By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: visa changes non-native English teachers
Hi, has anybody heard that the rules for getting Z visa as a non-native English teacher are changing again? A youtube video from someone who lives in Shenzhen has announced it. Apparently, even though you have a degree from the UK it won't help just purely because I am not a native speaker, I won't be able to get visa. Can anybody confirm this? I will appreciate any advice on this! Thanks!
7 years 50 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
My impression on the state of affairs is that China is in many respects shutting down.
Foreigners are not really welcomed anymore and that's probably because they think the risks aren't worth it.
The question 'why?' must be avoided at all costs and having free thinkers dotted around the place won't help that.
But, be that as it may, most foreigners in my city have legal visas despite being legally ineligible.
icnif77:
You might be right, China is shutting down somewhere considering FTs, but in place where I am right now, doesn't look like that. Cause for that isn't only 'we don't want foreigners', but also economic slump.
I'd say, as soon as School sees value in FT, they'll do anything for FT's employment.
Newly employed School's rep. is dealing with my ex-employer and FEB in that Province. Rep isn't concern only about Rec. letter, which we must get, but she wants to know about everything concerning my ex-RP sponsor, as 'did you receive all pay', 'how was your apartment there' and similar. She behaves like my lawyer, LOL.
Chinese teacher walks with me to the Hospital (dentist) in the city, and after I had doubts about the first recommended dentist, he got two new ones, where I can choose about the treatment. He waits with me till the dentist doesn't let me go...LOL.
In the end, if School won't be successful with getting new FEC, I'll probably have to leave, but I can't say, they don't make an effort I would stay here.
And students get under my skin too with daily questions at lunch and dinner on Campus: 'How long will you stay at our School....?'.
Private establishment with some 2500 students, big part of them living on the Campus.
'add-it': am getting new FEC in a week or two. School is looking for two more FTs. If anybody cares, PM me.
This was discussed a few months ago. Check out this topic:
http://answers.echinacities.com/node/297069
key answer has a link to a Global Times article:
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/977923.shtml
The key paragraph is this:
"Foreigners from non-native English speaking countries can no longer teach English in China at any level unless they have a bachelor degree or above from an English-speaking country plus two years' working experience in English language education," according to the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs' email reply to Metropolitan. "If a non-native English speaker majored in education, or has a teacher's certificate recognized by our administration, such as a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate, then the two years' work experience is not necessary," the administration said, emphasizing that "a bachelor degree or above is still a must
Though the above is contradicted by iwolfs comments on the above topic. It seems it is getting a lot more difficult for non-natives to get TEFL jobs
Can you send us a copy of this youtube link? All Hotwater said is correct. Its all true.
Yeah, post a link because someone's comprehension is off. (The Irony!)
ironman510:
His last last line is funny: whats stopping you from coming to China?
deborahjayne:
The information on the video isn't correct. Even if you change jobs, you still have to get a notarized/legalized/authenticated degree certificate.
OP did you watch the video? He clearly states that you need a degree from a native speaking country. Last I checked UK is a native speaking country.
thanks all for getting involved! I haven't seen one of the youtube videos but it is helpful to have answers from different resources.
The news I heard (on youtube) were that even though I a bachelor degree from England, have IELTS, just doing my TEFL, it is still doesn't apply as I am purely a non native speaker. However, I was assured by CEAIE which is a government affiliated body that I will be ok, so I hope I will.
ironman510:
Let us know how the results turn, ok? Others got to learn the results thus it will help them with at least from hope and faith.
honky:
If you got your BA from an Anglophone country, you'll be fine.
icnif77:
Thank you, for thanking to OP for the update. For everybody
.
I think, now it should be in order, you 'Thank me, for thanking you to thanking OP for an aup-date...' 
'Earl Grey at 5p, next.....'
Shining_brow:
You know 'have IELTS' is a fairly meaningless statement, don't you?
