Without a working visa?

[Azenith Huang]

I need some advice please. I've chatted to someone who is currently working in China and told me that his school is needing some teachers. He gave me the website about the school and it looks kinda legitimate. He told me the salary package which I find quite reasonable. He told me to email my resume to some official in the school for them to review. But when I asked him about the visa, he told me that all I need is to get a tourist visa and when I arrived there, the school will work out my working visa. Now, that is kinda ambiguous. What if the school will not process at all my visa? What hold do I have of them? Accordingly, the contract will be signed once am there.
Don't get me wrong, I believe what this friend has been telling me, what I don't believe is the "system" - contract, visa, etc. It sounds so easy and I feel there's something wrong.
Is this always the case in China?

[Teaching Supply]

This is a very dodgy situation, it could be a ligitimate school which requests this because of the olympics or they could have you working illegally. I would not take the job no matter how good the package is if you are working illegally, it can lead to deportation and blackmail from the school. Find out from your friend what the application process for her was.

Hope this helps

Sam Chapman
Teacher Recruitment Manager
Teaching Supply

[Azenith Huang]

No matter how I look at it - I smell something fishy as in "illegal". No, the job was just offered recently just when the olympics ended.
Thanks Sam, you're a big help!

[studynz2008]

I suggest you must conduct some investigations about this kind of activity. You'll be working abroad so it means you must have and secure a working visa. Try to check out if this company/school is legit.

[exported_kiwi]

First, what your friend suggested used to be quite normal here in China. I think that now, most teachers who're new to China usually get their visa issued by the Chinese embassy/consulate in their own country before they come to China. A lot depends on where you're going too. In some provinces, it's now illegal to employ non-native English speakers as teachers.....it's going to get harder in future, not easier by the way, from what I'm told by friends in the know here. It might be best to ask the employer directly why they can't beging the visa process now before you leave your home country so, when you arrive in China, you already have the appropriate work visa and would then be working legally from the start. If they don't do this, knowing the law, then I'd ask questions and wonder if it's in your best interests to come here and do as they ask. it's NOT recommended to work illegally here in China, or anywhere for that matter but China isn't democratic and the rule of law is rather vague here in some places. Be careful, get the full story, get that visa (Z) first and then, you're safe. Have you seen the contract yet? If not, ask for a copy to be emailed so if there are things in it you don't like, you can negotiate and hopefully, get the contract looking more as you want it.
Good luck and let us know how things go!

[Azenith Huang]

Thanks a lot studynz2008 and exported kiwi. Will do all those things including a lil bit of investigation. Will let you know. Thanks again guys!

[studynz2008]

You're very much welcome. As exported kiwi said, make some necessary actions before you sign the contract.And--secure a working visa (it's a must!)

[candykk]

No, the job was just offered recently just when the olympics ended.
Thanks Sam, you're a big help!