Job Discussion Forums

traveller · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Posts: 100

My current school is going through a very rough time. Many local teachers and students have left, and the school is unlikely to survive the next month. The situation is very uncertain.

I am interested in leaving, and applying for another school. I have a Z-visa, but no residence permit yet. I did get my passport back, and others have offerd to get my permit.

How crucial is having a written permission to leave the school? What if the new adminstrator can't get that red stamp, as it is currently inaccessible? (Without the red stamp, the letter is worthless.) If the school loses, will I still need a written letter? Or should I just go home, and try in a different province? (I am in Jilin province) Should I leave now, or wait till the school goes under?

MartinK · Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 344

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Why should your school baulk at issueing you with a release letter? One boss fired me (over a very costly mistake he had made himself!),. Although you can construe this as a kind of punishment (or 'revenge' for having lost his face in front of a laowai!), my boss agreed to my suggestion of writing a release letter all by myself. I used office stationery, he did not read it but he listened to my translation (in halting Mandarin). I wrote that I left for no fault of mine.
He signed and stamped it.

I am not sure about your residence permit; in my experience you need it because that is where they put their "approve" stamp. That, or your FE certificate. The PSB just wants to see you are leaving under no cloud of suspicions. If you have their permission to seek a new place of work, you can apply for a new job anywhere in China.

Here in Guangdong, I have not needed any release letter for the past few years. Let's hope this is not going to change in the near future.

traveller · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Posts: 100

Thanks for your responses, MartinK and Roger. As a newbie, I am well aware that I need all the help I can get!

The management is 'in flux', but I expect things to settle down shortly. If things work out badly, I want to be able to get that release letter.

Question: What does it need to mention? In case I need to type it out myself, and get mgnt to sign/stamp it.

Note to myself: get that residence permit: top priority.

Second note: if they can't get that stamp (the principal's office is under police seal), get them to make a new stamp. I am sure that they *must* have a stamp anyways, simply to get offical school business done.

MartinK · Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 344

Gray000 · Joined: 14 Apr 2003 Posts: 183 Location: A better place

hey traveller, may I ask what city you're in?

traveller · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Posts: 100

Thanks for the tip, MartinK....
Gray000, you have been PM'ed!