Job Discussion Forums

Voldermort · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 597

Hi, I have rather a complex situation I need some help with. I was supposed to leave for Shanghai yesterday to start a new job, but the school backed out at the last minute.

I am currently in China with only 800yuan in my pocket. I have a 3 month expired visa. My apartment lease expired last night. I have no job.

I am still staying in my apartment though it is only a matter of time before my landlord decides he wants me out. The police in my city are inspecting all the schools looking for illegal teachers, which has made it impossible for me to work the last 3 weeks. I have enough money to get a ticket out of this city, though after that I have little left to live on.

My Embassy are of little help, they have only been able to advise me how to fix my visa. They are unable to help me financialy or to repatriate me, but they have told me how to fix my visa. I have borrowed as much as I can from friends and family, not nearly as much as I need.

What I really need is somewhere to stay for a month or two until either I save enough money to fix my visa, or I find a school willing to help me. It is proving difficult to find a school with free accomodation that will hire me with an expired visa. The only option is to work 'part time' but like I said I can't do this in my current city.

brasilstu · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 271 Location: China

You said you have no visa, do you have a red book and a green book. The green book gives you the right to stay in China, and get another job.

This time of year, coming up to spring festival, lots of schools are looking for extra teachers, you could definitely find something, try your local EF for example.

Voldermort · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 597

I have no legal status at all in China (no books). Like I said, working in my city without a contract or visa is impossible. The police here have started inspecting schools looking for illegal teachers.

It is quite impossible and inpractical to stay in this city any longer. The only way I can find a PT job is to leave.

echo2004sierra · Joined: 12 Nov 2004 Posts: 90 Location: prc

By all accounts you are in a dire situation.

However, fate seems to be on your side, because luckily you didn't take my earlier advice to go to Thailand or Indonesia given the natural disaster of gigantic proportions http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?p=172877&highlight=#172877 )

The only one who can help you is yourself.

What are your options?

Voldermort · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 597

Yes, bad news about that disaster. I couldn't have taken your earlier advice even if I wanted too, I have to pay that fine before I can leave China.

My options are limited. I can either find a school who are willing to hire me and help with my visa, so far this has proven rather difficult, or I can save the money and fix my visa myself. To do the latter I need to find work in another city to save roughly 10,000yuan, this will take 2-3 months. After this I am free to find a school, get an invitation letter, pay the fine and apply for a new Z-visa, continue working legaly, live happily ever after.

Like I said, I need somewhere to stay while I work and save. I don't have enough money to stay in a hotel or rent an apartment.

millie · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 413 Location: HK

Voldermort wrote:

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

V.

PM or email me with more details about your visa and I might be able to help with a place to stay and a job if you're willing to move up north.

Voldermort · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 597

Thank for the help Nolefan, I have Pm'ed you. Millie, if you want to give me a hard time hen at least get your facts right.

The overstay fine for China is 500yuan per day, this increases everyday, though it has a maximum of 5000yuan (10 days).

My visa expired 3 month ago, the reason for this is quite simple. I handed my passport to school so they could obtain a working visa, at the time there were 4 days left on my visa. My passport was returned to me 7 weeks later, with no new visa. My pasport was held either by the police or more likely the school.

800yuan. Why return a teacher his passport with an expired visa, informing him he can no longer work for the establihment and pay that important final salary? I also rent my own appartment, which does tend to take a large chunk of my money, but worth it compared to what schools offer.

I can't simply pack my bags and leave the country. Firstly, you are not allowed to leave China without paying that fine; secondly, I don't have a ticket home.

ahopfe · Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:44 pm Post subject:

Im really sorry to hear about ur problem , i know one of the language Schools here in ZZ are looking for teachers,

if that doesnt work im not sure what can be done,

I wish you all the best of luck in the future endeavours

PM if you want the info for the School up here and we can try and work something out

echo2004sierra · Joined: 12 Nov 2004 Posts: 90 Location: prc

So you consider that the solution to your problem is to find a place to stay with a stranger in a different town.

Find another job in China in that town.

Save money to buy a new visa and pay off your over-stay visa fines.

Continue to work legally at a school and save money.

So have you tried the jobs offered websites?

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=3487&sid=67fbe7b05526666d5b7837439d31df6a

http://www.tefl.com/jobs/results.html?searchOpts%5Bage%5D=&searchOpts%5Bcou_id%5D=44&searchOpts%5BtitleKeywords%5D=&searchOpts%5Bjo_category%5D=0&searchOpts%5Bec_id%5D=0&x=38&y=9

Voldermort · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 597

Thankks for all the advice guys. Things are not going well at all. I have to leave my apartment today, no suprises there.

It has been my primary concern to find a job in another city, I have applied for everysingle advertisment I have found. I have even been mailing and phoning those that haven't advertised. It is the wrong time of the year to be looking for work, let alone for a school to help me given my situation. They just don't want the extra hassle.

I Don't know what to do. I figure staying in the internet bar tonight will be a lot cheaper than a hotel. Hopefuly I can find somewhere to go within a day or two.

I'm still smiling though Very Happy

laodeng · Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 481

Is there a sequel to this?

Voldermort · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 597

Thanks for all the help and suggestions people.

Tomorrow I will leave this city and hopefully fix all my problems in another province. I don't know the outcome of all this yet, but I will be sure to post the full story of all that went wrong. Newbies should watch out for this inparticular!!!

I have been put in touch with a reqruiter who is willing to help me out. Nothing is certain yet, but it sounds good. I will be offline now for some time. When I return I will give you the sequel.

Thanks

BluePinay · Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 5:15 pm Post subject:

I wish you all the luck Cool

ahopfe · Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 5:31 pm Post subject:

I also wish you the best of luck , I have done what i PM you about and they said they were very interested , so if this doesnt work out that might

Keep Safe Buddy