Job Discussion Forums

[bdawg]

Old contract finishes today. Z- Visa (sponsored by old company) expires Aug 10th. New contract with new company begins in October.

Obviously I need to renew my Z-visa. No problem, get the new company to handle it. Apparently I've got to get a new Foreign experts certificate.

Here what I've got to do....

� Copy of your Passport & Original Passport

� 3pcs of Passport photo

� Copy of your current visa or residence permit

� Bilingual CV ( including information like your home address in Canada, contact details in Canada, email address, etc.)

� Copy of your highest Degree with Chinese translation

� 2 Original Letter of Release from your current employer sealed with their official chop ( Stating that your employment with them has expired�)

� 2 Original Letter of Reference from your current employer sealed with their official chop

� Copy of Health Certificate issued by the local Health Bureau. If you don�t have, you need to go there and have a medical check asap.

� Sign a Labor Contract with XXXX Institute. Pls be aware that this contract is only used for getting visa for you. Its stipulations and clauses won�t apply to both parties. The contract you signed with us is the real one.

What the frack? I slightly understand the need to be released from one contract in order to apply for a new visa...but I don't understand the need for translations, CVs and references letters.

Anyone else had to wade through this bureaucratic nightmare? This isn't the first time I've switched companies, and I've never had to do any of this sh*t. I've never heard of anyone having to do this. I'm not in some backwater city either.

[HunanForeignGuy]

To the OP,

This makes no sense.

The government requires one original stamped letter of release.

The Foreign Experts Bureau requires one original stamped letter of recommendation.

You need to check the rules for your province concerning the medical; if you are staying in-province, then you should have not to take the medical again under current rules (most FAO's don't know this); if you are changing provinces, you will need to take the medical again.

As for the translation of the diploma, that is absolutely the duty of your prospective employer; they are playing around with you. I have never had to translate my own by myself and in most cases it was simply submitted in English.

As for the CV, same as above.

And the most nefarious item is this bit about we-will-have-you-sign-one-contract-but-then-we-will-give-you-another. Happens all the time around here -- but that doesn't mean that you have to accept it.

In your shoes, I would go find another employer. If it starts off like this, it is not going to get any better.

Something doesn't add up...do you have a full-four year university degree? are you from one of the scheduled and approved countries? no ethnicity problems? under 65?

If yes to all of the above, then why would you submit yourself to this kind of a company?
HFG

[bdawg]

It's so bizarre...I work for an Australian company (William Angliss of TAFE) very reputable...so it's not a company problem. They inform me they have been doing this kind of thing in Shanghai since 2002 and they do the same thing for their employees in Hangzhou.

The medical is no problem ditto to the age, degree, ethnicity.

It is just that I've switched jobs numerous times (have had about 3 of those little red foreign expert books) and have never had to do any of this before.

[SnoopBot]

Some places ask for this because they cannot understand English at the government office level.

I had this happen once to me, all you do is find some translation service that will do everything for a cheap price.

You go across the street to another school or office and the rules are different.

TIC This is China.

[bdawg]

[upchuckles]

Zhejiang now requires this translation work.. Actually, normally the school is supposed to do this and it is usually done in the back end without the teacher knowing about it.. Just as you said, B R C Y

Cheers Beyatches!

[tw]

I agree with HunanForeignGuy, sounds like the new employer is either lazy or just simply incompetent. I have changed jobs twice while in the country now, and every time has been painless (though stressful). Generally speaking, these items are needed by the new employer:

- Scanned/photocopied copy of your current resident permit
- Scanned/photocopied copy of your current Foreign Expert Certificate
- Your resume with your address in your home country
- Original letter of recommendation (not scanned or photocopied)
- Original letter of release -- not needed in every province
- Signed contracts (English and Chinese)
- 2" photos

OP, for the letters, just get your current employer to print two copies of the same letters. As for the medical exam, tell the new employer it is not necessary since you are already in China. The FAO guy at my new school did the same thing too but then again, I doubt he's been doing this job for a long time. I had to tell him that it was not needed and finally, he gave in and told me to get one done in Dalian if the local authorities insist on having one.