(job) L Visa confusion

[Joshua Battle]

I am investigating returning to China with the target of teaching.  I can get a "L" visa but not a "Z" visa.  It seems my age kicks me out of most "Z" visa jobs.  The "L" visa is a 12 month multiple entry visa but only good for a 60 day stay.  So, I gather I would have to leave every 60 days.

Are there restrictions where I would have to go?  Would Hong Kong or Macao serve the purpose?  Is there a length of stay or could I take the next flight back.

Does anyone have experience with the multi entry "L" visa and what’s constitutes exit and re-entry?  Does HK qualify?  Can one immediately re-enter or is there a time limit outside of China.

Reply here or direct would be great.  Any help (information) would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in Advance,

David

[Vicki Steven]

Macau & HK certainly DO count as exit from China for visa purposes.  Many expats in Zhuhai do this visa run monthly without problems.  During & immediately after the Olympics, many schools were unable to sort out Z visas for new staff & so the visa run was common until the PSB got its act together again.  Some stayed as little as one hour in Macau before returning. Whether your employer will accept it is a different matter.

Vicki

--- In TEFLChinaJob@..., "David Fricks" <davidmf00@...> wrote:

> Are there restrictions where I would have to go?  Would Hong Kong or Macao serve the purpose?  Is there a length of stay or could I take the next flight back.
>

[gary mayne]

David
The purpose you intend to use the L visa, which is to work in China, is illegal. You are not permitted to work on a tourist visa, among other problems that could arise how will you register your place of residence with the PSB.

No offense intended here, but would it not be easier to pick a country that does not have an age limit policy or a province that ignores it as some do.
Gary 

--- On Wed, 10/28/09, vicki_steven2005 <vicki_steven2005@...> wrote:

From: vicki_steven2005 <vicki_steven2005@...>
Subject: (job) Re: L Visa confusion
To: TEFLChinaJob@...
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 4:47 PM

Macau & HK certainly DO count as exit from China for visa purposes.  Many expats in Zhuhai do this visa run monthly without problems.  During & immediately after the Olympics, many schools were unable to sort out Z visas for new staff & so the visa run was common until the PSB got its act together again.  Some stayed as little as one hour in Macau before returning. Whether your employer will accept it is a different matter.

Vicki

--- In TEFLChinaJob@ yahoogroups. com, "David Fricks" <davidmf00@. ..> wrote:

> Are there restrictions where I would have to go?  Would Hong Kong or Macao serve the purpose?  Is there a length of stay or could I take the next flight back.

[Calum Sutherland]

Its amazing the number of people that support ageism. Old age comes to all.
 
You could try working on an "F" visa.
Look into more details about L, F and Z visas.
I would have thought if you avoid Shanghai (which is not a nice place to work anyway) you may not have major problems.
And do NOT be discouraged by the E-Pat "experts" in China.
 
Calum Sutherland

"I dare do all that may become a man,
who dares do more is none"

--- On Wed, 10/28/09, gary mayne <garymayne1@...> wrote:


From: gary mayne <garymayne1@...>
Subject: Re: (job) Re: L Visa confusion
To: TEFLChinaJob@...
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 8:03 PM


David
The purpose you intend to use the L visa, which is to work in China, is illegal. You are not permitted to work on a tourist visa, among other problems that could arise how will you register your place of residence with the PSB.

No offense intended here, but would it not be easier to pick a country that does not have an age limit policy or a province that ignores it as some do.
Gary 

--- On Wed, 10/28/09, vicki_steven2005 <vicki_steven2005@...> wrote:

From: vicki_steven2005 <vicki_steven2005@...>
Subject: (job) Re: L Visa confusion
To: TEFLChinaJob@...
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 4:47 PM
   
Macau & HK certainly DO count as exit from China for visa purposes.  Many expats in Zhuhai do this visa run monthly without problems.  During & immediately after the Olympics, many schools were unable to sort out Z visas for new staff & so the visa run was common until the PSB got its act together again.  Some stayed as little as one hour in Macau before returning. Whether your employer will accept it is a different matter.

Vicki

[S Jones-2]

So, can anyone list the countries that don't have age restrictions? I
know that Israel will allow you 27 months without an age restriction.
Any other country?

Suzi

[Leslie Warren]

I agree. L visa is not legal. Shanghai is getting very strict about this.. as well as over stay.. so be very careful.. working on the visa is illegal and you can be asked to leave at any time if found working, you and your employer can be fined up tp 50,000 RMB... so you may want to find a country who laws are not as strict...
Over stay in Shanghai is now being enforced... you get caught.. NO fine.. just jail time.. up to 90 days if long term over stay and black listed for 5 years..country of origin is not a consideration any longer... had an american friend.. put in jail for a week.. then had to go home.. now can not get back into China..


Leslie Warren
JX Learning
China

--- On Wed, 10/28/09, gary mayne <garymayne1@...> wrote:


From: gary mayne <garymayne1@...>
Subject: Re: (job) Re: L Visa confusion
To: TEFLChinaJob@...
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 8:03 PM

David
The purpose you intend to use the L visa, which is to work in China, is illegal. You are not permitted to work on a tourist visa, among other problems that could arise how will you register your place of residence with the PSB.

