Job Discussion Forums

[Zorak03]

I heard about that from a friend while working in Guangzhou last year. What happened? Have you been able to get back into China?
While working in Guangzhou on F visas we had the police come by twice and check us. They didnt seem to care as long as our visas were valid. Also, one of my friends who works for another company recently (like last month) had the police come in, video tape everyone and then call everyone in a room to check their visas. He is on an F visa, and one of his co-workers didnt even have his passport with him. They still didnt care and told them everything is fine and thanked them for cooperating.
I guess they're pretty tough down in Shenzhen.


I can tell you that 4 FT's and I were all kicked out of China in April, 2008. We all had either "F" or "L" visas and were waiting for our company, "Linguaphone Shenzhen" to obtain the proper "Z" visas. We were told "don't worry, we are working on it", but nonetheless we were brought to the police station, fingerprinted and compelled to sign statements of our guilt. "Linguaphone" gave the police records of our pay and knew the police were coming in, yet didn't warn us. The police said "if we cooperated, nothing would happen to us", however we were then given exit visas and forced to go back to our home countries. The police said " you can not work in China without a "Z" visa, yet some went back to "Linguaphone" with new passports and worked again without it.[/quote]

[mikethemule1998]

We all got back into China eventually, although I wouldn't work for Linguaphone Shenzhen again. I fought with them to get them to pay everyone a flight home, even though the police assured us, this was their duty. After that I was unwelcome there.
Yes, Shenzhen seems particularly tough, although I have heard many teachers had the same happen in Beijing.
My latest problem is the "Criminal Record Check." http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1201.html I am trying to do everything 100% legally and find that Americans in Shenzhen must now return to their respective hometowns and obtain a "Criminal Record Check." This includes sending off 10 fingerprints to the FBI along with an 18$ fee and getting the proper stamps at a Chinese Embassy. This will cost me more than 1000$ and I'm just wondering what's next? Maybe a chip under the skin, a bar code tattoo or perhaps a GPS tracking bracelet.

[Renegade_o_Funk]

Why go back there after getting thrown out by the police & now being required to submit FBI documentation I would cut my loses & go to a different province Not even Beijing requires a background check. I hear Harbin is nice this time of year

[mikethemule1998]

Sorry, it may sound stupid to you, but I don't know the rules in Beijing and Shanghai. Does anyone? Shenzhen is normally a good place for pay and weather and also it's close to HK. Since I'm an American on an "F" visa, I must leave China every 30 days. I have lived here for nearly 5 years and have friends here, as well.

[Renegade_o_Funk]

I taught in Beijing 2 years ago & I did not have to submit to any kind of background check. I have been back in the U.S. since then, working on my masters, but I recently inked a new contract starting with a different Beijing school, starting in September.

Still no mention of any kind of background check. I think they submitted all my visa paperwork a week ago (that's what they said) they could still be pushing it around their desk for all I know. Other than hearing from you that shenzhen requires a background check, the only other place I have seen require background checks (that I can recall) is inner Mongolia.

I met many unsavory ex-pat-characters last time I was in China, I remember at least two guy's (different instances) bragging that they had warrants out for their arrest back in the U.S.

I was talking to some schools in Shanghai before I settled on Beijing again, and there was no mention of any kind of background check.

After meeting the two at-large braggarts, I just assumed that the large city's like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou had so many foreigners coming & going that there was no way they could keep up with doing a background check on everyone.

[mike w]

The criminal record check is something that has been enforced sporadically in Guangzhou and Shenzhen over the last 14 years that I know off. It has been required more frequently in Inner Mongolia. In all three areas, it has only been required by US citizens.

[damasseur]

Before you decide to work on a F visa, make sure you ask the recruiter if you will get a �letter of release� or �letter of recommendation .�
I taught on a L visa for one year and completed my contract at local middle school. So the following week I went in to visit my agent to sign a handwritten release form. Afterwards I asked my agent if I was going to get any letter of recommendation. The agent flat out said �No� and replied because I was working illegally in the country. The agent also would not help me as a reference for my next job and I was told to leave.
Now I worked very hard and performed all my duties. I was never late to classes. I had twenty five classes a week and at least 25 students per class. There were no complaints from the leaders or anyone from the school.
Was the agent excessive? Does anyone think the agent was doing the right thing? Don�t I deserve at least some kind of reference so I can use for the next job?

[Renegade_o_Funk]

Why don't you get the school to give you a letter of recommendation ? From what you say, you are on good terms with them. You could explain to them the agent wont give you one & you need the letter to secure future employment. I don't know about "excessive" but the agent is certainly sleazy.

[damasseur]

Yes, fortunately the school signed my letter of recommendation with two signatures from two leaders. Plus, the personnel manager at the human resources office chopped an official seal on the paper.
Since I went back to the school the following week I think they knew the situation. Everyone was very happy to see me and they even asked me how I was doing too.
I should've asked for a recommendation letter during my last week of stay there.
Man, I was so gullible to believe my agent would helped me if I needed anything. Yes, I believe 'sleazy' is a good word to desribe this agent.

[Renegade_o_Funk]

Well I am glad to hear your situation worked out. Often enough on this forum, it is just people posting horror stories / posters ridiculing them for making bad decisions.

Perhaps you should consider making a thread with the good & bad details about this recruiter & school. It could help others avoid this recruiter/agent, and direct them towards direct contact with the school, if it is one that treats it's FT's decently.

[Adeem]