Job Discussion Forums

[hdeth]

I am in Beijing. I have a strong feeling that the school is not giving the appropriate gifts to the authorities and is thus having a difficult time at things, but they insist it's just that Beijing is getting really strict.

There were some changes in the regulations late last year about having a certain number of TEFL hours, and some changes early this year about visa runs. I would assume if the school is greasing the right palms this isn't a problem, but who knows. They did HK runs last year with no problems and assumed it was still fine this year, but apparently not.

[JoeKing]

[wangdaning]

Beijing is much more strict than anywhere, even right outside their district. I get the impression that a license in Beijing to hire a foreign worker would require a legit process. A company doing otherwise would be admonished. That might be why they are doing it? I am not sure.

[Son of Bud Powell]

This was the original unsolicited advice from the recruiter (apparently a westerner):

MARKETING TIP: if they [the recruiters] ask you how much you want, the ideal answer is "the best you can". That way they can work hard competing against each other and getting you the best option. Don't be too concerned about the salary upfront, really promote yourself by having a wonderful interview, and then ask for more money if it is warranted. If you have interviewed for multiple schools, you can leverage them against each other for your benefit.

Visa (China): AFTER you sign a contract, your school will send you an invitation letter/other paperwork for your visa. SUGGESTION: Come on a tourist/business visa, check out the school for a short while to make sure it is 100% where you want to work for a year and then go to Hong Kong for a work visa (if applicable). Once you get a work visa it is difficult to transfer to another school, so obviously make sure it’s absolutely where you want to work. (You may want to keep this method to yourself as schools want you committed for a full year)

IMPORTANT: Technically, you should have a Z visa when working. An easy workaround is that you are “pretending to teach” before you obtain your work visa. A large portion of foreigners are on a variety of visas. This is a simple, legal workaround if you choose to use.

Here is her reply to my response in which I expressed my belief that her advice was really bad:

While I understand your paranoia and you are not alone, these are merely suggestions and legal workarounds If you choose to use them. If you go around telling your FAO and others your private business, of course you put yourself at risk. I have been doing this for almost 8 years and these are simply helpful advice. We do not have a single reported episode in which a Z visa was not granted in Hong Kong. Again this is helpful advice and we wish you the best of luck



I no longer receive job notices from this outfit.

[direshark]

[RiverMystic]

I'm in Guangzhou, and at least as far as my school goes, the HK visa run is a no-goer. So I can definitely say that if you come to China for a few weeks on a tourist visa to check out the school, then you MAY have to fork out the cash for another return ticket to go back to your home country again for the work visa - and they can take a long time to procure. This is what happened to me, and why they are trying to put me on a business visa - which is illegal. Luckily I have just been offered a pretty good job elsewhere, so I do have options.

If you come to China with little cash you could really be up the creek if you suddenly find you have to fork out $1500 extra bucks to return home, plus whatever other expenses you have to endure while you are back there waiting for documents to be processed.

Be careful.

[wangdaning]

You can always risk sending your passport back by post to get the process done. Never tried to, but that would be my first choice if I was being told to go home.

[JoeKing]

[Markness]

[RiverMystic]

[Emp1]

Why are you working for a month after telling your employer you want to leave?

Here's how it works in ESL - when you get your paycheck, you announce to your employer that you are quitting that day, effective immediately. There's just too many who will try and screw you otherwise.

This isn't like back home with employee rights, where you could take your employer to court over it and receive judgement in your favour plus substantial compensation. Just quit on the day you get your money.

[RiverMystic]