Chinese authorities have begun systematic enforcement activities in several provinces to locate foreign teachers who are working illegally. Requirements to work legally have been elevated in Beijing and Shanghai. Recruitment agents and Training Centers employing foreign teachers without proper foreign expert certificates are being fined. The foreign teachers are being deported, often without pay.

As a result, the pressure on Training Centers to locate new staff is intense. They will say anything to get a warm body in front of their clients. If you fly to China without a valid Z visa, you will be working illegally, no matter what these agents and training centers tell you.

If you send copies of your passport and personal information to these recruiters, you are also likely to become a victim of identity theft.

School reviews by individuals unable to write grammatically correct English are efforts by agents to market their franchises and recruit uninformed foreign teachers.

There are some legitimate and well-managed training centers, but they are a small minority of the industry. They will provide you with documentation to acquire a Z visa BEFORE you leave your own country.