time to process the Z visa before they needed me, and that if I were to stay longer than 6 months, they would upgrade the visa.

I'm not really comfortable with this arrangement, so I'm still looking, but perhaps it could work for you. If you're interested, you should read more about this group around these forums.

Here's a link to the listing I responded to: http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/china/index.cgi?read=22382

newtefl168 · Joined: 21 Jun 2010 Posts: 16

hello what type of job are looking for ? i work at a EF in south china and they sorted out my visa no problems ! i got the letter of "alien work permit " sent from the school and then took that to my local chinese embassy and gave them my passport and other paper work . 1 week later went and collected my passport back (the fees was around 50gbp for single entry z visa ) then booked my flights and here i am !
i think you need to take a medical outside of china and send that before they can start the visa process ! but i now have the 1 residence premitt and i can take a break outside of china no problem ! if you are intrested in working here let me know and i wll give your more details !

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

Too bad there's not a sticky at the top of the page about Z visas and such . . . . Rolling Eyes

Galileo · Joined: 10 Oct 2006 Posts: 63

I was recently told by a recruiter to not worry about getting a Z visa because "in China, there are 80% foreign teachers got F visa or L visa". Do you think that this percentage is close to the truth?

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Puffy · Joined: 08 Feb 2011 Posts: 45

".... have been in contact with a lot of schools who are keen to take me, but nobody who can provide me a z visa before i come to china.

so i applied for a tourist visa, but was told i could not have one because i had too many tourist visas this year, and they doubted i was a genuine tourist..."

If the above is true, which probably is, the visa rules in China have changed a lot since 2004/2005. Back then, I went in and out of HK so many times the Customs people knew my name and always said Hello. Not really, but it never was a problem.

Either way, I suggest trying to get the L-visa at a different consulate. If you're in the US you might consider www.mychinavisa.com.

It seems the schools want you to start soon and it may be true that they can't get the Z-visa quick enough for you to start within the next 2 weeks or so. You might consider waiting until next semester.

Somewhat related to the other person asking about being denied a Z-visa, if you have listed your previous employment in China on your resume when working on an L-visa - remove it.

Most school's FAO people aren't on top of their game and may think to themselves - "Oh, he/she has experience, great!". The problem is they forgot to think about the Release/Recommendation form.

Considering that another person was denied a Z-visa because the PSB clerk noticed that their resume didn't indicate 2 years of full-time teaching experience, I'm sure they will also notice previous work experience in China and ask for the Release/Recommendation form or letters.

It happened to me several years ago. Similar to you, I worked "illegally" on L-visas for 9 months or so. I didn't like the job and went home for a couple of months. I found a new job at a university and everything thing seemed fine until the school applied for the Z-visa. The PSB folk noticed my previous teaching experience in China and asked for the Release letter.

Since I didn't have it, I said adios to that prospective employer, changed my resume and found a different university to spread my cheer at.

Good Luck

AnomanderRake · Joined: 06 Feb 2011 Posts: 29 Location: Beijing

LanGuTou · Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Posts: 621 Location: Shandong

Teatime of Soul · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 905

You shouldn't have any difficulty finding an employer who is licensed to hire you legally.

Whenever I hear the recruiter's siren song of "Everybody does it in China" I think of Coyotes in Mexico.

There are people in Mexico called "coyotes". Coyotes are people who promise illegal entry into the USA (across the dessert) to gain employment. They frequently abandon their customers in a hostile environment. Some survive, some don't.

It's the same on these forums. When someone posts they have been busted for teaching illegally, the very same posters who advocate or minimize the dangers of illegal teaching slink off in the darkness with nary a peep of advice.

It's interesting.

You have to choose your own level of risk. Chose carefully.