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Advice needed - Nanjing Work Permit Rejected - SAFEA

 
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Spinksy



Joined: 20 Sep 2010
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 11:31 am    Post subject: Advice needed - Nanjing Work Permit Rejected - SAFEA Reply with quote

Hi, I was wondering if I could have some advice from people here.

I was accepted last month for a University teaching position in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. The position looks fantastic and is ideal for me - I want to be in Nanjing as my girlfriend is going to study Mandarin there so I was delighted when I was offered the job.

Anyway, I've hit a snag. After two attempts, the University has been unsuccesful in applying for the work permit from Administration of Foreigh Experts which I require to apply for my Z visa. They apparently don't acknowledge that my teaching experience meets the requirement of two-year teaching experience. The university assure me that they have done everything they can to persuade them, but they have refused to issue the permit.

HOWEVER

The University inform me that they have received notice from the Administration of Foreign Experts that I can receive the permit if I complete a training program for foreign teachers whose teaching experience is less than two years (licensed by the SAFEA). This is apparently the 'routine policy'. I have to take the 7-day course in Beijing in the next few weeks at a fee of 3000 RMB. In addition, I will have to bear the cost of accommodation and get myself there. Once I get the certificate, they assure me they can get the permit but I will then have to go to Hong Kong to convert my Tourist Visa to a Z Visa.

The website for the course is here: http://tefl.chinajob.com. And click the title of About TEFL in China.

Now. I am currently in the UK and extremely stressed and confused.

Does this sound right? What should I do? Has anyone heard of this course/loophole before? Am I going to be able to convert my visa in Hong Kong?

Many thanks - any advice would be much appreciated, I'm going a bit mad!
Rolling Eyes Sad Shocked

I have a BA (History) - First Class, a Cambridge CELTA (Grade B), and roughly two years teaching experience (multilingual adults and teenagers). The problem with my experience was that some of this was part time, and since i graduated in 2010, only 1 year is post-graduation.
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dean_a_jones



Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 1151
Location: Wuhan, China

PostPosted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My guess is that the bigger issue is that you have only held your degree for one year rather than two, which is what places usually seem to want. If the school wanted you, they could have pretty much told SAFEA whatever they wanted in regards to experience, but there is little they can do about the dates on diplomas etc.

I have not heard of this programme before, hopefully someone here will be able to give details of specific experience with the course. In the meantime I would be cautious, as you could easily end up having paid 3,000RMB for a crappy 7 day course and still get the same response in terms of your experience and graduation date from the local SAFEA person.

The course itself seems legitimate, and there is information about it on the SAFEA website as well (http://www.safea.gov.cn/english/content.php?id=12742909). However, there seems to be very little discussion on the internet about the course. Hopefully someone here will be able to provide more specific information. It sounds like a money spinner to me, but if it gets you a job in the city then I suppose it is money well spent (and it is not especially expensive).
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7969



Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 5782
Location: Coastal Guangdong

PostPosted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:37 pm    Post subject: Re: Advice needed - Nanjing Work Permit Rejected - SAFEA Reply with quote

Spinksy wrote:
The website for the course is here: http://tefl.chinajob.com. And click the title of About TEFL in China.

Have you got the right link? That one doesn't work for me.
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dean_a_jones



Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 1151
Location: Wuhan, China

PostPosted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:53 pm    Post subject: Re: Advice needed - Nanjing Work Permit Rejected - SAFEA Reply with quote

7969 wrote:
Spinksy wrote:
The website for the course is here: http://tefl.chinajob.com. And click the title of About TEFL in China.

Have you got the right link? That one doesn't work for me.


It is because he accidentally included the full stop in the link, you need to remove it after clicking and then it works.
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7969



Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 5782
Location: Coastal Guangdong

PostPosted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 1:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

you mean teflchinajob.com? I tried that and it still won't open.
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dean_a_jones



Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 1151
Location: Wuhan, China

PostPosted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 1:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://tefl.chinajob.com/
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dean_a_jones



Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 1151
Location: Wuhan, China

PostPosted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 1:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

double post, deleted

Last edited by dean_a_jones on Sat Aug 06, 2011 1:21 pm; edited 1 time in total
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7969



Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 5782
Location: Coastal Guangdong

PostPosted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 1:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

haha got it. i didnt see the period at the end of the link.... just woke up...
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Miles Smiles



Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1294
Location: Heebee Jeebee

PostPosted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 2:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've seen this happen before. You can get an acceptable certificate there in Nanjing. I believe that it's a one-week TESOL course. It happened to a teacher in my school. They made him enroll in a course there in Nanjing, then they let him teach. Ask your school to talk to someone at the Ministry of education in Nanjing or someone at SAFEA. They'll know about the school.

I don't know how the guy was allowed into China or how he got a Z visa in the first place.
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GuestBob



Joined: 18 Jun 2011
Posts: 270

PostPosted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 2:14 pm    Post subject: Re: Advice needed - Nanjing Work Permit Rejected - SAFEA Reply with quote

Spinksy wrote:
I have a BA (History) - First Class, a Cambridge CELTA (Grade B), and roughly two years teaching experience (multilingual adults and teenagers). The problem with my experience was that some of this was part time, and since i graduated in 2010, only 1 year is post-graduation.


Have you explained to the University, and asked them to stress to SAFEA, that you already possess a higher level qualification in English teaching than their Certificate? What kind of experience do you have - is it UK private or state sector?

It may be the case that the provincial SAFEA office have offered this option as a face saving gesture, so that they are not outright denying the University's request. In which case, it has been crafted for their benefit and not yours.

You are best placed to judge whether this offer is sincere - you might want to try suggesting to the University that they pay for this course for you. There are a few things which you will need to watch out for:

1. Has the Uni offered to pay for the cost of the visa run to HK?

2. Has the Uni. assured you that if you end up without a Z visa after a failed run then they will still bear the cost of a return flight?

3. Have any of the other teachers at the Uni. been through this procedure and if so, can you speak to them?

4. As a gesture of good faith, will the University pay for this course?

If this has happened before and the University offers to pay for it then things are still not ideal (visa runs are not exactly a brilliant strategy) but they are at least being serious with you. If they don't offer to pay for anything then it is your call, but I suggest that you have a quick gander at other job adverts (from other countries too) and see if anywhere else bites.

[edit] ^^^ Based on Miles' post above, this sounds more legit than I previously thought, I haven't heard of anyone being required to do this before is all.
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Miles Smiles



Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1294
Location: Heebee Jeebee

PostPosted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 7:14 pm    Post subject: Re: Advice needed - Nanjing Work Permit Rejected - SAFEA Reply with quote

GuestBob wrote:
^^^ Based on Miles' post above, this sounds more legit than I previously thought, I haven't heard of anyone being required to do this before is all.


I think there might have been some sort of bureaucratic voodoo involved in getting him a Z visa in the first place. He came in on some sort of kiddie pseudocultural exchange, then SOMEHOW got a Z visa and a job through the program. The FAO knew nothing about him. I do know that he took the TESOL course right there in Nanjing after the FAO learned that he had no experience.

No matter how wild or how weird the stories may be on Dave's, there's always room for me to believe that anything can be accomplished by bypassing the rules and regulations if the right people do it.

To the OP: be sure that your school will be scrutinizing your class room work. In all likelihood, you will be observed once or twice during your first term, and your students will have a chance to give their feedback.

Teaching in China is no party.
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