Hotwater:
@icnif. Do you know why I thanked him? The OP had posted exactly the same question on Gokunming and posted the feedback above. So I asked him to post it here. I use the same username on that site so thought it good manners to thank him. Something you seem to lack.....
Cup of tea? No, now for a bottle of Xi DaDa's favourite IPA.
retiredinchina:
http://beijing.craigslist.com.cn/edu/5541562073.html?lang=en&cc=us
problem solved right here, buy your celta and degree and go to work. best of luck, this is china, thank god.
Yes, if you have a degree from the UK and you have your 120-hour TEFL you can get hired on a Z-visa.
Also, one of the recruiters sent me this:
schools in china can hire non-native english speaker as long as this teacher has 2-year working enperience in teaching english in a english- speaking country,or 5-year working experience of working in a english-speaking country.so if you have such kind of working experience we can still hiring you.
I sent out about a hundred e-mails applying for English teaching positions in like 10 different provinces in China, had like 10 interviews but at the end none of the schools could hire me because I am a non-native English speaker without a degree from a native-Eng speaking country or any work experience in a native-English speaking country. I thought that this new rule would be just like any other rule in China, like they wouldn't try to really enforce it or that good guanxi between the school and the local government would still get me that Z visa. Apparently not, China is getting his shit together it seems.
Icnif will come here soon and tell us that his school in Guizhou couldn't extend his RP and now he has to do business visa runs outside the country too.
Hotwater:
Icnif has gone very quiet recently on his job transfer......maybe you're right.,
icnif77:
Why don't you go fuk yourself! Both of you!
Board didn't receive any manure out of me! So, I could just read your cleaver, moronic replies, which you learned by reading my posts here.
I can sleep well with everything I've experienced in China.
icnif77:
You need a brain to strike my nerve ....75/115 is my low-nerve-set-up!
Even, if I have to leave China today, I was/am working as an English teacher for the last 7 years.... job, which I took in part, because I got tired of charts, to which I can return anytime from anywhere in the world.
You shouldn't talk about my 'slips' aloud, 'cause you aren't 'tall' enough.
icnif77:
Actually, as I understand Englo in your replies, you are an a$$hole.
Maybe, I am right ... you piece of shit, you! How about that? You stinky, pretentious anon-cover-scum!
Hotwater:
Ooh, sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me!
Definitely struck a nerve. I meant what I said about hoping you get sorted out but with that reply? Well I hope they refuse your new RP and haul your naive SAFEA loving ass out of here. Asshat! :-P
ScotsAlan:
Wind your neck in hot water. Icniff is entitled to feel angry.
Hotwater:
Me wind my neck in Scots? My previous comment was hoping his move to a new school goes well and all I get back is insults? Whatever........
icnif77:
English is very complicated language, isn't it? Or, you might be Non....too:
- '....Icnif will come here soon and tell us that his school in Guizhou couldn't extend his RP and now he has to do business visa runs outside......'
and re:
- 'Icnif has gone very quiet recently on his job transfer......maybe you're right.,'
Does 'maybe you're right' smells a bit on 'I hope, you're right'?, hence my reply 'Board got only help from me .....why bad wishes from the posters?'
Chhris is a shill, who molested me earlier with endless Qs over PM. 'Don't tell me, you're working without FEC?' as one of his first PM titles.
After my detailed explanations of Chinese employment rules and placement agents requirements, he started to post here with extensive knowledge about 'how to apply for the job' and 'what are the current requirements of employers considering Non's....'.
You just jumped on his bandwagon and few similar wagons earlier ..... and now, you didn't? You just wished me well, you smelly, dirty, stinky manure!
icnif77:
If applicant isn't suitable to the placement agent as 'Non-native', 'BA from Non-English country', 'too fat' or any other reason, placement agent will never make first contact or invite applicant for an interview with employer. Never!
Placement agent is selling FT to the School, in other words, if he/she will push FT for which School can't secure legal documents, School will find another placement agent. Woohoo.
expatlife26:
This is outrageous!
