Job Discussion Forums

[mm22]

Hello everyone,

I'm an aussie graduate that's recently been offered a teaching position in Lanzhou. I'm a little concerned about accepting the job for a number of reasons:

* it's offered by a recruitment agency in the US (SourSeed Inc, anyone heard of them?)
* Not entirely sure how comfortable I'd be in Lanzhou, rather rural no?
* The headmasters of the school do not speak english, therefore I apparently can't speak to them
* Copies of the contract were immediately sent to me the day after I emailed a general letter of interest
* and lastly, i've been told that i'll arrive in China on a business visa (also called 'F' visa i think?), to avoid 'time delays' and then get it changed...

Now, i've been trying to research as much as I can on it and i've read on a few sites that you cannot work in China as an English teacher on a business visa, that it is infact illegal, and is an indication that the school is unlicensed! Is this true?

Ok, i know that teachers should firstly insist on obtaining a working visa, or if worst comes to worst, then a tourist visa...

And my question is, what is the typical arrangement found on the hundreds of job offerings for teaching in China. What should I be expecting?

Is it reasonable to demand a working visa and nothing else... or are there infact many of you who went on a business visa and then got that work permit?

Confusing stuff mate!

Any help would be much appreciated if i'm gonna be able to work in China legally,

Thanks!


* Oh, and another thing... What SHOULD us teachers generally expect and demand from these schools in China. I just want to get a good deal, and not end up disappointed

[august03]

If they ask you to arrive on a Business Visa then they probably can't legally supply you with a Work (Z) Visa. I am also an Aussie, I arrived on a Tourist (L) Visa and had it changed to a Z once I arrived and signed the contract.

There is no problem arriving on an L visa, it's a good idea for both you and the school to check each other out before going through the process of obtaining a Z visa and the accompanying documents. I�m not clear on the legalities surrounding a Business Visa but I do know that I wouldn�t accept a position unless they promised me a Z visa.

[nolefan]

I would not worry about the dean not speaking english...quite a few of them don't.

You should try to get the contact information for one of their current or former teachers just to be sure that everything is legit.
Ask the recruiter for references as well.

[Roger]

Is it a public school or a training centre?

If the former, then I wouldn't worry too much RE the visa issue. They do have the possiblity of obtaining visa once you have arrived there. I wonder why they suggested a business visa instead of a tourist visa...

Lanzhou is not exactly rural; its surrounding areas are. IT's not far from Tibetan-inhabited counties. The city is a blighted zone, very heavily industrialised and polluted, but so are most other cities in China. The climate is pleasant though a bit cold in winter (altitude is well over 2000 meters above sea level).

[ChrisP]

Whatever kind of visa you come in on will have to be changed to a Z visa once you are here. They cost the same amount so insist on a Z visa before you come. They will have to fax you a letter and probably a certificate that shows they are entitled to employ foreigners. Get a multiple entry visa because if you want to change it once you are here, you have to do the whole visa process again and pay again (1,260 RMB for an American, a little less for an Aussie.)
In addition to saving you time and money, getting the Z visa may save you from a sleezy recruiter. If you have the Z visa sponsored by the employer, you are committed to that employer. I came in on a tourist visa with a contract for a university job. The recruiter sent me to a training center instead. It's okay because I like my job and love my apartment, but it sure didn't look okay for a few days.
Some additional costs after you get here: 350 for the health booklet, 100 to translate your diploma, 200 for the resident permit.

[waxwing]

Is it actually more convenient to come in on a L-visa than a Z-visa? I'm starting to think so, at least in my case.
I'm going to have to get my visa in Moscow, and frankly I can't be bothered with all the mucking around e.g. with this medical thing. I can't imagine how that's going to work in Russia.

My Uni is planning to send me an invitation for a Z-visa. Should I tell them to do that after I arrive, and just come on an L-visa? Any thoughts welcome. Sorry for possible thread-hijack.