Job Discussion Forums

shellybearink · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Seattle Washington

I will be teaching at BODA college of Jilin and my friend who lives there (and attends the school, as well as being very good friends with my employer), has informed me that it is possible to turn my travel visa into a working visa. I posted this earlier with less information, and I got a response saying that some colleges could do it and that I should post with more information (alas, here I am). Does anyone know if this college can do that? or even just the city, or something? is there some kind of website that would have a list of these colleges that could do that?

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

I'd be careful because Jilin province is one province that doesn't allow the conversion of L visas into Z visas or to be more specific, granting RPF's and FEC's to people with L visa. Refusal rate is at least 90%.

As for Siping, it's about 1.5 hours away from Changchun/Shenyang. Some people would say that the people there are "crazy" because there is a mental hospital in Siping.

cj750 · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 3081 Location: Beijing

well the folks ther are not crzy, but any foreinger who takes a job there is...

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

I'm in Jiangsu and it can be done here at least with a goverment position. Make sure you are regested as living there first with the police and then let the college do the rest. Here is lakes about 10 work days in a place like Nanjing to process. Don't overstay your tourist visa but.

velmeran · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 63

Yea, my school in Nanjing had me come over on a L visa but made sure I brought my documents so I could get a residency permit and FEC. Second day here they took me around to do all the body check stuff and then the education place to get the paper work going for the other stuff. So it is possible here. I didn't like the idea of doing the L visa, but after I was here and it was done I asked them what the price difference was and they said it was about 2000RMB difference since Z visa's cost more and you don't need one here.

georginachina · Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 193

I have had my visa renewed and upgraded from L to Z many times. No problems in Shandong. Always done by my schools too.

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

If she's[?] a good friend and you trust her word, and given that changing from tourist to resident status in country seems more possible now [I did it 5 years ago], then go with your gut feeling!

ChinaAndrew · Joined: 01 Dec 2006 Posts: 48 Location: china

No problem in Jilin province.Worked in a place in Changchun that processed 5 l visas to r.p.f's the same day (well they weren't issued that same day)

Had mine done in jilin city after a brief visit to the police station for working with a tourist visa. A new employer took care of that little 'problem'

Check with the S.A.F.E.A (state authority for foreign expert affairs) as to wether or not your school has permission to hire foreign teachers, would at least give you some confidence that they can do what they say. I forget the email address, do a google search.

Other than that.Ask for info on current or past teacher's contact details.

Straight from the horse's mouth is always best.

good luck!

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

ChinaAndrew · Joined: 01 Dec 2006 Posts: 48 Location: china

Malsol? what do you mean?

These were private schools. Language mills that some call them. The owner of the before mentioned school previously worked in the government.
Guanxi goes a long way. Surprised

englishgibson · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 4345

ChinaAndrew, good point there. And, so much for our stats and percentages. I'd say that we should be careful on boards using any kinda stats, since China is a really tough country to count anything. Wink

Then, double standards go for almost everything too. Wink

Peace to the Chinese visas application system
and
cheers and beers to all hard working FTs in China Very Happy