Hotwater has come TOO FAR and sacrficed TOO MUCH to EVER have his integrity questioned by a non-native speaker! I feel like I'm going to explode here!!!!! 
All buffoonery and joking aside. Icnif, Hotwater did say he hopes it works out. And you accuse him of being a in league with a shill and insult his character.
What kind of self-obssessed narcissist are you that you think Hotwater or me or everybody else just has some kind of agenda against you to jump on the bandwagons of visa issues. Hotwater isn't even a teacher, he's some kind of tea kettle engineer. I'm an analyst. We don't care.
In case you haven't noticed there is a whole coalition of jokers on this board who act like smartassess about everything. It's nothing personal against you, but remember as well you don't really make an effort to be in sync with the tone of this board which is generally irreverant smartassery mixed with china-venting. Then there's you babbling about SAFEA and posting anti-western economic propaganda from questionable sources.
And that's fine. The smartasses on the board are just gonna make fun of it and if you don't have a sense of humor about it too then that reflects on you more than it reflects on us.
Chhris:
That's my problem with Icnif too, he doesn't understand the jokes either because of his bad English or because he has no sense of humor. He also gets overly defensive sometimes without any reason too.
Hotwater:
@Icnif. Interesting that you've missed one thing I wrote in your quotes. Maybe you didn't understand it?
You our started to insult me AFTER I'd written "I actually hope it works out for you!" You'd even responded before that comment without insulting me. Did you get out of the wrong side of the bed or something?
icnif77:
Blow job next is in order, after you'll intesively brush your teeth.
expatlife26:
well don't worry about him, his next stop is gonna be the China Scam watch thanks to new visa rules for non natives
http://answers.echinacities.com/question/visa-update-non-natives-will-be-required-serve-two-years-china-scam-watch-w-visa?
:
My impression on the state of affairs is that China is in many respects shutting down.
Foreigners are not really welcomed anymore and that's probably because they think the risks aren't worth it.
The question 'why?' must be avoided at all costs and having free thinkers dotted around the place won't help that.
But, be that as it may, most foreigners in my city have legal visas despite being legally ineligible.
icnif77:
You might be right, China is shutting down somewhere considering FTs, but in place where I am right now, doesn't look like that. Cause for that isn't only 'we don't want foreigners', but also economic slump.
I'd say, as soon as School sees value in FT, they'll do anything for FT's employment.
Newly employed School's rep. is dealing with my ex-employer and FEB in that Province. Rep isn't concern only about Rec. letter, which we must get, but she wants to know about everything concerning my ex-RP sponsor, as 'did you receive all pay', 'how was your apartment there' and similar. She behaves like my lawyer, LOL.
Chinese teacher walks with me to the Hospital (dentist) in the city, and after I had doubts about the first recommended dentist, he got two new ones, where I can choose about the treatment. He waits with me till the dentist doesn't let me go...LOL.
In the end, if School won't be successful with getting new FEC, I'll probably have to leave, but I can't say, they don't make an effort I would stay here.
And students get under my skin too with daily questions at lunch and dinner on Campus: 'How long will you stay at our School....?'.
Private establishment with some 2500 students, big part of them living on the Campus.
'add-it': am getting new FEC in a week or two. School is looking for two more FTs. If anybody cares, PM me.
you know every time this topic comes up, or for that matter when somebody on this board posts about all their problems teaching as a non native speaker I think about the many many people I know who teach in big cities as non natives and never have a single issue.
I know a russian girl teaching at the same kindergarten in Shanghai for 3.5 yrs now. Has to do visa runs but doesn't lose sleep over it. Tons more who change jobs every couple terms but always manage to have gainful employment. It's all just having a good attitude. These people take care of business and always seem to do fine.
According to the globaltimes.cn, we might see a brand new and towards the non-native English language teachers more lenient visa change policy soon.
Source: http://globaltimes.cn/content/986144.shtml
ironman510:
Hopefully that also means we don't need to go back home and get doc's authenticated.
