Job Discussion Forums

j52p · Joined: 17 Jun 2008 Posts: 12

Does anyone have any information regarding which provinces or locations might allow someone to work after the age of 65? I've known a number of teachers in Nanjing over the age of 70 in the past who received the appropriate visa and permits allowing them to work. I have been in Zhengzhou the last 3 years working with a residence permit and FEC. The FEC people will no longer grant one for me next year at the age of 66. I've also heard of people working on business visas which would require leaving the country every couple of months. In Guangdong that wouldn't be much of an inconvenience. Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks.

j52p · Joined: 17 Jun 2008 Posts: 12

I guess I may be out of luck finding work in China. No one has any advice or comments to date.

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

Earlier - I'm talking early/mid 2000s here, you would come across quite elderly FTs in universities. There were a couple at Dongbei U of Finance and Economics (Dalian) and one I met at U of Hainan.
I suspect these people had been in their positions for a while and kept getting renewed if fit.
As these people finally retired I think the schools recruited in the mid age bracket and didn't let themselves get cornered again.
I would suggest don't look for Z visa jobs but go for L visa entry and try to protect yourself as much as possible. i.e an intermediary to arrange visits of students to your apartment and handle the money.

j52p · Joined: 17 Jun 2008 Posts: 12

Non Sequitor, thanks for that. I'll keep it all in mind.

Blistering Zanazilz · Joined: 06 Jan 2018 Posts: 180

Don't waste your time with a tourist visa, too many limitations. Get a business visa or better yet a 10 year visa (if your nationality qualifies).

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

geosmiley · Joined: 25 Jan 2016 Posts: 62

I think it would be foolish in the China of today to "fudge" anything. If you can't work legally in China find a country where you can.

j52p · Joined: 17 Jun 2008 Posts: 12

It would be pretty impossible to "fudge" things in the Zhengzhou of today. Unlike in the six other locations where I have worked in China, for the first two years in Zhengzhou my school did not even hint that I needed to register with the police department. Starting in this my third year that has been required and an agent calls me and/or the school on the phone every week or two expecting an update on what I have done, where I have been and any plans to leave town. One officer tried to friend me on wechat and seems pretty unhappy that I didn't accept. A colleague made the mistake of accepting her friendship there and received daily messages with questions about his plans and displayed knowledge of issues they had not previously discussed up to the point that he canceled their friendship.

Thanks to all for the info and advice. I have sent out many dozens of applications and am not having any offers. Initially there is interest, but many agents and schools don't even know the visa requirements prior to encountering me and when they figure things out the interest wanes. I am not much inclined to try to hustle up private students because of the visa concerns and my basic nature and personality.

groovebliss · Joined: 28 Dec 2014 Posts: 19

twowheel · Joined: 03 Jul 2015 Posts: 753

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

Greg 09 · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 169

At my Uni in Henan we had two teachers recently age out at 65. This year, however, I just turned 60 and was refused a FE Certificate from ZZ. I'm looking around other provinces but am being told everywhere that 60 is too old.

I had planned on 5 more years, imagine my surprise...

teenoso · Joined: 18 Sep 2013 Posts: 365 Location: south china

Yeah, 60 seems to be the general cut-off, although I'm surprised , Greg , you couldn't renew at 60. Maybe you were trying to move school in Henan?

Blistering Zanazilz · Joined: 06 Jan 2018 Posts: 180

cormac · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 768 Location: Xi'an (XTU)

Well, while in Xian (8 years) I knew or met a variety of University level teachers who were easily over 60. I don't know what personal agreements they had with their universities or the psb, but they were still there when I left (this/last year).

I do think though that all of them could speak Chinese reasonably well, had solid qualifications/experience, and while they weren't doing much in the way of publications now, they had some to reference from the past. Most of them were either married/divorced/widowed to Chinese women.

On a side note, I know two men over 60 who work for New Oriental Training school doing the more advanced classes. the OP could try them since they're pretty influential, and pay well if you don't mind putting in the hours.

I'd also suggest looking at smaller cities or towns that orbit the bigger cities. Rules are often very flexible there and many FTs aren't interested in them due to the lack of convenience or nightlife.