Job Discussion Forums

[naturegirl321]

Just a quick warning, there are LOTS of places looking for teachers. I just had three offers yesterday. HOWEVER, seems like the new thing is that they want you to go there on a tourist visa. I'm not saying that this is true for all places, but in the past week, I've been asked to go to Turkey, China and Taiwan on tourist visas. Yes, I realise that this might be becoming more common, maybe it's easier to get the work visa in country or there's not enough time to get it beforehand, but still. I'm not sure if it's worth the risk. (Maybe I would have before, but since I'm trying to take my husband with, I don't want to end up on the otherside of the world and then they say that they won't sponsor him for a visa, or something like that)

Couple reasons, first, it's illegal to work on a tourist visa, second, you might have to buy a return flight, third, they may never have the intention of getting you a visa. Also, if you do get screwed over by the school, you basically have no rights, since you're on a tourist visa. Also, it's easy for the school to get rid of you. Case in point, I had a friend in China, went on a tourist visa. Since he was living in a country before taht had swine flu, they refused to renew his visa, and he had to go home after 3 months. Luckily he got paid, that's not always the case, but, filghts were out of his pockets.

So anyways, whenever I'm asked "How soon can you come to X?" I always say, "As soon as you can get me a legal working visa"

[Glenski]

Good post. Here in Japan, you might occasionally run into an employer who says they want you here in 0-2 weeks.

It might be a truly urgent matter (teacher bailed out due to legitimate reason), or it might be a scam such as the following.

The school may get your butt in the office, teaching under the table (for lower than usual pay, promising higher pay when the visa comes in). They make excuses about the visa being "delayed" or that there were "mistakes" or "errors" in processing, so you have to wait. Problem is, you wait past your legal stay as a tourist, then they fire you without a last paycheck, and you have to deal with immigration as an overstayer. No other legal recourse.

Beware.

[naturegirl321]

I just sent an email to a place saying, thanks, but no thansk, it's illegal and they said, oh no, everyone does it, try another country. Basically saying, take our offer and leave it. So I left it.