China Tightens the Restrictions on Foreign teachers.
It appears that China may be opening its doors wider to foreigners as the Summer Olympic quickly approach. However, this is not entirely true, China has been closing other doors. Earlier this year ESL Daily reported that China has been making it more and more difficult for foreigners to receive visas for more than 30 days (China gets tough on teachers). China now has been denying renewal of teachers work visas. As the Summer Olympics draw near, foreigners are discovering that the welcome mat they had expected is being abruptly rolled up. Thousands of foreigners have been kicked out before today's deadline as a result of tough new visa policies. Those forced to leave include nondiplomatic support staffers at embassies, migrant workers, freelance writers, artists and students. – LA Times
Over 100 000 foreigners were expected to leave Beijing alone prior to the end of last month. Those wishing to return will only receive 30 day visitor visas. This short visa makes being a foreign worker or even student very difficult and expensive. Many foreigners are departing the country and not returning. The government has been issuing longer stay working visas to teachers, however large restrictions do apply in many situations. The government has been asking teachers to have ‘advanced degrees’ (unclear if this means Masters or just Bachelors), at least two years teaching experience and be over the age of 25. However, you may want to call your local Chinese embassy first before packing your bags, most embassies now only give 30 day visas now regardless of your job and credentials.
More on this story can be found in the LA Times
Chinese Visas
Subtitle: A Sad Tale
I was offered a summer ESL teaching position in northern China for 5 weeks, mid July to mid Aug. The school instructed me to simply obtain a visitors visa. Of course, summer jobs do not pay much; I was going mostly for the experience.
I am a US citizen living in the Philippines. I applied for my visa in Manila and was told that I would need prepaid hotel vouchers and a prepaid airline ticket. As I was leaving for Kula Lumpur the next week and as the Chinese Embassy web site in KL states that for an additional fee (about US$35) one can obtain a visa the same day (confirmed by me in a phone call) I happily went to the Chinese Embassy in KL.
I had purchased airline tickets for myself and a Chinese Singaporean companion. I also had to pay for a visa for my Singaporean friend (required of Singaporeans after July 1). But I was happy to do this, as I had been given “assurances” by the Chinese Embassy that a tourist visa would be no problem with prepaid hotel and airline vouchers. Incidentally I also had some additional nonrefundable expenses, such as a hotel room in Singapore, etc.
Well, I arrive at the Chinese Embassy in KL, armed with a ton of paper. I present my paperwork to the clerk and she says, “I see you want to be in China for 40 days, I will need more information on what you plan to do.” I was stumped! I said that I had no specific plans, just visiting and touring. She said she would give me only a 15 day visa. Of course, she was totally not interested in the fact that I had non-refundable airline tickets for the 40 day trip, which I purchased based on the assurance of the Chinese Embassy that a visa would be “no problem”. I asked her if she could put something in writing that I could show the airline in hopes of a refund, but she replied that was strictly between the airline and me.
Bottom line, under no circumstance purchase airline tickets prior to having a Chinese visa in hand.
William McCallum, Philippines
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hi im Jackie from the philippines.
im so sorry about what had happened when you are traying to get chinese visa.
where are you now?
because im also here in china.
our school need a native teacher
if you are interested send me a mail to my email add.jackiegaoan@yahoo.com
thanks and regard.........
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I do not deny that many a laowai is experiencing unfairness and arbitrariness due to the stricter enforcement of old visa rules.
But I am glad the country gets rid of a lot of undesirables, failed existences, skirt chasers, professionally challenged joyriders. Too many westerners simply act irresponsibly by travelling abroad without having the financial means to do so, taking advantage of local schools that hire them because they erroneously consider native English speakers as sufficiently qualifed to deliver English classes.
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The Olympics has brought security fever in this part of China. A South African teacher who had been here 3 years had to return to his native country. Several of us who have degrees (I have both a BA and an MA) are not being renewed because we are over 60 or 65.
Meanwhile, an American in this city who was involved in a violent dispute last summer with other foreigners, and another violent episode at a disco with Chinese 3 months ago, remains in the country threatening others with his drunken bullying. One wishes that the government would investigate more as to whom they keep in China, and whom they ask to leave.----From Shijiazhuang
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If you believe this is the proper role of government then you must love the direction the USA is moving. Some of us believe in freedom and the government getting out of our business. For me, sadly, the world is moving in your direction. More central government. It is sad that there are many bad people in the world, but many of us believe this is not the soln.
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The figure of 100,000 seems to have a zero added.Can you prove this figure? How many foreigners are in China? How many are Asians from Korea, Singapore and Japan? Is business in Beijing collapsing with this exodus as surely most are either working for foreign companies or helping Chinese ones?
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This number is not just for foreign English teachers but applies to many other fields. Don't for get that China is Bordered by quite a few countries and has the largest population in the world.
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I am not quite sure what this has to do with the situation. China has the largest population in the world because it has one of the largest land areas in the world. Having a large population per sq mile does not cause these problems with visa's (e.g. Hong Kong, India), bordering lots of countries does not cause these problems (e.g. France, India)
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Not sure if you understood my point. China, large country and large population has large demands. Foreign workers from around the world come to China (It was not a statement of any problem). On top of that, just think of the visitors that come to China to travel, shop and visit. Washington Post:
8.13 million issued... how many are now turned away due to new visa laws.
Now let's assume that out of 8.13 million issued visas only 1/4 actually do travel to China. Let's just say 2 million. Now let's divide 2 million by 12: 166 666.
ESL Daily stated:
100 000 does not sound so far off now.
This does not state anything to do with work visas, however those are also included in that number... we just do not know the exact figure. However,
Granted, there are still some longer stay visas being issued, just with more restrictions.
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