Job Discussion Forums

jesso92 · Joined: 05 Dec 2015 Posts: 60

Hey guys,

So I'm talking to one of them agencies, and, they want to hook me up with a school, and, they say I have to go to China on a tourist Visa, and once I'm there, switch to a Business visa.

Now, sounds sketchy enough, and upon doing some research I keep seeing everywhere that doing that is illegal, other people say that a ton of people do it anyways and nothing happens to them.

So I go and ask the agent about it, tell her that working on a business visa is illegal, and she comes and says this:

"it is legal to work here,because the school will tell the police about this situation,they only can apply a work visa for native English speaker with English certificate and TEFL,so most of the teachers can only hold business visa here,but the police already know it is like a cultural exchange, so no problem to work here with a business visa"

Now, I am of Mexican citizenship, that's why the person brought up the thing about native speakers. What do you guys think about this though? I really want to go, cause I like the school and the job seems nice enough. But I wouldn't want to end up in a jail for a couple days then deported, which I know it's definitely a possibility if decide to go through with this.

So for the people here who are working in China or have worked in China, did you know people working in these conditions, and how likely is it to actually get into a nightmare scenario if I go through with this.

In the mean time, I'll be requesting the contact information of current teachers working in that school to ask about their experience, which she seems willing to provide, so, that's a good sign, I guess.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

wangdaning · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154

It is illegal to work on a business visa unless your employer is a foreign company. The reason they will not get you a proper visa could be that you are a Mexican citizen, or more likely, they do not have a license to employ foreign workers. They could always say you will teach Spanish if the citizenship thing was the issue.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

JoeKing · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 519

I did it.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

jimpellow · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 913

"it is legal to work here,because the school will tell the police about this situation,they only can apply a work visa for native English speaker with English certificate and TEFL,so most of the teachers can only hold business visa here,but the police already know it is like a cultural exchange, so no problem to work here with a business visa"

The first rule you need to digest about China is that the Chinese will tell you whatever you want to hear to get what they want. The second is that Chinese will break and bend laws to get what they want, and then be in complete shock when any resulting fire burns their butts.

You will be working illegally and have no protection under the law. People did it in the past and got away with it. There are still people doing it, and likely more will in the future considering the new regulations.

More effort to enforce the laws has occurred over the last couple years. The government claims that this will increase in the near future.

The school could care less if you are caught, as they need you now, and so far little to nothing has been done to punish schools and recruiters who break the laws.

You may have a great time in China with no hassles. You may end up in a jail cell trying to figure out how you will pay the large fine before you get deported. You may want to write the letter of apology that will be demanded now, so one less thing to worry about if you are busted.

It's a roll of the dice. I don't think anybody in the World can determine how it will play out for you.

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

Here's the thing.

Even if they tell you it's legal and that everything is fine, if YOU get busted working do you think they'll put their necks on the line to help or leave you in jail and/or with a $5000 fine? You guessed it, they'll do absolutely nothing.

It's kinda typical of chinese to do whatever they need to get you over there and then if you get in trouble they get out of there to save themselves asap.

jimpellow · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 913

Shanghai Noon · Joined: 18 Aug 2013 Posts: 589 Location: Shanghai, China

wangdaning · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154

There are plenty of Chinese who want to learn Spanish. The OP should sell this as a benefit to the schools with which they are applying, and it could lead to a legit visa.

jimpellow · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 913

jesso92 · Joined: 05 Dec 2015 Posts: 60

I could try the Spanish thing I guess.

littlec · Joined: 15 Dec 2010 Posts: 16

I was wondering about this too. I have been offered a short term (15 week) contract to teach English in China, employed directly by an overseas university which applies for M visas valid for 60 days requiring at least 1 trip out of China for visa renewal during the term. I think previously they used F visas but I'm told they are no longer available.

wangdaning · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154

If you want to teach English do it, I was more pointing out that an employer could make you legal on the Spanish teacher side. You could still teach English classes.

When I say plenty I mean plenty, not the majority, or even a minority. There are loads of people in this country. I have had students over my 8 years here who were also studying Spanish, German, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, French, Italian, and more. I had a student who went through the foundation year but hated the major that followed. I told him to talk to his folks about what he wanted to do. He ended up in Sweden studying physics Laughing

Even though he is from Beijing, he stopped by Chengdu to give me a gift a few years ago (I am sure he was also here to visit friends).