Job Discussion Forums

Cubism · Joined: 04 Jul 2008 Posts: 283 Location: US

A friend has that situation at a uni, but he only has an F visa & a resident permit. So he can't very well complain to the Board of Foreign Experts, who would charge him with teaching illegally. True?

We think he could just bail on the place, paint them dirty wherever possible, but just find work asap & cut his losses. They've been late paying once already.

What do you all think? His payday's supposed to be this weekend. We thank you.

Totemic · Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 118 Location: Nanjing

Eyrick3 · Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 161 Location: Beijing, China

I say he cut his loses and leave. Find a school that can issue lawful documentation/visas/permits, etc.

Cubism · Joined: 04 Jul 2008 Posts: 283 Location: US

Thanks. He also considers the next schoool -- since he isn't here legally, what about just not putting it on his resume, and not trying to get a "release letter?" Just accepting the next gig like it was a new roll of the dice?

Any tips on how you figure out if a school is going to bankrupt on you or not? Try to avoid giving decent paperwork? Thank you.

rmcdougall · Joined: 28 Feb 2009 Posts: 71

They didn't pay because you didn't teach well enough.

I think that's fair.

You didn't perform, so you don't get your coin.

Itsme · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 624 Location: Houston, TX

Your post is not as clear as it should be. Do you mean that the school NEVER pays or just pays a few days late?

therock · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 1266 Location: China

How can he have a F visa and a residence permit?? Rolling Eyes

Mister Al · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 840 Location: In there

xiao51 · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 208

suanlatudousi · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 384

Despite apparent belief, if you stay in China on an F visa longer than 30 days you are required to have an Alien Resident Permit.

Cubism · Joined: 04 Jul 2008 Posts: 283 Location: US

McD: NONE of the foreign teachers got paid for one month. The uni was one month late paying Japanese, Korean, Russian, American, Brits, Australians, etc. Thanks for your expert advice. So NOT ONE of them taught well enough and NONE deserves their "coin." Glad you think that's easy.

McD: you think you're superior, but we think you're naive.
From your lofty point of view, you think it's all so simple. Sober up, mate.

Others: it's an F visa and a resident permit. It's weird, but it's true. Unis up here seem to do that: change the L to an F and then get a resident permit so you can stay. You have to keep your eyes open. The story goes that it's legal for people who are doing business and living here.

The pay was a month late. A few teachers still haven't been paid but might be paid next pay period. What's not easy for him to take is that this could happen again and again & an F visa makes them in control. This school had a bad reputation for missing funds 4 yrs. ago, though that might common enough even now.

He'll be more careful in the future. BTW, It's the Bureau of Foreign Experts, as ion the last page of his contract, to discuss problems between uni and teacher. At least he won't have to hassle with a release letter this time. Thanks for helping him think this out.

eddy-cool · Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 1008

Sinko · Joined: 21 Apr 2005 Posts: 349

Itsme · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 624 Location: Houston, TX

Well there is no reason that pay should be MONTHS late.. days are pushing it but months is ridiculous. Either they are incompetent in accounting or they are cheating you. I don't see why they would want to cheat their teachers so I am guessing that they are performing poorly on the business side of things.

Cubism · Joined: 04 Jul 2008 Posts: 283 Location: US

I'm a writer by trade, so it's easy for me to help this guy. Sorry if it's not "normal" enough.

The "limited" info. You know, I just hate to take up a lot of board time, write lots of words. But yeah, they were late paying all the foreign staff. It wasn't a big deal to some teachers, but this guy spent ALL his savings recently, & he's dependent on his paycheck. No other resources, so it was scarey. (Poor planning on his part, to be sure.) Visions of classroom teacher-sharecropping type life loomed...(Having to stick around while they owed him thousands because he needed a place to live, etc.)

It's not a big school, but I suppose their foreign programs are a big deal to them. Some kids pay 2-3x more tuition, etc.

"To them" are important words. It's Me, sure they want to cheat their teachers! You haven't become cynical enough yet. Try this: if they thought they'd make more cash closing the foreign programs down completely, they'd do so immediately.

Re: the F visa/res. permit thing, he had the same set-up at a medical uni & didn't even notice until he left. How does it happen? You turn your passport over like usual to an FAO & they scam you. You suddenly notice that you didn't get the little maroon booklet ("Foreign Expert"), but it's too late... Maybe you're not real worried at first, glad to have a job, & don't consider it a scam anyway. Maybe they had trouble getting the proper documentation for you, or maybe they didn't bother too much. You had a job though.

In the here and now: His next step, after finally being paid, was to investigate how to use his teacher/writing skills in China & not be a victim so easily again. He learned about examiner jobs, for example, that would safely supplement classroom hours. Or this: in BKK, a desperate EF offered him a DOS job (he turned it down). Perhaps that kind of thing. He's still learning what jobs are out there & what's required (credentials, etc.) & then he'll do it.

We saw that we're not immune to the financial melt-down. Also, seems to us like people are rather ruthless when their fortunes are concerned. (Once it was the Milk Crisis. Now it's the Money Crisis.)

Sobering.

Thanks again.