No offense intended here, but would it not be easier to pick a country that does not have an age limit policy or a province that ignores it as some do.
Gary 

--- On Wed, 10/28/09, vicki_steven2005 <vicki_steven2005@ yahoo.com. au> wrote:

From: vicki_steven2005 <vicki_steven2005@ yahoo.com. au>
Subject: (job) Re: L Visa confusion
To: TEFLChinaJob@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 4:47 PM

Macau & HK certainly DO count as exit from China for visa purposes. Many expats in Zhuhai do this visa run monthly without problems. During & immediately after the Olympics, many schools were unable to sort out Z visas for new staff & so the visa run was common until the PSB got its act together again. Some stayed as little as one hour in Macau before returning. Whether your employer will accept it is a different matter.

Vicki

--- In TEFLChinaJob@ yahoogroups. com, "David Fricks" <davidmf00@. ..> wrote:

> Are there restrictions where I would have to go? Would Hong Kong or Macao serve the purpose? Is there a length of stay or could I take the next flight back.

[karenstanleyma-3]

Suzi asked:
> ...can anyone list the countries that don't have age restrictions?

For anyone who is interested in discussing employment in a variety of countries, TESLJob (full disclosure: it's also my Yahoogroup) has members representing a larger portion of the world:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TESLJob

Karen

Karen Stanley
http://karen.stanley.people.cpcc.edu
Central Piedmont Community College
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

[Sandy Harris]

On 10/12/09, David Fricks <davidmf00@...> wrote:

>  It seems my age kicks me out of most "Z" visa jobs.

Best course would be to look for one that is not part of that "most".
A recent thread discusses which provinces do or don't enforce
the over 60 restriction. Check the archives.

>  The "L" visa is a 12 month multiple entry visa but only good for a 60 day stay.
>  So, I gather I would have to leave every 60 days.

90-day one entry tourist visas are easily obtained in HK.

>  Are there restrictions where I would have to go?  Would Hong Kong
> or Macao serve the purpose?

Yes, or Jinmen, Taiwan-controlled but a short ferry ride from Xiamen.
There's another Taiwan-controlled island near Fuzhou.

[Leslie Warren]

Here is the info from a school in Shanghai

There have been some new requirements in regards to the issuing of a Expert Teaching certificate by the local Foreign Affairs office. They will only recognize TEFL with 120+ course hours, the short programs will no longer be recognized unless the candidate has 2 years of related teaching experience. On line TEFL are not recognized unless teacher has Two years teaching in addition to the certificate. PART time teaching, teaching while in school, volunteer teaching, one-on-one,�and private tutoring no long count as related experience. No fresh college grads unless they meet the above requirements.

Our school prefers kids teaching experience, we have hired many teachers over the last 12 months and those with adults only experience are having difficulty coping with the kids as well as the parents.

If the candidate has had ANY teaching experience in China, they must have a release letter from their former employer saying they have successful completed their contract. MUST�be original with red chop. Must furnish our school with documents about having a clean police record and must be able to pass physical. If for ANY reason they do not issue expert or residency permit, contract is terminated immediately.

Additionally we will check references with their former employer via phone. We will need the names of their direct supervisor. We are a drug free environment and the candidate will be tested for drug use during the physical, this is standard operating procedure for the Shanghai government.

Leslie Warren
JX Learning
China

--- On Sun, 11/1/09, Sandy Harris <sandyinchina@...> wrote:


From: Sandy Harris <sandyinchina@...>
Subject: Re: (job) L Visa confusion
To: TEFLChinaJob@...
Date: Sunday, November 1, 2009, 8:07 PM

On 10/12/09, David Fricks <davidmf00@hotmail. com> wrote:

> It seems my age kicks me out of most "Z" visa jobs.

Best course would be to look for one that is not part of that "most".
A recent thread discusses which provinces do or don't enforce
the over 60 restriction. Check the archives.

> The "L" visa is a 12 month multiple entry visa but only good for a 60 day stay.
> So, I gather I would have to leave every 60 days.

90-day one entry tourist visas are easily obtained in HK.

> Are there restrictions where I would have to go? Would Hong Kong
> or Macao serve the purpose?

Yes, or Jinmen, Taiwan-controlled but a short ferry ride from Xiamen.
There's another Taiwan-controlled island near Fuzhou.

[Joshua Battle]

Thanks for all the help and  suggestions.  My visa agency told me only the 12 mo, 60 day visa was all that was available.  $130 for the visa (US), $29 for the service.

This is certainly not the best situation.  If I could find schools without the age restrictions it would suit me fine, as would a HK, "Z" visa.  Certainly I prefer to be legal...  meanwhile...

Thanks

Josh

[Sandy Harris]

Sandy Harris <sandyinchina@...> wrote:

>  >  The "L" visa is a 12 month multiple entry visa but only good for a 60 day stay.
>  >  So, I gather I would have to leave every 60 days.
>  ...
>  >  Are there restrictions where I would have to go?  Would Hong Kong
>  > or Macao serve the purpose?
>
> Yes, or Jinmen, Taiwan-controlled but a short ferry ride from Xiamen.
> There's another Taiwan-controlled island near Fuzhou.

Those may work if you have one of the must-leave-every-60-days visas.

They are not useful if you need to get a new visa. There is no Chinese
visa office on the islands. You'd have to continue to Tapei for that, and
if you're going to do that, Hong Kong is likely easier.

Also, there are restrictions. A friend tried to get on the ferry from
Mawei (a suburb of Fuzhou) and was told there's a list of 25
countries allowed to use the route and his (South Africa) was not
on the list. They would not let him buy the ticket. I do not know
which countries are allowed.