Job Discussion Forums

[no_exit]

Just yesterday a couple of friends of mine were denied Z visas by the local PSB because they did not have at least one year of prior teaching experience.

My two friends had signed contracts with a local public university here. They are recent college graduates and had not taught before, but the university didn't seem to mind, as my friends are bright, enthusiastic about teaching, and willing to learn. They signed contracts with the university, and were in the process of putting together the paperwork so they could go to Thailand to apply for Z visas (this also being a new regulation -- no changing L visas to Z visas in country anymore, at least not where I live). However, yesterday, the university which had contracted them was informed by our local PSB that they could not issue them the proper clearance to be hired, due to their lack of experience. The university is now completely at a loss as to what to do, as the semester starts this week and they are short two teachers. They claimed they didn't know about this regulation change, and if they had, they would have advised my friends to fudge their CVs, but since the PSB had already seen the CVs, it was too late to go back and do that.

I'm not sure if this is a new rule, or an old rule that is just being enforced. When I first came to China to work, which was over a year ago, I had a Z visa issued to me despite having no prior teaching experience. I know plenty of others who earned their first year of teaching experience on a Z visa.

It seems like, as a whole, PSBs are tightening up the Z visa rules. Working legally in China is not so easy anymore. I guess this could be a good thing long-term, but for now, isn't China kind of shooting itself in the foot? It isn't that easy to find experienced teachers who are willing to work for the 3000RMB a month that universities (around these parts) usually offer. It seems to me that if they seriously want to require prior teaching experience, thus upping the standards for English teachers, the schools should also raise their own standards.

Anyhow, anyone else heard about the enforcement of this particular regulation? Is it only happening here in Kunming (or maybe someone just didn't give enough baijiu and cigarettes to the PSB officers this spring holiday ...) or is this going to be a trend from now on?

[struelle]

I heard similar accounts of this last year in Shanghai (2003-04) at the school I worked at by my FAO. There is also the difficulty in getting government clearance to hire foreigners, something that many employers don't have. But, this is China and regulations are not always hard and fast. We hear conflicting reports about the visa requirements all the time. As well, different situations can be worked out on a case by case basis.

That said, you can get an overall picture of what's going on by looking at many, many, many posts and looking at what's repeated in them, not just one or two examples. From doing this, the consensus appears to be that you need the following to obtain a Z visa:

- A university degree
- Government clearance for the school to hire foreigners, failing that, strong connections with the relevant PSB authorities
- Medical clearance
- A resume with, preferably, teaching experience
- Passport and photos
- Invitation letter from employer

New trends indicate that, in major cities, you can't change L to Z anymore, and have to go outside China. Also, the resident permit isn't a green book anymore, but a multiple entry 'visa chip' that gets put in your passport.

Please correct me if I'm wrong or have missed anything.

Steve

[Talkdoc]

No-Exit - technically, the SAFEA has established a minimum of two years of teaching experience (in addition to the bachelor's degree) for the Z-Visa but this is the first time I have EVER heard of it being enforced by the PSB.

It does appear that the long-standing and ubiquitous lack of enforcement regarding work Visas in China is beginning to change, in more places than one.

Doc

[Spiderman Too]

I've noticed that quite a few of the most recent job ads are specifying degree + TESL/TEFL + 1 year's experience.

[Talkdoc]