Job Discussion Forums

[max.a]

So, I just got an email from my boss at EF Dongguan where I will start work within the month or so. HERE is his email:

"We received your Z visa paperwork. It's in the mail, you should receive very soon...After you book your flight, please send me your flight itinerary."

What do I do now? Send the paperwork to my Chinese Consulate or skip that step and book my flight?



With your knowledge, what are the steps the next few weeks require of me?

[Miles Smiles]

Wait for the "z visa paperwork" to arrive. It's the letter of invitation that you will have to send to the Chinese consulate WITH YOUR PASSPORT in order to get the Z visa. I've received two letters of invitation that bore either the wrong name or left my last name off it completely. Luckily, I waited until I had my visa in hand before I booked my flight.

[billybud]

Send money

[Baozi man]

Book your flight after you have your "z" visa.

[roadwalker]

If your school agrees in writing to pay for a second flight booking in the event that the paperwork arrives later than expected, or that there is some trouble securing the z-visa - then go ahead and book the flight. Otherwise, wait until you have the visa in hand. It's worth being a few days late arriving, compared to being hundreds of dollars out of pocket for a mistake. When the visa is secured in your passport, then book the next reasonably priced ticket that you can obtain in a reasonable time, unless the school agrees to pay for a hastily obtained full price ticket.

[milkweedma]

Can't believe you're actually going to work for EF Dongguan considering the amount of extremely negative posts about them. Good luck.
Anyway, wait for the paperwork to arrive, get the Z visa, then book a flight!

[w.melon56]

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Is that advice, or a full dressing down of the poster?

The best idea would be to certainly tell him that until the visa is in your passport, there will not be any booking of any flights anywhere period.

[JamesD]

Get the visa then book the flight.

No need for an aggressive response since I don't see where he insists you do one before the other. Just let them know.
"Thank you very much. I will send my itinerary as soon as my visa work is complete and the flight is booked."

[steve b]

Never, ever, book a flight on the premise that paperwork is on its way - unless someone else is paying up front for the ticket.

[LanGuTou]

One obvious thing to do is find out from the employer the method of posting. If they have used China EMS or another express courier, you should be able to get the tracking number and delivery details. However, as others have stated, you still need to wait for the package to arrive so that you can check the details on the invitation letter before booking the flight.

[max.a]

Thanks, this has really cleared things up on some levels, but...

In the English First Flight Reimbursement Policy, it states:

[creeper1]

Hope you have a tough attitude OP. Check my posting history. I asked a question about Dongguan and one guy kept going on about how horrible it is, avoid and find another location was their advice.

Dongguan is the factory of the world. Prepare your lungs for some pollution.

Let us know how you get on.

Good luck.

[Opiate]

It's not common for employers in China to pay upfront for you to come here. Maybe it once was, I don't know. It's almost unheard of now.

Most teachers are paid for the flight either 6 months into or at the completion of the contract. Others get paid a little each month for 6 months or so.

On the plus side.... if it is in your contract that they'll pay upfront and they pay on a different schedule then you already have your 'get out of jail free' card since they have already broken the contract. Use this to your advantage if things go 'belly up' later.

[askiptochina]

I'm doing fine.