yu2fa3
- 2014-12-28
The days when China was a super cheap country to live in are over,
I know I know- SB (trustworthy poster) tells us that now even his ex students ask him for crocodile skin handbags. We should spare a thought for ageing FT's who now days have to think twice before they visit them pink rooms. In fact prices have shot up so much that the best your over 40's FT's can raise is a thought.
Sludge
- 2014-12-28
That is only if you eat pork.
Beef noodles and beer was cheap where I was...and it was not a big city. One could live VERY comfortably on 6,000 a month.
BaishiLaowai
- 2014-12-27
8K is a joke even with accomodation, it might have been good back in 2009-2010 but today with inflation you will not go far with that amount, especially in very touristy Hainan where people and local shops have for habit for overcharge tourists from the Mainland and even more foreigners.
The days when China was a super cheap country to live in are over, three years ago the government said that all the farmers are now employees of corporations, means they have a base salary in exchange for a fixed amount of a specific foodstuff that they must produce and earn more than they used to do, if they produce more than the required amount they can sell the rest at the market or do whatever else they want with it, means that the price of raw food is rising and thus the final product's price. In 3 years the price per 500gr or pork went from 8 to 15RMB on average in big cities, I let you calculate the insane inflation.
Don't accept anything below 13-14K per month, 11-12K if free (acceptable) accomodation.
Jake
- 2014-12-27
I'm considering this school as well, I haven't applied yet. Now they are offering 8K. I found another forum on this school http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?noframes;read=62989 it talks about tourist visas and Z visas. There is also link to a blog from people who taught at this school http://www.teaching-english-haikou.com/frequently-asked-questions
I really want to teach in China but no matter the school I find negative and positive things on the Internet. It's getting a bit frustrating to pick a school. I have a friend right now in Korea, teaching at Epik and her experience has been incredible (she is constantly posting pics on Facebook) but when I look for reviews online there are some really negative reviews about that school.
I guess no school is perfect and it depends a lot on your attitude, being responsible and being able to get along with other people (staff and other teachers).
CJB
- 2012-09-25
Hello, I have first hand info that today, a Canadian could not enter with a Canadian health check. But she COULD enter with a HK health check. All very confusing. Anyone else have recent firsthand info?
foxy
- 2012-09-24
They are getting stricter and there is talk that the visa runs in HK will be abolished in the future. If you can, start the process from your home country. Some get through some not. If you are willing to risk it ... use a visa company to do it for you.
To avoid taking two medicals, go to mainland China on an L. Teach there and take your medical there. Then go to HK for your Z, or to another third-party country bordering China. But the times they are a changin - I fully expect things to have been tightened up by the time the amended visa regulations come into effect in the spring of next year. It is probable that the Chinese government wishes to exercise stricter controls at the borders of China. They must be aware that many foreigners in China at present aren't the kind of experts they are wishing to attract. They'll lock the stable door after the horse has bolted.
Many thanks for your input.
Hugh
- 2012-09-24
If you're planning to go to HK to get a Z visa, be wary. You require a health check done either in your own home country or in China. The invitation letter has to state where you are applying for your visa. If it is in your home country or at the embassy in Hong Kong. If you also plan to get health check in HK, DON'T. The consulate does not accept it, and if they do. You need to get it redone in China anyhow (double the xray dose). (You will have to redo it also if you do your initial health check in your home country). Americans or any other nationality except Canadians, can't get a 5 day pass (168rmb at the border when you take the subway) to go to Shenzhen, they have to get a full L visa just to get your health check. It takes 5 working days not including weekends. So if you go back to Hong Kong, you require to apply for another L visa to pick it up (stay in Shenzhen until you got the health check). Also note of caution, many americans and other nationalities have been turned away to their native country to apply for the z visa. They are getting stricter and there is talk that the visa runs in HK will be abolished in the future. If you can, start the process from your home country. Some get through some not. If you are willing to risk it ... use a visa company to do it for you.
foxy
- 2012-09-23
The Gospel of Chinese Visas and Permits
By:Raoul F, Duke
Date: 12 October 2011
Another way to get your Residence Permit is less common (although apparently being seen more often with time), and has a bit more risk for you. However, it generally works fine and is not cause for undue worry. In this scenario, you will get an L (Tourist) Visa, and bring it and the documents your school asks you to bring with you to your destination in China. They will then send you (usually) to Hong Kong to get the Z Visa. From this point on, it's exactly like the first method- your passport will be sent off to finalize your permits and returned to you. You can get a Tourist Visa through any local travel agent in your home country, and that process is quick, easy and cheap compared to a Z Visa. In Hong Kong, there will be visa agencies (China Travel Service was always my personal choice) to help you get the Visa, or you can get it yourself if you really want to spend a day or two in lines in the Chinese Consulate in HK. If your school takes you on this route, they should cover your travel and hotel costs and at least a chunk of your expenses...you're doing all this for them, after all. BEFORE you accept a job like this, get a written agreement that the Permits will be gotten for you on arrival, and that they will cover your costs on the visa trip. If you can't get these assurances up front and in writing, DON'T TAKE THE JOB. But with these things cleared up, you should be fine. The risk I mentioned before takes the form of possibly not having a job when you arrive in China- even if you have a contract. This risk is very real...but also very unlikely to happen to you. The vast 99+% majority of Chinese employers will be happier than you know to have you there.
