I have a friend with a problem. I'm not sure to what extent he recognises the problem, and that's another problem. He's over 60 and does not have a university degree, so getting a residence permit and working here legally seems out of the question. Working illegally is possible, but not a good idea and very risky.
His plan is to open a Western restaurant and let that company get his visas, but that deal is not coming together. He needs Chinese partners and, so far, has not found them. At one point, he had some capital to put into it, but living expenses and travel for visas have eaten that. As I see it, he's obviously well on his way to disaster. He's borrowed money from several of his friends to cover expenses, and is not doing well at paying it back; the disaster is already having side effects.
He still thinks the restaurant is possible; I really doubt that. I've been telling him for a year or more he needs to work on Plan B. He hasn't, and as far as I know does not currently have a Plan B.
My question here is: What is Plan B? He wants to stay in China, but short of marriage I see no likely method for that.
Elsewhere in Asia? Not Korea; they want a degree, and they ask for transcripts. Not China, because of the age restriction. Where? Would Taiwan or Thailand work? Cambodia, ...?
He is an intelligent fellow and an experienced teacher. He has some sort of TEFL cert, an online one that one employer wanted everyone to get. Does anyone know where he can get legal work?