Job Discussion Forums

Gringo Greg · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2003 8:14 am Post subject: Airfare/Visa Questions

Hello!

I need some help on a few China questions. My wife and I are looking to go there next spring so we need to get the ball rolling as we know nothing about China. (We are in Thailand right now.)

1) What is the deal with airfare? Is it prepaid? Do they reimburse when we arrive or is it the dreaded reimbursed when you finish the contract and have no more leverage?

2) What visa do you need to work legally in China? It seems like the Z visa is it, but I have also read that many private schools can't do the Z visa, so what is up with that?

Thanks,
Greg

AKA · Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 184 Location: China

Probably the best you can get with the airfare is a single fare at the end of each semester, OR ask for it to be paid in addition to your salary on a monthly basis: worth a try.

YES ,Z visa only, get that agreed to in writing, and the agreement that they'll meet visa and medical expenses; these are considerable. Many people on this forum have been done over in this regard. An honest school won't have a problem promising you this.

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

Hello,

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Airfare is normally paid to you at the end of your term, but you might succeed in negotiating a monthly instalment added to your salary so as to prevent them from short-changing you on the airfare - something that's not unlikely to occur!
The minimum they pay is 2500 RMB per semester. SOme pay only if you spend one year. SOme offer you up to 10'000. I would say a reasonable offer is 5000 flat on your hand, or prorated!

Sun Yuan · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2003 12:44 pm Post subject:

Rogers information is the best. Stick to what he says, it is all true. However, he left out information on the Z visa.
However, the above posters are also correct on this issue.
Me Very Happy

k2cloudz · Joined: 22 Oct 2003 Posts: 17

Everyone on this message board seems adamant about the necessity of a Z visa. Yet, it is apparent that there are lots of teachers, particularly in Southern China, who are teaching on tourist visas or F visas. The schools that are hiring these teachers are probably not doing it legally, but if the city is totally protective of its foreigners than what is the problem?

I have a couple of friends who are doing this, and who have been doing this for a long time with no issues. However, now that I am planning to move to China I am afraid to follow their advise on the F visa. It seems like getting a Z visa is awfully restrictive though. It pretty much locks you into a school for a long time, how do you avoid a bad school?

Personal anechdotes regarding visas would be greatly appreciated.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

work legally or illegally, that's the question, right?
This should be treated in a separate thread, but suffice it to say you are putting yourself at a considerable risk!

First: No city or other public entity will PROTECT (whatever you meant by this word) foreigners working here illegally; nor do the PSB.
SOme schools simply get away with it.

BUt those of us who do get caught will be dealt with mercilessly.

Last week, for example, a Chinese girl I can trust in told me about a foreign teacher who had a quarrel with a CHinese teacher.
The Chinese reported him to the PSB - and he now is no longer in China! Did his employer get fined? YOu can safely assume that, No!

I had a narrow escape years ago myself!
My own boss sent me to a different province. Obviously, I was not allowed to work there since my visa was valid for the province where my boss had hired me for.
It did not take the PSB long to locate me in a town that was almost 200% Chinese; I was put under house arrest until my boss arrived from far away!
He had to pay a fine. I was lucky the police were so xenophile as to believe me!
My boss, of course, took revenge - dismissing me forthwith.
But I never regretted this.