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Q: Working on a student visa?
Hey, so I know you are not supposed to work on a student visa, but how are you supposed to support yourself when going to university in China?
10 years 42 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - Other cities
type in the questions bar student visa and instead of ask select search and you will find what you need
You will have to sift through it but you will find some answers
You can work. Just be discreet about it. Language schools will offer you part-time work (and hide you in the WC when the visa cops come knocking), private tutoring in a cafe, pouring drinks or DJ-ing in an expat pub, gigging at weddings & private parties if you're a guitar player, making and selling handicrafts, etc. All sorts of stuff you can do to make a mao. Tutoring is probably your best bet.
Now, your turn. What do you think you can do to make some money?
Well, I have been teaching in China for three years, so have some experience. I just don't wanna get deported if I am found working on a student visa.. haha.
Red_Fox:
You won't get deported. Maybe a slap on the wrist and a discretionary monetary fine that the school will pay. Don't sweat it.
Rin: If you desire to play Russian roulette, be my guest. And do have fun doing it. But if you blow your brains out, do not cry afterwards.
Maybe for you working in China without a proper visa is a child's game. But for the Chinese, it is a serious one, showing a lack of respect from you to them, their laws and regulations.
And guess what ?. They are so serious about it that them just ammended the law to tighten it more to prevent working without a proper visa. It will be implemented July 1, 2013.
Those found working without proper documentation, will be arrested, taken to jail, fined (from 500 to 10,000 Rmb), and deported, and will not be allowed to return to China for a period of 5 to 10 years. And the school will face a 10,000 yuan fine too.
Now that you have the real facts, make up your mind and decide what to do. I do assure you it will not be a "slap on your wrist" at all.
Rin:
Yeah good advice, but still.. do they only expect little rich kids to come here and their parents pay for everything? Or what? How does the average person survive on a student visa?
Hulk:
I survived here for over a year without a salary. Most people studying at Chinese universities had more money than me... they simply save it / are loaded / have understanding parents.
HappyExPat:
Many other countries besides China do not allow foreign students to work while attending school on a student visa, so why are you so upset about this ?. The student visa is to study, not to work. If you do not like it, then do not come to China to study. It has nothing to do with "little rich kids". If I were you, I either accept reality, or pack my bags and go where you can do as you please. Now, that place may be a bit hard to find.
Yeah,I just read the new visa rules and am worried about this. As I already asked though, how do people support themselves? I was reading up on other countries. Apparently in Japan it is legal to work on a student visa. China just seems to make things harder and harder for us.
I don't think it is a good choice work with a student "X" visa,it is illegal ,if you happen to official check,then big problem for your future in China,so,better not.
you can choose a good company ( after graduation) which is qualified for hiring foreigners,then you can apply work "Z" visa .
Unfortunately some bad apples spoiled the bunch, it used to be that you could work up to 14 hours a week on a student visa but, when people began to abuse that law, for example: People not showing up for class and using the X visa as a Z visa and working full time, has been the problem. A X visa was relatively easier to get so now they have applied new laws to the X visa and the Z visa. On the other hand, there are still many people who do this, and with success, some do not, so when they are caught, typically they make an example out of them, just doesn't seem worth it, but again, I have a friend who used to work on a Z visa but later changed because he can work for multiple people off contract and makes about 30,000 a month by simply freelancing. Just got to go with your gut and realize the consequences if your caught.
My question still stands. If you can't work on a student visa, how are you supposed to support yourself?
icnif77:
It is the Chinese law: 'you can legally work only with Working permit, and Z --> Residence permit.
Certain Schools in China are authorized to apply for foreigner's WP, and foreigners must have BA, TEFL cert., 2 years experience in minimum.
There is no Law about 'supporting yourself'. Chinese students wish to study in USA, EU (West) must prove they have enough funds for duration of their studies in order student visa is granted.
You are working (and receiving pay) illegally.
Rin:
I'm not working. I just finished my contract( Z visa/res permit) and am going to study.
MasqueX:
In the USA, foreign students are allowed to get part-time jobs on and off campus. On campus jobs are open to anyone, whereas off-campus jobs are only allowed within certain fields. I know this as I worked in the office of foreign affairs at my university. I think if the Chinese government had a half-a-brain they would utilize the foreign students that are studying here, but of course that would require using 'HALF' their brains. As we all, Chinese government types use most of their brain to find new ways to scam cash, pay for mistresses, and other sorts of graft~
Rin:
haha, yeah, even in Japan it is legal to work on a student visa. I guess they realise that people need to earn money to live. They must be using more than half a brain in Japan :P
I think the Chinese government don't really care whether you can support yourself or not. It's a harsh truth, but considering the situation that is the most plausible explanation. In their minds, maybe you go home and then another foreigner will step in with a better financial situation.
I'll agree with Masque. It is not the Chinese government's concern whether you can support yourself or not. They simply don't care. It's your problem
You have been given sound advice, but keep asking the same thing over and over, looking for someone to agree with you. If you can't support yourself, pack up and go home, or take the risk of being deported. It's your choice how you go home.
I've already made a clear suggestion, I want to follow up by saying if you do intend to work, don't do it near your school. The area around your school is probably the most likely to look around for students that are working. It may seem strange, but find some place not in the greater metropolitan area that is not a visibly operating business and then work for them.
I really shouldn't disclose much about myself, but I will say I did a internship in Shanghai several years ago while working on my master. They put me on a student visa. The stipend I got wasn't 'satisfactory' so I found work off-campus on the weekends. What I did may seem extreme, but I took a train out of Shanghai into a smaller tier 3 city in Jiangsu and worked. I taught maths, biology, and physics to kids preparing to study abroad. The school where I worked paid the police monthly to keep them out. They actually paid the police to have an officers unemployed uncle or something just sit outside and wear a security guards outfit. It may seem strange to you, but if you follow my plan, when you are looking for work be direct and ask the boss if they're paying for protection. Just a side note, student visas don't restrict movement within China, so if you do that and a pig stops you, just say you're traveling. 
