| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
timbukthree
Joined: 18 Oct 2011
Posts: 2
|
 Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 8:17 pm Post subject: Release Letter from Job in 2012 |
 |
|
In winter of 2012 I found a job at a public high school in gansu provice for one year through a recruiter. I was in China at the time and the recruiter arranged for an F visa to be renewed over summer break. First, I assumed that working on an F visa was a grey area and not strictly illegal. Second, I had plans to leave China over the summer break to attend a wedding back home so I didn't have a problem having to reapply. Needless to say the recruiter was paid upfront and had no incentive to send me back to the school once I had left. Initially I was bummed, but I found a decent job in the US where I worked until this past month. Now I am looking to return to China and teach English this time with out a recruiter and on the up and up. Nevertheless, I have my past stint hanging over my head.
Will I need to obtain a release letter from my school if I was there on an F visa? I have a renewed passport with a new passport number. Does that make any difference? I registered with the local police, but as far as I recall I did not get a residence permit (I understand that a residence permit is attached to one's passport. That did not happen to my knowledge)
A general question: do release letters cancel a z visa or a residence permit or both?
Thanks for any help you all can provide.
tl;dr worked on an F visa. do I need a release letter before I find a new, legitimate job with a z visa? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Piper2
Joined: 13 Jun 2014
Posts: 146
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 10:25 pm Post subject: Re: Release Letter from Job in 2012 |
|
|
| timbukthree wrote: |
In winter of 2012 I found a job at a public high school in gansu provice for one year through a recruiter. I was in China at the time and the recruiter arranged for an F visa to be renewed over summer break. First, I assumed that working on an F visa was a grey area and not strictly illegal. Second, I had plans to leave China over the summer break to attend a wedding back home so I didn't have a problem having to reapply. Needless to say the recruiter was paid upfront and had no incentive to send me back to the school once I had left. Initially I was bummed, but I found a decent job in the US where I worked until this past month. Now I am looking to return to China and teach English this time with out a recruiter and on the up and up. Nevertheless, I have my past stint hanging over my head.
Will I need to obtain a release letter from my school if I was there on an F visa? I have a renewed passport with a new passport number. Does that make any difference? I registered with the local police, but as far as I recall I did not get a residence permit (I understand that a residence permit is attached to one's passport. That did not happen to my knowledge)
A general question: do release letters cancel a z visa or a residence permit or both?
Thanks for any help you all can provide.
tl;dr worked on an F visa. do I need a release letter before I find a new, legitimate job with a z visa? |
If I understand correctly you are saying you worked on an F visa for the academic year 2012-13 and the school did not provide you with a Foreign Expert Certificate (which would not be surprising given you had no z visa). I assume the PSB never questioned you about your working at the school and you did not overstay your visa?
I would guess that the usual government checks would not find that you worked at the school or that you did anything inappropriate as regards your F visa. I suggest you not mention having worked at the school to either the authorities or potential employers.
My understanding is a release letter (letter of release/recommendation) confirms that the school acknowledges that you have completed your contract (to a good, excellent, or inadequate standard) and that they "release" you of the contractual obligations you had. The fact that the contract end date has passed is irrelevant; the release letter is needed to confirm you have no outstanding obligations. In your case, you may have signed a contract, but both you and the school entered into it without the necessary legal requirements; you worked illegally. Hence the contract was probably not submitted to the authorities so no release letter would be needed (I guess). Just avoid the whole issue, don't mention that job.
You have a new passport, many regions now require a certificate of no criminal record of your entire time in China. Remember to bring all passports you used in China with you if you want the certificate to cover the whole time you were in China. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
timbukthree
Joined: 18 Oct 2011
Posts: 2
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 11:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
First, thank you for your reply.
It is unfortunate that I can't list my experience with the school. I think that I did a good job there and I think that the school would say the same were it not for my failure to return. I regret not contacting the school immediately to explain what was going on.
I did have a foreign teachers certificate issued by Gansu Provincial Foreign Experts Bureau. From your reply it seems like that would complicate things as this was tied to my old passport number and to me.
If anyone else has some insight I would appreciate it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Piper2
Joined: 13 Jun 2014
Posts: 146
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 11:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| timbukthree wrote: |
First, thank you for your reply.
It is unfortunate that I can't list my experience with the school. I think that I did a good job there and I think that the school would say the same were it not for my failure to return. I regret not contacting the school immediately to explain what was going on.
I did have a foreign teachers certificate issued by Gansu Provincial Foreign Experts Bureau. From your reply it seems like that would complicate things as this was tied to my old passport number and to me.
If anyone else has some insight I would appreciate it. |
You entered China on an F visa and then were issued an FEC, but no Residence Permit? I did not know an FEC could be granted based on an F visa. Did your former school cancel your FEC?
Are you returning to the same province? When applying for a new FEC records would show if an FEC was not cancelled and a new FEC would not be issued until the certificate of cancellation was presented. A different province might be simpler as the local authorities may not have access to Gansu's records?
Your situation is complicated.
But, will your former school issue you a letter of release/recommendation and get you the certificate of FEC cancellation? Have you asked? If they will then you may be ok. The only problem or contradiction is the fact you worked as teacher on an F visa. I do not know if you should or should not say you worked on an F visa, and how either option might affect your prospects of employment in China.
I am sure others will comment. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Piper2
Joined: 13 Jun 2014
Posts: 146
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 9:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| timbukthree wrote: |
| If anyone else has some insight I would appreciate it. |
| Piper2 wrote: |
| I am sure others will comment. |
...
...
...
...
...
...
Oh...
...
...
...
Or should I say I did think someone else might comment?...
...
...
... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Piper2
Joined: 13 Jun 2014
Posts: 146
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 7:49 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Ok, I am bumping this thread purely because I do not understand why no-one else has posted. The original post looks valid enough to me and the poster seems genuine enough as well. Am I missing something? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
