Job Discussion Forums

[james0]

I currently have an f visa that expires in late December. If I want to jump my current contract at a Language Mill in Beijing, what are my options? Can I go to Mongolia and pick up a new f or l visa for some fee? Would I have to re-register with the local PSB regarding the apartment I would rather keep?

Could my boss send the coppers after me if they've been paying 'f visa holders to teach?

They told me they could just feed the cops a story that the wage they pay f visa holders is for living expenses/rent, etc., a legal stipend to pay an intern. But then I realized that they've been taking income tax out of our pay so the government doesn't look twice. Does that provide legitimate proof that they've been illegally paying f visa holders?

Can you get crooked f' visas in Er Lian on the cheap? I don�t have enough dough to make it to HK. Please help. thanks..

[therock]

I think it would be better and cheaper to go to Hong Kong. You need to take into account that you actually have to get a visa to go to Mongolia and then the train or flight travel there can be a little expensive. Where as if you go to Hong Kong you can easily take a plane to Guangzhou or Shenzhen for under a 1000RMB and then travel by train to Hong Kong.

As for teaching on an F visa, you can basically walk out of the contract anytime because you are not legally employed. I don't think Mr. Wang/Mr. Li is going to go to the police and tell them he has been employing foreigners on the wrong visa and now one of them has pulled a runner. If the apartment was organized by the school that means you lose the apartment, if you organized the apartment I can't see why you can't keep it.

[mike w]

Chances are that if they are taking tax out of your salary on an 'F' visa, it isn't being paid to the tax office - more like a ruse to reduce your salary. Paying tax is a legal requirement for 'Z' visa holders, because the company is obliged to register only 'Z' visa holders with the local tax office.

[james0]

But does the tax summary on our pay receipts provide some kind of proof that they are illegally paying f visa holders to teach? Im not looking to screw them, just some kind of leverage to leave with. They have the piece of paper stamped by the local police regarding my apartment. Do I have to get that back before I leave?

[vikuk]

I was also in the process of writing the same thing -
Do you know if that income tax went to the tax deparment - or was it just a way of siphoning some money into the office staff pockets????

Remember jobs in China, for the Chinese, are often not just about wages - but about power and control - since through this control (the ability to have a bit of control over finances - eg. the FT's wage) - you may be able to pad that poor sallary up to quite a level!!! For example if you're able to keep the so-called taxes from 5 FT's well that's a bit of a payrise!!!
And does the boss mind - apparently not too much - since then they don't have to pay the bookkeeper such a high wage - the FT is helping with that little detail!!!!

[james0]

I have no idea if the money actually goes to the government or to new curtains. What concerns me is that piece of paper. Can't they just tear that up if I quit? Then what happens to my apartment? Do I have to go in the office Mission Impossible style and lift it?

[vikuk]

cool it cool it - that piece of paper just sounds like a aliens registration form - that form you also fill out if you stay in a hotel. If you move addresses then you're just suppossed to fill in another and then I suppose the old form becomes void (you don't have to contact the police or produce that old form when changing address).
If its that piece of paper you're thinking about - then you have no worries in the slighest. If you change address I hardly think the police are going to go through the detective work of finding your new registration form/new address - and then come after you 'cause your illegal employers have shopped you.
If your going to make a move - just do it quickly without telling anyone - that I beleive is the general tactic in this kind of game!!!

[james0]

what if i dont move. can i come back to the local psb with a new visa? and re register with the same landlord?

[vikuk]

If you have a legal visa - and meet the legal requirements regarding renting (I'm not too sure exactly how these apply to folk on F and L visas) - and don't mind living in an address that is know by potentialy unfriendly ex-employers - well sure go ahead
If you keep the same address I wouldn't think you have to re-register with the PSB since you're already registered at that address. I have a feeling registration - with regard to static residence - is a yearly proceedure - but I could well be wrong!!!

[james0]

yeah but if i were to leave the country to attain a new visa, wouldn't the visa number on the registration be wrong? does that directly track your visa number or just passport #?

[vikuk]

So go to the psb and register again - if that makes you feel better (they certainly know more about this subject than I do)
But heres a tip - them cops in Beijing maybe looking for bigger crooks than you

If you're really so nervous - and feel you're on the run - why not get a legal job with a Z visa????????

[arioch36]

[AussieGuyInChina]

[james0]

My employer is going to extend the visa to see out the end of my contract (February 10th).

I will try to remember the credit card bit next time.

[vikuk]

The guys who come here with a few pennies in their pockets - now this really is the FT element that threatens the general working standards of the average FT!!!!
They are often manipulated into doing anything, for nearly nothing

And don't those recruiters and employers seem to love 'em (wages in Beijing often being kept down to Gansu levels) - otherwise why are they so quick to find 'em jobs??????