Job Discussion Forums

chrisverrill · Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2004 7:06 pm Post subject: work visa

I don't want to accept a teaching position until I'm actually in BJ and can evaluate potential schools in person. Without a job secured, how do I get a work visa? Can I change a tourist visa when I arrive?

Chris

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Where on earth, or elsewhere, is BJ?

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

dyak · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 630

I think it's Bon Jovi...

Gowump · Joined: 05 May 2004 Posts: 70 Location: Poland

Isn't it something you pay a prostitute for?

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

Perhaps the OP has experience as a bartender.

chrisverrill · Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 4:55 pm Post subject: work visa

Yes, of course Beijing. Does anyone know the answer to the work visa question?

C

lagerlout2006 · Joined: 17 Sep 2003 Posts: 985

Some claim (on the China side) that you cannot change a tourist visa to work visa in...BJ. In some areas this is true. I would look into before just showing up---otherwise you may be forced to move elsewhere. Contact some schools and ask. I'm pretty certain it can't be done but I'm in the south so not certain...

roostasha · Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Posts: 72 Location: China

I strongly recommend you get your work visa before you enter China. My school told me to come on a visitor's visa because it would be easier to obtain my work visa once I got here. I was eager to start working, so I came on a visitor's visa. Since I arrived there has been one delay after another and my passport has been out of my possession for weeks. Of course, this wasn't a huge issue until my wallet got stolen at the supermarket, and when store security alerted the police, they were far more interested in seeing my passport and visa than they were in helping me find my wallet. Being questioned at a Chinese police station isn't much of a party.

chrisverrill · Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 6:38 am Post subject: catch 22

Thanks. But it is a catch 22. I can't get a work visa unless I have a job offer. But I can't secure the best job offer unless I am there in Beijing. How do I resolve this conflict?

C

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

There is no conflict, you silly you! You must first apply for a job that's on offer, and it is on offer because they cannot hire one of their own people; only then do they offer jobs to non-nationals.
I guess this is identical to how your country makes jobs available to foreigners.

I can't see any reason why you should be allowed to work here without first being vetted and appraised.

Surely you wouldn't want all of China to invade your country in search of jobs???

chrisverrill · Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 6:58 am Post subject: catch 23

Without getting into the injustices of international relations...

Chinese schools want to hire English teachers they see in person. In person. Yet I can't I can't get a work visa unless I have a job offer secured remotely. This makes no sense.

I'm not saying other countries, including the USA, don't have equally bizarre requirements. I'd be happy to debate those merits over many a beer when I arrive in Beijing.

But for now, I'd like to figure out how to do it. How do other English teachers evaluate job offers in person before they arrive?

C

lagerlout2006 · Joined: 17 Sep 2003 Posts: 985

I don't think schools in China want to meet face to face. No more than anywhere else in EFL. My first I secured online. Basically we had to trust each other. I was lucky and it was an excellent situation. Be more careful with private schools.
by the way I arrived on an L and changed it with no fuss. I should say the College did. As for BJ there was a recent "saga" on the China forum . A teacher was told the visa couldn't be changed so he needed to go through the medical etc etc etc at home. If you just arrive I don't know how it wouldwork. Hong Kong maybe? Not sure.

No harm in contacting schools and FAO's and see what they say....another option might be to go elsewhere and take a shorter term contract...then proceed to Beijing...Tianjin is also only an hour away...

British · Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 133 Location: China

Just come to China on a L-visa all the schools and colleges and Universities can change it over Wink

.

My university paid the local police 4500 yuan for my first Z-visa for one month just intill I got a Chinese expert certification for one year, so it can be done Very Happy

.

I don't understand why some teachers say "Beware coming to China on L-visa" maybe they had a hard time who cares. Laughing

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

British-Bulldog:
IUf you want to be taken seriously you stop making such boastful comments: no school forks out 4500 yuan for a one-month visa, not even for a one-year work visa, full stop!

Since you confuse "apartment" with "department" (in another thread) I wonder whether you also confuse FINE (noun, fakuan in Mandarin, both tones falling-rising) with work visa!