Job Discussion Forums

[dogUNLEASHED]

There's a recuiter in eastern China that has sent me a contract to work in Inner Mongolia, but he wants me to get a tourist visa here and wait until I'm in Inner Mongolia to get the work visa. How common is this?

[LanGuTou]

I have never heard of any case where a RP has been issued on a 'L' visa in IM. I used to work there and it remains the most stringent province that I have worked in for sticking exactly to the rules. It was even a requirement that the medical checks be carried out every year before they would issue a RP.

My guess is the best that you will get out of this deal is a visa run to get a 'Z' visa after you arrive. I would suggest that you forget what the recruiter says and try to contact the school directly. The recruiter only cares about getting your name on that contract.

[xi.gua]

[dogUNLEASHED]

Thanks guys.

I sent him a reply stating, "Thanks for the opportunity to work in China. I do appreciate the offer to work at a school with such a generous salary. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to decline the offer, as I'm apprehensive about going there on a tourist visa. I know it's not your fault, as schools without teachers are currently having to scramble to get teachers into the classrooms on short notice."

He replied, "Thank you very much for your kind reply. I think you wish to have this opportunity to work in China . From your reply , I think you may have some misunderstandings:
1. Firstly , we are not the job agent or job broker, the international class in Eerduosi No. 1 senior high school is run by my CACE under the AEF(Australia Education Foundation ) and Eerduosi senior high middle school.
2. The foreign teacher of native speakers are recruited by us instead of the school.
3. We are not employing the foreign teachers in a short notice , we have been doing this job for about two months , altogether we have recruited about 6 foreign teachers for different locations the schools of which have already opened. The above mentioned school has just been approved by the government , so it will be opened later than other schools. Besides , it really takes the time for us to choose the suitable foreign teachers to fill the position we have offered.

7.The suggestion i have put forward to you that you need to take tourist visa to come to China is something natural, and it is my suggestion instead of the school. We have given all the teachers we have employed the same suggestions , not only to you that they have to apply the tourist visa from the Chinese embassy to his /her country and come to China with this tourist visa in order to give us enough time to obtain the working visa after they have arrived in China , and they have actually have done in this way.

8 The process for obtaining the working visa is like this : With all the document you have sent, we will try to obtain the "foreign experts certificate " in China , and when we get it , you will simply go to Hong kong to obtain the working visa from the Chinese Embassy with this foreign expert certificate . Everybody has done in this way."

Thoughts?

[Old Surrender]

[xiaolongbaolaoxi]

Translation: we don't care about anything you told us you care about.

If they are already playing the "all the other teachers do it" card, this is not a good sign.

Receiving a mild lecture is not the beginning of a wonderful employment.

Run.

XLB

[DoubleDutch]

I can't say anything about Inner Mongolia, as I have no experience there. But here in Jiangsu (which is also a stickler for the rules) I'm having no problems getting in on a tourist visa and my employer (university) applying for the Z visa while I'm here.

[Lamentations]

Pursuant to what Langguo and Xigua wrote, it is all about the economy, in my opinion. I wouldn't be surprised if the government is behind this sudden enter on an L-visa phenomenon.

When I 1st came to China in July 2004, I entered on an F-visa. After 9 months working illegally/running to HK every now and then for a new visa, teaching kids, I decided kids weren't for me and that I'd prefer a university job. Unfortunately the Spring semester had already started, so I went home for a break.

While home I arranged a university job. They sent me all of the Z-visa paperwork and I paid around $100 USD for it. Back then the exchange rate was approximately 8.1 = I contributed 810 rmb to the Chinese economy. The school then paid for the health exam and Residence Permit.

I've noticed that over the years, a lot of schools are now requiring the new teacher to pay those costs = more "new" money into the economy. Some schools even expect the teacher to bring the documents to the PSB, pick them up etc... = even more into the economy. (bus/subway/taxi fare)

So, if a school wants a new teacher to come over on an L-visa = even better for the economy. Approximate "contribution" to the Chinese economy by a foreigner wishing to teach here -

L-visa = $100 USD or around 700 rmb.

Z-visa = around 1200 rmb for Americans.

Travel Expenses = depend on where you travel from of course, lets say an average of 2,000 rmb, most likely more if you are far from HK. These include bus/train/plane tickets, subway/taxi and hotel in HK.

Health Exam = 400 rmb.

Residence Permit = 800 rmb.

Total contribution to the Chinese economy = approximately 5k. Most likely more.

800 rmb v. 5,000 rmb. Of course, some schools can get it done without a trip to HK = 3,000 contribution rather than 5k.

Caveat - I am not an economist. The above is just my opinion on the matter.

[Teatime of Soul]

[AdrianG4]

Negotiate your contract so that it says that they will send you to Hong Kong on THEIR dime

[popsy]

It is pretty clear from their reply, that these folks 1. Don't have any experience 2. Have a true idea about the rules and how they are enforced.

I can see you arriving only to have them say to you with feigned shock and surprise that the rules have changed. All this in the meantime while they are hiring other suckers while you ponder your illigitimate visa situation.

[hdwhatley]

Was your offer from a guy named Frank saying that he is the head teacher at the CACE Dalian Teaching Centre under the AEF ( Australia Education Foundation )? Just curious.