Job Discussion Forums

[GeminiTiger]

I have seen threads about this before but they are hard to search for. Two hours ago I was informed that I cannot get a renewed FEC at this University (where I'm living) because I have 5 years of resident permits consecutive although they are in two passports and I have an original "Z visa" in each one. This is in a University is Sichuan.

So-- My visa expires in 30 days--

I need a new job, I've only worked in Unis, I don't want to work in a mill.
But I imagine all the jobs are gone about two months ago-- I know that this rule is not enforced everywhere, equally. I just don't understand--

The school will pay all my expenses for moving here (flying) from Shanghai to Chengdu and back, reimburse my medical exam as well as mail costs for my bags but I still need a job.

Any insights, help, funny jokes appreciated--

[dean_a_jones]

Have you been working for the same university for the full five years? The 5-year 'rule' is an oddity, and no matter how hard I try, I still cannot figure out the truth behind this. It seems that it is 5 years with the same institute that is the problem. There also seems to be an additional tax burden after 5 years on worldwide income. Anyway, if you could let us know how long you have been teaching at your school, that would be useful.

In terms of other jobs, you might be able to find something at the end of August at a university. Although a lot of places might be on summer break now, it is not uncommon for positions to become available when teachers fall through and they need new ones. Whatever the case, I would start doing the legwork now and sending off you CV. You might also want to get your name out to a few recruiters, some schools that panic due to a dropout or need someone ASAP use them. If you are thinking of switching cities, try local expat forums and websites, the ones for Wuhan (for example) list a fair few number of jobs.

Good luck.

[petebeatstreet]

I've been here six years and don't have this problem. Then again the first couple years i was on a business visa.

More than that, I can't offer advice.

[7969]

The five year "rule" is another "rule" that gets applied like many other "rules" - inconsistently (which is the frustrating part). To my knowledge no-one at our school has ever been let go because of it, but teachers have been let go due to being older. One of them at 70.

[kev7161]

I'm getting ready to start my 7th year at the same school, same type of resident permit since day one.

[Lobster]

In this matter, it isn't important whether another FT (or 100) has been granted an FEC after 5, 7 or 11 years. The SAFEA guidelines are enacted differently in different provinces. In some, they are almost disregarded, while in others they are used strictly as rules.

Generally, when a school invokes the max 5-year rule or the max 60-years-old rule, they are politely telling the teacher they are no longer wanted or needed for whatever reason. Any large uni usually has the pull to get an FEC approved for any teacher they really want. Either that, or someone in the FAO really angered someone at the FEB.

At his point, if you really want to stay in that city, you may find yourself working at a mill for 1 year if you cannot quickly find another uni position. This inconsistent approach to the enactment of guidelines has got to be one of the most frustrating things for FTs, as we expect a kind of across-the-board approach that doesn't happen here. Good luck and keep us posted.

You may refer to this unofficial site: http://middlekingdomlife.com/guide/safea-foreign-teachers-and-chinese-boxes.htm

RED

[GeminiTiger]

I've only been here a few days. The school has offered to pay for all my costs both ways for moving expense plus had said that if I take a business visa, student visa or return home for a year I'm guarenteed a future position. Plus, the jr. FAO looked like she wanted to cry at the injustice being done. I'm up in the mountains of Sichuan, I asked them so many times to make sure everything was in order before I sent my stuff and flew here. (followed by a 10 hour bus ride out of Chengdu) What happened, as far as I can tell, is that the school here has absolutely "beggar only status" with the people in Chengdu and can't get away with anything and apparently they already "did something" that did infact piss off someone in the past. The also told me they had to let go a teacher after 4 years because they hit 60 previously. This school only hires 2 foreigners a year, so they are sqrewed for a while as well.

PS, this is the only school in five years that required an original diploma, that by coincidence I've had with me since I graduated in my travel documents. now i wish i had not brought it, because in retrospect it I would be in another job and protected myself from such an ANAL-SOB goverment dude, who aparently enforces ALL of those "random rules".

edit: i read this long blog post and found another guy from sichuan had this problem before.
http://middlekingdomlife.com/guide/safea-foreign-teachers-and-chinese-boxes.htm

[7969]

Which direction was your bus ride out of Chengdu I'm guessing west and towards Kangding... If so, it's beautiful country out there.

[GeminiTiger]

your in the vicinity

i never seen a school apologize so much, the jr FAO even privately suggested the school owes me special compensation beyond all reimbursement for flight/bus/mail/hotel expenses. but as i told her, i actually i just want to find a new decent job offer, thankfully some are
showing up in my email.

i think it's a bit strange, but as far as i know inner mongolia and sichuan more closely follow those extra guidelines, while working in nanjing is about as hard as just showing up. it's a pity actually.

i should have seen the warning signs when they asked for an original diploma and a resume that goes back to my first year of high school with every single year inbetween carefully notorized. (20 years ago)..