Taken from: http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?read=40552
With this, the Middlekingdom stuff I have posted, and my own stuff, it MUST BE END OF STORY!
foxy
- 2012-09-23
If a teacher reaches China with a Z visa, things aren't cut and dried. In many cases, the school will assess his teaching within the 30 days that his Z visa can be replaced by a Residence Permit. Remember that a satisfactory medical report and a signed contract along with the Foreign Expert Certificate must be submitted to the PSB for the Residence Permit to be issued.
I put it to you that not all schools that ask Westerners to come to China on L visas are dodgy. If a foreigner does a runner, or doesn't arrive because he has deceived the school by choosing another one, or goes home early for personal reasons, illness or family illness in his homeland, or is fired, a public school is most likely to treat the replacement foreign teacher with his L favorably.
As for teaching illegally on an L, it is just as illegal if you're asked to teach before your Residence Permit has been issued, even though you're holding a Z visa. And many schools will ask you to do the latter. I guess if you refuse, you won't be doing yourself any favors, as you'll be regarded as an awkward employee. And it's a fact that medicals in developed countries are more thorough and much more costly than those in China. Why should you be expected to do two medicals, anyway? If you arrive on an L, you need only do one, the cheaper of the two. But of course a visa run will probably be required later.
Finally, better to be dismissed on an L than on a Z. You can take another post in the province you're in or indeed in another province, without a bad report accompanying you there! I've been dismissed from one place and had good reports from others. It's NOT a level playing field and the Chinese are not to be trusted. What one school says is bad teaching another school will accept. However, what you can do is only apply to public schools. There are still some bad ones, as employers of FTs, but most of them are reasonable employers to work for.
The most important thing isn't the visa type, but to choose a good public employer, even if you have to use a recruiter to find one! There are indeed some agents who will place you in public schools too. That's not a bad way either. Choose the most reputable recruiters and agents if you can't get a public job offer direct.
Anyways, let's hope we can all land jobs working at good public schools in terms of how they treat their FTs, be they as a result of direct employment or via reputable recruiters or via reputable agents.
BRUCIANNA
- 2012-09-23
I'm glad your situation turned out positive for you.
However the reason why the foreign teacher should never accept an offer to enter on an L visa is for the teacher's own protection. Two points:
1) It shows the school can legally hire foreign experts, not just promises to get a Z or F visa after arrival.
2) If the teacher is working illegally in China on a L visa(even temporarily), they won't receive any help from the PSB or FAO if needed, despite any promises to them by the school or any contract they may have signed and while working on the tourist visa.
The teacher has everything to lose and nothing to gain by starting to work as a tourist. The school gets a foreigner they can 'test drive' for 1-3 months, and if anything goes sour can fire the teacher on a moments notice, force them to leave their apartment and have most or all of their pay withheld. What can a foreigner do in if this situation happens? Nothing.
When foreigners enter China on a Z visa, they have the knowledge the school's paperwork is 100% legit(rather than finding out after the fact it isn't) and the assurance that if they do have any issues with the school, the PSB / FAO will be there to assist.
Start your teaching career in China on the right foot by choosing a quality, legit school that is willing to give you the paperwork for the Z visa BEFORE you enter China, not after.
I reiterate my point that you should NEVER enter on a tourist visa. Despite whatever the school may tell you, it is not okay! Its illegal and if anything goes wrong...you're gonna have a bad time.
Native English speaker
- 2012-09-22
Whatever school you choose, NEVER agree to enter China on a tourist visa (where school promises to get the paperwork after arrival, then a future trip up to Hong Kong for the Z visa).
I came over on an L visa to teach at Shijiazhuang Railway Institute, a state-run college. After I'd been teaching for about three weeks, the school asked me to visit Hong Kong to obtain my Z visa. That was during the October week's vacation a few years ago. It was the best way for the school to fill an unexpected and sudden teaching vacancy fast.
BRUCIANNA
- 2012-09-22
Haikou is a small city, many foreigners know that school. Does not have a good reputation. Agree with other posters, avoid.
Whatever school you choose, NEVER agree to enter China on a tourist visa (where school promises to get the paperwork after arrival, then a future trip up to Hong Kong for the Z visa).
MAKE SURE you get the paperwork sent to you and you enter legally on a Z visa, which can then get converted to a resident permit within 30 days. Schools which recommend you get the tourist visa first should be avoided at all costs.
Also references, the more the better. Any good school will have at least a few teachers who've worked there and can give solid references. Especially if the teacher doesn't work there anymore.
Keep looking and good luck in your job search!
foxy
- 2012-09-20
It sounds like a pretty sweet deal. 7g's and an apartment, for 22 hours.
Negatory, it sounds like a typical Training Centre lousy deal for dumb newbie foreigners
Hey guys.
I am considering a position with Happy Town in Haikou. It sounds like a pretty sweet deal. 7g's and an apartment, for 22 hours.
Does anybody know anything about it? Looks about as "legit" as anything else in China.
Please let me if you have had an experience with this school... As always, I am a little hesitant...