Wednesday, 8 June 2011

Well, assuming you're correct, why is it that the vast majority of Chinese employers of teachers will send their FT's who arrive with L's to HK to get Z's? The FAO at the educational institutions are instructed by the local PSB to do so. And don't forget they are all Chinese, so there shouldn't be any misunderstandings. Not just that, they're trained by the PSB on how to deal with this. And I'm not just talking about the rubbishy training centers and private schools here. This happens in the public sector too.

An HK visa run is an absolute waste of time and money imo. There's no need for it, but that's the system.

Another thing is this. If your L visa was issued within China, you cannot get it replaced by a Z internally. Not many foreigners know this. Neither do some college FAO's. I once taught at a public college in Jinan for one entire academic year on my L that had been issued inside China. The college FAO couldn't get it replaced locally, and I asked not to go to HK. The college was okay about it since my visa would be in-date for the duration of my contract, but I was told my contract wouldn't be renewed. I didn't like teaching there very much, so I agreed with that, did my job, and subsequently found a better college. Jinan PSB knew nought about it. I think the college was accommodating to me, as I'd done them a favor by arriving at very short notice to fill a vacancy that occurred when a foreigner didn't arrive as he had promised, a matter of 5 days before the semester would start, presumably because he took a higher paying job elswhere.