Job Discussion Forums

Foxkorea · Joined: 03 Nov 2009 Posts: 12

In 2003, I was detained by the police in California for a misdemeanor battery (basically a loud argument in a pub). All charges were quickly dropped--I wasn't even arrested, merely detained.

Unfortunately, this shows up on my criminal background check, so it looks far worse than it is. The CBC clearly states "no arrest received", but will the Chinese authorities be able to decipher all this. or should I just give up on a job in China?

I'm 46, have an M.Ed. in TESOL and Elem. Ed., and 15 years of teaching experience (if any of those are mitigating factors). Thank to any and alll who respond.

Halapo · Joined: 05 Sep 2009 Posts: 140 Location: Jiangsu, China

Go apply for a tourist visa. Its pretty cheap, and I bet if they give you one, you can get a Z visa later, then a resident permit.

Only the government is going to check for a criminal record. The school wont. If you can get to the school ( I mean in China ) and they agree to hire you, odds are the switch from tour visa to work visa, to resident permit will never even bother to call the states again.

They will all just trust that if you are here, then that is good.

I can promise this, just my guess on how things work here. Maybe somebody with a criminal background who has a job will be able to back me up.

rc81 · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 85

I thought Chinese schools just put "clean criminal record" into their job ads. I didnt think they actually check this.

Am I wrong about this?

How can the Chinese go about checking someone criminal record? I didnt think most western government give out this information to just anyone.

mat chen · Joined: 01 Nov 2009 Posts: 494 Location: xiangtan hunan

Unless you are a Catholic priest I suggest you stay out of South Korea. There is no check here. Even if there is, you just put your passport in the washing machine and get a new one when here. Americans have gone from the best to the worst in checking people out in the last ten years.
Remember that punishment here is not like America for criminals.

gregmcd101 · Joined: 06 Jun 2006 Posts: 144 Location: Ireland (for now)

Foxkorea · Joined: 03 Nov 2009 Posts: 12

Unless you are a Catholic priest I suggest you stay out of South Korea. There is no check here. Even if there is, you just put your passport in the washing machine and get a new one when here. Americans have gone from the best to the worst in checking people out in the last ten years.
Remember that punishment here is not like America for criminals.

Yeah, I did my time in the Big K, before they changed all the req's. Nothing will show up on a passport check--but my "record" is on the FBI check.

brsmith15 · Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1142 Location: New Hampshire USA

I knew a US lawyer who did some hard time and then got jobs here no sweat.

hankemhigh · Joined: 24 Dec 2009 Posts: 86

MisterButtkins · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 1221

Ehh, I had a paraphernalia charge on my record. On the visa application form, I wrote it down. Still got my Z-visa, no problems. Was your charge a felony or misdemeanor?

Dan The Chainsawman · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 302 Location: Yinchuan

Protip: Get a criminal record check from the next state over..

They won't list minor crap like dropped charges on it. A person I know of had a dui on their record and got a CBC from a different state and is now working in Gorea.

Foxkorea · Joined: 03 Nov 2009 Posts: 12

Foxkorea · Joined: 03 Nov 2009 Posts: 12

Renegade_o_Funk · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 125

Is this just for teaching english? the Chinese are not going to check any of your references or if you have even been convicted of a crime. I have heard inner-Mongolia requires a background check, but just avoid that place.

landt · Joined: 13 Aug 2009 Posts: 13 Location: China

Quite a few foreign-owned schools will do a criminal record check.

Edit: I mean, they'll ask the applicant to get one done through a foreign agency before they'll process the work permit. My work permit got held up because I was a bit slow getting the CBC done. The school itself won't do it.

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

It's not a matter of the schools doing a criminal record check as they cannot get access to that information. But the school can ask the candidate to obtain a CRC pre-contract. If they don't then on the visa application form it's just a matter of ticking the box 'yes or no' regarding criminal convictions. Tick 'no'