Job Discussion Forums

[natjones]

Hello,

I recently received an offer to teach at a large university in China, but I need to go to Hong Kong first to get a Z-visa. However, the university offered to issue me a student visa for a year and let me teach on it. They said it would be easier and cheaper for me.

I don't have experience teaching in China, but I've taught in Korea and Taiwan for several years. I've read that anything goes in China, and teaching on a student visa seems convenient, but alarm bells are ringing in my head about the irregularity. I haven't found anything on the board about this- should I stay away?

EDIT: Sorry, to clarify, I'm coming from Taiwan, and my current visa is running out soon, which is why it's a little more complicated for me. Many schools want me to get a visa only from the USA.

[youtalkingtome]

The school is probably planning on asking you to come on a L visa and then convert it to a student visa (residence permit) when you are here. L visas can be converted to student residence permits in-country, whereas they (usually) cannot be converted to work residence permits. The residence permit for both studying and working cost the same, so you are saving by not having to do a HK visa run.

Sounds like a large university, in which case you probably have nothing to worry about, except if you want to renew for another year or seek another job in a different province, you might eventually have to do a HK visa run.

[GeminiTiger]

Nothing about working on a student visa is good for you. A student visa is not any cheaper than a working visa because in fact a working visa is free for the worker in 99% of the cases.

You must be unqualified to teach or they are trying to skimp on the fees.

Working on a student visa, assuming you are qualified to teach is going to bite you in the ass later one way or another.

Either way it's illegal.

[choudoufu]

[Laoshi1950]

Working on a Student Visa is not advisable. It doesn't matter what 'line' the university is trying to give you.

China has just completed a 100-day "crackdown" on foreigners in the country without the appropriate legal documentation. One of the target groups here in Beijing was foreign students - especially those in the Wudaokou area - working as ESL teachers while supposedly on a Student Visa.

[natjones]

Thanks for the replies, everyone! I think it's more a matter of them wanting me there ASAP because one of their teachers didn't show up (hence the October start date) than other factors. Still, I thought it sounded like a bad idea, I'm glad to confirm it.