Job Discussion Forums

[groovyarmada]

Hi all, I have a job in Shanghai beginning in mid February and have to arrive there on a tourist visa first before my work visa is sorted out. I have my flights booked from New Zealand to Shanghai but wanted to know whether I must also have an outbound flight booked too before I will be issued with the tourist visa? Hopefully not as it will save me some money but any information/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Groovy.

[Miles Smiles]

No offense intended, but may I ask if you read the sticky at the top of the forum before you posted your question? Did you read any recent topics that address this question?

[TexasHighway]

Dilton wrote;

[Cyberkada]

[max81]

[Guerciotti]

Hey groovy - by the way, groovy name - if this Shanghai job were able to make you legal and had at least reasonably good intentions toward you, they would get you a Z visa and change the Z to a residence permit after you arrive. See? China is a magical place. Who else can turn a Z visa into an RP?

Anyway, when you arrive with your tourist visa, they may or may not convert it. Maybe they're just going to check you out for awhile and see if they like you, then get you an RP. Maybe they will see how many changes they can make to the contract before they do a damn thing to help you.

Or maybe they will make excuses about why they can't convert your tourist visa and take advantage of the fact that you're basically illegal when you work as an English teacher on a tourist visa. Perhaps they would like to renegotiate your pay? Less pay, not more. Perhaps you can work more hours for the same pay? It would be a shame if your first month's pay were delayed. If you're teaching on a tourist visa your contract is worthless.

Shanghai has strict rules for foreign teachers and arriving on a tourist visa seems like a bad way to start.

But that's just my opinion.

[Zimmer]

If you're planning to come in on an F visa I'd have a return ticket if I were you, open ended if you can arrange it.
It's always good to have the means to leave if you need to.

[Opiate]

[steve b]

If Dilton is Canadian there must be TEFL jobs galore there.

Groovy - pick up your bargepole and take it away from that job offer. The only time you should arrive on a tourist visa is if you are precisely that. This should beg the question as to why the school can't issue the requisite papers to allow you to obtain your Z visa before the fact?

[Miles Smiles]

[xiguagua]

Diltons post is so full of lulz.

On topic, yeah it's illegal to come in on a tourist visa and then work, BUT......i've done it before. Usually you should have a return ticket, if you need something cheap you can book any flight to HK or Thailand or somewhere nearby and use that as your "exit flight" and then just cancel the ticket. When I did it I didn't need to provide a exit flight thought.

As others have said though, keep in mind that they may ask you to leave the country to get the proper Z visa before employment. From my experience, I went to the school, then I had to make a HK run to get a Z Visa (Which the school covered my expenses) and then upgrade it. Depending on your school and their connections though, you may or may not have to.

[Lobster]

Certainly some, but not all, outfits in Shanghai can convert a tourist visa to an RP. If they can, all is groovy, if not, you're in for trouble.

RED

[groovyarmada]

Thanks everyone for the replies, some more lulzy than others. My friend is currently working at the University I'll be employed at and has had no problems with them. I do agree it is a little funny having to arrive on the tourist visa but he is someone I trust.

G.

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

Thread locked due to contentious bickering and addressing the messenger rather than the message. Severe sanctions are being implemented for this type of behavior and anyone interested in remaining a member would be wise and follow the rules and not get the attention of the Mod Team at this point in time.