[Z Visa] - Degree Requirement vs Experience

I have a wee bit of a confusing situation, and Raoul's Saloon is the perfect place for it!

I taught at a School in Shenzhen from August 2006 to January 2007. I didn't have a Degree or any teaching experience, other than my genuine excitement at having the chance to try it out. I had a Z Visa issued (converted) from a Tourist Visa, as well as a Health Certificate and Residence Permit.

It was a one-year contract, but (and here's the twist) I was fired 6 months in. I didn't do anything wrong or get into any kind of trouble with the law, etc. A lot of other Teachers lost their jobs shortly after me (some with Degrees, too). My Z Visa was cancelled, so I went to Hong Kong and bought an F Visa, which was valid for 6 months. I didn't actually work during those 6 months; I rented an Apartment and just 'hid away'.

So my Passport goes like this:

• L Visa (Expired)
• Z Visa (Cancelled)
• F Visa (Expired)

Is it just me being paranoid, or does that look a little bit suspicious? I'm planning on going back to China before or just after Christmas (depending on funds and jobs) and I'd hate for them to start digging into everything with questions.

Another thing... I still have no Degree. I hate to be 'that guy' but, at the same time, I know I'm not an asshole and I know I am good at what I do. Maybe still a little inexperienced, but I was getting there before it all crashed, and burst into flames.

That, and the current Visa problems that exist at the moment, are the biggest downer of it all right now. Is it hopeless even trying, in my situation? I'd hate for that to be the case...

I noticed a lot of Job Ads put emphasis on a preference towards actual experience, which provides some relief, but does this overrule the need for a Degree? I'm guessing not. 'Cause how would I get previous experience in China, without one?

What to do? What to think? How much Baijiu to drink?

Fanks.

You don't need a degree to teach in China. You will find A teaching job without a degree. You might not get the best jobs or the best wages, but well, you didn't do the work so that's your fault no one else's. I don't have a degree and managed to get a job in China. Your experience will be valuable though.

As for your immigration record I don't think it should be an issue. You got an F after your Z so I don't see why there should be a problem.

You don't need a degree to teach in China. You will find A teaching job without a degree. You might not get the best jobs or the best wages, but well, you didn't do the work so that's your fault no one else's. I don't have a degree and managed to get a job in China. Your experience will be valuable though.

As for your immigration record I don't think it should be an issue. You got an F after your Z so I don't see why there should be a problem.

I know I can find a job without a Degree, but the Z Visa requirements specifically mention the need for one. Are you saying this is not always the case? If so, do you know of the exact exceptions which allows someone without a Degree to obtain a Z Visa? As I said above, I have a faint hope that experience would be sufficient enough.

Regarding the Visa, I'm just concerned that my year-long Z Visa has a big 'Cancelled' stamp on it, followed by me obtaining an F Visa in Hong Kong. Maybe it's nothing, you're probably right. 

it's believed that October 17th is when the real long term visa rules will come out, right now no one really knows what it will be like, or how it will be.
Presently it's Easy to get a 30 day L visa extension In China at many big city PSB offices, in HongKong Easy to get the 90 day double 30day entry L or F visa through agents.
Difficult to get a long term L or F visa Anywhere...
The Z visa is possible & not difficult for those providing All required paperwork & they Do require every document asked for, including degrees.

Unless you're from one of the 31 countries that are blacklisted, (that list is in one of the visa threads).

Good chance you'll be able to find a school that will hire you for the 2009 spring term without a degree, or pick up part time work at training centers But...
it will be a school that can't get a degreed body to work for them for many possible reasons, most not being good.

Most likely, the bigger cities will be difficult to get a teaching job that provides Z visa / residence permit without a degree for now on, but this is China...

no worry about past visas, the canceled one was only That visa, not your passport, as long as the Last visa you got was good you'll be able to get an L or F visa easy. `Probably.
Worry about finding a decent school that will hire you And be able to get your residence permit without a real degree.

Best for you to wait till October to know for sure what the new rules are...

Yeh, I guess nobody really knows right now. I was hoping to find a job in Chongqing, but I think that pretty much qualifies as a 'Big City'.

I was actually more interested in teaching at a Public Middle/High School. I taught ages 6-12 before, but had a few classes with older students which I enjoyed much more. I know they generally pay less than a private School, but I prefer the Pro's and Con's of going public.

Blacklisted countries that have to go home and get a visa, can't be renewed in China nor HK. Or so they say. I filched this from another website, not official source.


Afghanistan, Tunisia, Algeria, Bangladesh ,Congo, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Mali, Libya, South Africa, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kirghistan, Malaysia, Philippines, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Nepal, Pakistan, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Turkey, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Syria. Kosovo passport holders have also reported problems.

Is this the same list?


On the official govt website some years ago I saw that 2 years experience was equivalent to a degree, but that was long ago, 3 years at least.

See, Nobody did know.

I'm from the UK, so it's all good from that perspective.

On the official govt website some years ago I saw that 2 years experience was equivalent to a degree, but that was long ago, 3 years at least.

That's interesting, but I'd still need to get more experience, which leaves me back at square one. haha.

I know that what happens at a language mill that I unhappily worked for.  I have a degree, but I know that most of their FT's did not.  They would enter on an L visa, the school would mint a new, fresh-smelling diploma for them, and off everything would go to the authorities.  At the time, the visa change could be done locally, so the FT's may not have even known that's how they "got away without a degree."  I have to assume this practice is still in use, at least in some places.

If you have the letter of invite from the school when you apply for your visa, then you can apply for the Z visa. Degree status doesn't matter because you have the job offer.

UncleScoobs,if you are really concerned about having no degree or certificate, you can do a TEFL course online. It will cost you 200-300USD (depending on how many hours you choose to study). It is a legitimate course and will take you only 1 or 2 weeks especially if you have already had a teaching experience. I know a few folks who have done it.
http://www.i-to-i.com/tefl/online-tefl/
You get your REAL certificate posted to you.

You can also do a TEFL course in Beijing. I did and had enjoyed doing it.

But, a TEFL certificate/diploma is not a University diploma and the current rules require a University diploma to get a Z visa/Foreign Expert Cert.

I'll look into that Cheekygal, thanks.

I can probably do it for much less at home.

Actually, no, I just remembered I live in the UK and everything is expensive. ...

But the exchange rate is in your favour.  US$200 = 100 quid

Since no one seems to know how to spot them, you could just run off a transcript and diploma of your choice and go for it.

But it would be immoral. But since degrees aren't important, that won't matter.