Guess the schools didn't pay off the bribes in time.

Get a Z visa folks... seriously. Nothing other than a Z is worth working on.

Honestly, the teachers knew what they were doing; they weren't defenseless innocents in it all.   I am not excusing the slimeball schools at play here--I understand how the scum who run them work, how they court teachers who don't even qualify for a work visa, string others along on the promise of one that is always just one month off, both of whom are are easier groups to manipulate than a legal worker who can take any real grievance to the PSB (for whatever that would get them)--but, that does not remove responsibility from the people who are deliberately scoffing at China's visa laws. Work visas are for jobs, tourist visas are for scenery, student visas are for coursework, and business visas are for internships, exc--none of this is impenetrable or groundbreaking stuff. I don't like it when people pretend that the visa & immigration regulations in my own country are optional little trifles (and then act like my country is monstrous in those few occasions when it does care to enforce its own laws), so I can't exactly empathize with people who treat the laws of other countries like they are similar trifles. National sovereignty isn't a game.

Now that I'm off my soapbox--the naive types that these "schools" (training centers aimed at children, by the looks of the article) recruit need to realize that if a "school" is cheap enough to not sponsor a work visa, they are also too damn cheap to bribe the authorities away forever. And, as the teachers in that article learned, when the bribe payments get too far & few between--it's not the people who pay the bribes who get the heat. It's the illegal teachers...and the schools generally get slapped on the wrist/made to recruit new naive types. Is it fair? Life's not fair, particularly in China. Is someone on an illegal visa really in a position to debate the finer points of how they are being punished for their boss' unwillingness to keep the police happy with any interested Chinese official? No. Are any Chinese officials even interested in what an illegal foreigner has to say? Not if the bribes have slowed to a trickle.

And, that is why you go legal.

Answer of the day above!

Rachel: I think the schools pay the bribes still, but it simply keeps the owners out of jail. Recently, the PSB still targets the foreigners.

It appears to be the same with the foreign companies. They pay the bribes, but still get targetted.

With the economy worsening, expect targetting of foreigners to increase drastically.

okay let's make this kind of scenario.what happens if the teacher has a legal visa to work in China but the school is not allowed to hire him what happens to the foreign teacher?

Shazam! Who would have known.....that's sad. Really really sad!

every country has laws about legal requirements for work: i.e. the correct visa. only an idiot would think that they are exempt from obeying the law. What WILL be interesting is the way illegal workers are treated. Most countries don't feel the need to publicize the apprehension and deportation of illegal workers. so there MAY be an element of racism in the way it is handled in China

The main issue here is that the schools are unwilling/unable to provide a working visa. There are many regulations in place to open a school that is legally allowed to provide the correct paperwork to foregn workers, there are however many schools open. It is very similar to prostitution, illegal but in plain sight. 

There needs to be a better overhaul of the visa system here in China to reflect the number of illegal teachers that are genuine. I am a clear example, I don't have a degree because I dropped out of my major (Sport Science) after suffering a major injury that stopped my studies. I have completed the TEFL (not just an online one) and have taught English for many years and have married to a Chinese yet I am still not eligible to work here.

If you consider the number of illegal teachers here who are native speakers and would have no problem paying taxes then the government could easily be bringing in a lot more money from taxes. I for one would be happy to contribute in return for the security of being here legally.

In my opinion the working visa should be easier to obtain and should be personal rather than linked to the school/business you work for, there are a lot of shady operations out there and if you get tied into one it can be a hassle to get out. 

Ironman...why are you so obsessed with illegal teachers?  Are you working with the PSB?

They are only here because the demand is so high for them and as long as there is demand there will be supply.  If China was really serious they would simply shut down all these schools and eliminate demand.

Obviously in a perfect world everyone should do things by the book but why are some people here so hostile to teachers without proper visas?

I have friends here in SZ that are great teachers and most have proper degrees and certificates but can not get the proper visa because the school can't get it.  Obviously they would all prefer to be legal.

For the record I am NOT a teacher.

I tell you that's Nicholas Cage!

Ironman seems to have an agenda. 

You talk about the illegal teachers on the wrong visa and you talk about the legal workers. So here is the problem:

Everyone in china can get a working visa if you pay the money. You can pay an agency to give you a fake degree and you get your working permit in the city, just fly home and get your Z visa.

That doesnt make it better....

The regulations of the Z visa are not as strict as mentioned, if you have a good company or school they will arrange the working visa no matter if you fulfill the requirements.

I just don't get it, the same thing pops up again and again! And this is not the first time i have ranted about this. If you work illegally, your going to get caught!

A little prior preparation and research before embarking on an international job hunt is absolutely necessary! Respect the local culture and its laws, and all will be fine.