Job Discussion Forums

[TaoyuanSteve]

The original poster should probably just wait for the diploma. If for no other reason than his parents will want him to be able attend convocation. It's always possible to obtain work without becoming legal. I've considered this issue fairly carefully and have concluded, for myself, that being legal has more benefits than being illegal. Scroll down a bit and read what I see as the pros and cons. I've been reading these boards for a while and I've never seen any compelling evidence to support the assertion that working illegal is better than doing so legally. I've even called for such evidence openly on this forum and no one has been able to provide it. The ability to leave jobs quickly and easily seems to be the only thing approaching an advantage to this arrangement. Like I've said before, it has been my experience that the only people who work long-term without legal status are those who have no choice but to do so.

[Ilja]

ok-it seems that most of you are in favour of waiting until the 'sheepskin' arrives. luckily, i learned that will be within the two months of my visa expiration date, so perhaps i can work on visa until then and then collect the benefits once that degree is in my 'hot little hands'. I was actually suprised to hear that many schools are so sticky about this, but maybe the ones that are working 'illegally' feel they may get caught if they post here!!
Killian-i'd be interested to hear your story, because you appear to have been in exactly the same situation as i am now....including the 'letter of attestation' situation.
well, i'm off to visa office to get that coveted multiple entry visa! who knows, perhaps people at the embassy are reading these posts too!! damn!!

[killian]

the schools are NOT the picky ones. the bureaucrats are. many schools have full-time legal teachers and illegal part-time teachers in adjacent classrooms. we all do what we gotta do.

it used to be easier to be illegal. it gets tighter every year. i used to be illegal. worked hard eight or nine hours a day and used the bi-monthly visa runs as my vacation. the pay was higher: they wanted me and i knew my value was greater because of my free agent status. many schools can't afford a full-time legal teacher. they have but a handful of classes. finding such schools is a goldmine. legal jobs will pay you 600 per hour (don't forget taxes). the smaller, non-legal schools HAVE to be more forthcoming with a greater percentage of profits because they have no choice. yeah, if you are teaching 25 kids in a class, 800 is much more fair than 600 per hour. also, as an illegal i had more power in the boss-worker equation. if the boss was a jackass, fine. i would have the freedom to leave and work elsewhere. these days they continue to make getting a visa more arduous.

ilja, i don't know what more i can offer other than what i had previously posted regarding your situation. feel free to private message me with specific questions.

best wishes.