By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: Forgoing the Residence Permit option. What else is there?
Dear comrades
Having resigned from my current job, I am now left wondering what to do employment wise. I have two options, and I would love to hear your advice or anecdotes.
Should I be seduced by a residence permit by choosing another job that binds me to my employer for a year? Or should I go it alone and freelance? I am hesitant to commit, and then be unhappy for several months. But I am also not aufait with the various visa options available to me, a South African. Can one freelance and sponsor their own visa? And if so is it expensive, requiring many visa hops?
The freedom of being self-sponsored sure sounds alluring. But what other visa options exist for commitment-burned workers?
Your insights are always appreciated.
7 years 18 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
Only way you can legally freelance is by setting up a WFOE (Wholly foreign Owned company) and employing yourself. This gets you a work permit and resident permit.
You could freelance on a business or tourist visa but this is, of course, illegal.
I've never heard of anyone freelancing and being given a visa to do it.
You might be able to get a tourist visa or something, but you'd be working illegally with all the risks and hassle that go with that.
I really think your best option is to find a job that doesn't suck.
Only way you can legally freelance is by setting up a WFOE (Wholly foreign Owned company) and employing yourself. This gets you a work permit and resident permit.
You could freelance on a business or tourist visa but this is, of course, illegal.
I hate to break it to you, I've got friends who are from South Africa and they don't get visa's easily , after you've had a few tourist or biz visa's (M Visa) than you notice that they will refuse to give you another visa. Yeah it isn't fair that Americans get 10 year Business visa's and you don't, but life doesn't work fairly.
So listen to that tiny voice in your head: Keep your job, keep your resident permit going, F**k it if you're not happy. Grow up man, there are days I hate my job but I've been going to that job for years. You're man, and a man is meant to work, not worry about his emotions or if he's unhappy.
Shining_brow:
I may be completely wrong, but I suspect that KATEt is, in fact, not a man!
Englteachted:
Here's why it's fair. America and China negotiated mutual 10 year Business visas (Chinese doing business in the US get 10 year business visas also).
Englteachted:
If the OP is a girl then there are plenty of other options available, she can be 'talent' in a club. I have no idea how they get visas but I met a couple.
As Hots said - you can have your own company and employ yourself (and thus, get your RP)... but what would you freelance as, that the Chinese government will allow?
If you're going to teach, you're really going to need to set up your own school, and that's going to be both expensive, and extremely problematic.. it won't be worth the nightmare of bureaucracy you'd go through! If you're still looking at teaching, you need to have premises you have rented, and the crap that you'll have to deal with (landlords who suddenly increase rent, building inspections where you'll be needing hongbaos to get approvals, etc etc). You will NOT be allowed to work out of your apartment! (though, of course, so many do!)
OTOH, if you go outside of the limits (scope) of your business description, you would then be illegal.
Your other option may be pretty simple - get a job at a university. Fully legal RP, and most things are taken care of. For most universities, you're just there to sing, dance, and play movies - and then they all pass! (unless, that is, you are a 'real' teacher with integrity...) Sure, lower pay - but you'll have a lot more freedom (and, if you're in an ok city, you can do a lot of tutoring on the side and make a nice bit of money. The university will also pay you during holidays!!! (something training schools won't).
Some universities have international co-operation partners. Those jobs can pay higher.But, you['ll need to do a bit more work (though, usually only a maximum of 24 teaching hours per week).
There is no 'option'
Englteachted:
I like how the others think this guy has money to start their own paper business.
Get a wife and freelance on a resident permit. Still illegal....but most of the time turned a blind eye to.
There is no option.
Your employer has the right to issue a new visa to you for 30 days if they want. If they do not, they will want your alien permit book to cancel it.
Suck it up. Finish your current job. Get a release letter and a good reference. Learn from your experience. Do.some research on your next school.
Your other options aren't great.
If you marry a Chinese girl make sure she is a teacher. It will be easier to do your teaching secretly.
