Job Discussion Forums

[njwebb]

Hello,

I know that I posted a very simliar message about a week ago, but now there is another recruiter and school saying that I will not be able to go out to China with my Z visa:

"the school could only process your tourist visa into the working visa as soon as your arrival to the school in haimen ,because it is impossible for the school to take charge of your working visa now ,the time is limited , if you are able to come by applying for the tourist visa , plz sign the contract"

The school sound legitimate to me and I'm wondering if I'm being too safe asking that I have a working visa to go out to China for the start of February? I have one other option that will get me a Z visa (but I have to pay for it) which is New Jordan International Education Group - they have many branches and I will be working in a Kindergarten in Jinhua.

[Ms Bean]

Forget that job.

[eddy-cool]

The bungled English alone says enough: They don't know what you are looking for.

In China our visa would never be 'processedinto' a work visa; it would be converted into a Resident's Permit.

To obtain an RP our employer needs ca. 30 days. That is why a work visa ('Z') is valid for 30 days.

[Mister Al]

The school takes your CV and other relevant documents to the relevant government department (can't rememeber the name offhand) and gets a certificate that states you are a foreign expert. The schools sends you the certificate and a letter of invitation to work in their school. You take those docs to your nearest Chinese embassy and apply for a Z visa. After you arrive there are procedures to go through so you can get a Residency Permit and that includes taking a medical exam. You need an RP to be legally employed in China. It may be legitimate that they don't have time to get you the docs necessary for you to apply for a Z visa.

It is not impossible for your school to 'convert' a L-Tourist visa into a Z visa/RP but often FT's need to go to Hong Kong (school should pay for this trip and costs) to then apply for a Z visa with the correct docs and then come back to mainland to go through process of getting the RP.
I came on tourist visa a few years ago and got it 'converted' in country.

If you think you trust the school and want the job then just do as they ask and take a chance. If not, kindly decline their offer.

[Teatime of Soul]

Of course the school may not have the power to legally hire foreigners.

The Invitation Letter from the Province (sent to you by the school) is your only real evidence that the school has the power to legally hire you.

If you are comfortable with the possible risks (fines, deportation, etc.) and have real, credible cause to believe what the school is saying is legit, then you may find the risks acceptable.

Have to wonder why a legit school would pay to send you on a return trip to Hong Kong when they could simply send you the correct document from the start.

I suggest you ask at least one current and one former FT who works/ed there to verify the school is licensed to hire foreigners by SAFEA and has issued them RPs.

Good luck with your decision.

[tanyujie]

It is not impossible for your school to 'convert' a L-Tourist
I came on tourist visa a few years ago and got it 'converted' in country.[/quote]

It use to be that you could change your visa but now that is no longer the case. Unless your school is in Jiangsu Provice you cannot work on a tourist visa in China.

Jada

[njwebb]

I have told the school that I would like to work for them but I'm afraid that I will not come unless I have a Z visa before my departure. I said that as it is approaching the time of departure I need to sign a contract so if I do not hear from them within a couple of days I will sign a contract with New Jordan Kindergarten.

This contract also has its down points such as not paying me for the training, being the only foreign teacher in a remote city (Jinhua, in the Zhejiang province) etc.

[Kibbs]

The school provides invitation letters to you once you sign a contract. Then you either take the documents to the consulate yourself if you live close enoguh or entrust them to a visa agent in the United States.

You can peep out samples of all the invitation documents required for the z visa here -- > Work Visa Invitation Letter Samples

[njwebb]