Job Discussion Forums

[tanklor1]

Hey I've got a friend in China who has been working there for five months and she's decided that, well, teaching just ain't her cup of tea. How can she go about canceling her teaching visa?

[west2east]

She can't. Her Z visa in effect 'expired' as soon as she was stamped into China. It's her residency permit (RP) that enables her to live and work here. It all depends on what her employment contract says about nullifying her employment. Often a school may cancel the RP and her visa status changes to L (tourist) which will give her enough time to leave China.

If you friend is genuine about stopping working that's fine. If, however, she was considering teaching at another school now or any time in the future, it could be troublesome. In this situation she would need a letter of release and possible a letter of recommendation to take to a new employer. Whilst a school is legally obliged to give a letter of release, they may seriously drag their feet and can even give brutal feedback about a teacher's performance stated within it.

[tanklor1]

Thanks for your response. I want to make sure that I have everything perfectly clear.

1. She can switch schools as long as she has a "Letter of Release."

2. If she doesn't want to switch schools she needs to get her employer to change her visa to a tourist visa.

Is this right?

Also if none of that pans out and everything goes down hill is it possible to just ring up a travel agent and book a flight out of the country or is she tied to her school completely until she finishes her contract?

[west2east]

There is nothing to stop anyone leaving China at anytime (unless of course they are wanted by the police!).

However, 'doing a runner' could result in your friend being blacklisted from China, thus, preventing her from entering the country again as a tourist or otherwise.

What does her contract say about nullifying the contract early? Some schools require a certain number of days notice, sometimes with a penalty to pay and sometimes not.

She should refer herself to this part of the contract and following it accordingly. As this is a legal matter, she should print off any emails/letters and sign and date them.

[tanklor1]

Thanks for your response.