Ruth
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« Reply #525 on: April 28, 2012, 01:32:28 PM » |
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Yeowtch!  Do stop by and let them scan it, but can't advise letting them keep your papers. If trouble arises, get your Consulate involved right away! Maybe mentioning that you want to notify your Consulate will bring resolution...? It's not that serious. They don't want to keep it forever and ever. They just needed a day or two to take it to  (I don't know) to get it scanned. I was supposed to get it back today. Poor student intern working in the FAO office is trying so hard. She had to tell me that it wasn't ready this morning. The police officer (apparently only one guy can do this - you know how that is) was too busy due to the Big 20th Anniversary Celebration happening on campus today. I know. That's why I suggested waiting until after the holiday. He's the one who insisted it had to be done Right Away. Anyway, I got my passport back after being quite firm about it. It never left campus. I have to take it back in after the holiday. |
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If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat.
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Raoul F. Duke
Lovable Rogue
Despot in Absentia
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Posts: 9577
"Be specific if you order the mushrooms!"
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« Reply #526 on: April 28, 2012, 07:51:13 PM » |
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Wow, Clos...that's one ugly spot. Sounds like a new city is a good idea...this is one of the worst stories I've heard. Are you really sure you want to stay in Zhengzhou?  Otherwise, there may be nothing you or the Consulate can do. It sounds like the Zhengzhou guv has it set up all nice and legal-like, and the Consulate can't do anything about Chinese law.  Another option would be to just not take the FEC. If you have a Residence Permit, that's all you really need anyway unless you're needing to send money home frequently.  |
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"Vicodin and dumplings...it's a great combination!" (Anthony Bourdain, in Harbin)
"Here in China we aren't just teaching...
we're building the corrupt, incompetent, baijiu-swilling buttheads of tomorrow!" (Raoul F. Duke)
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xwarrior
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« Reply #527 on: April 29, 2012, 08:01:00 AM » |
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Clos: First time I have heard that a TEFL is required for an FEC. My thinking is that if you have: 1. a degree 2. 2 years of work experience you should be able to get an FEC. I am not sure if your consulate can help, but anything is worth a shot. A call to SAFEA in Beijing could 'clarify' policy in Zhengzhou. I am not sure what kind of visa your school has in mind when looking at HK for a solution. The only appropriate visa they could issue is a Zvisa - and that would just put you back in Zhengzhou facing an application for an FEC from the same department. Another option would be to just not take the FEC. If you have a Residence Permit, that's all you really need anyway unless you're needing to send money home frequently. I think you need the FEC to be eligible for a Residence Permit.  |
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I have my standards. They may be low, but I have them.
- Bette Midler
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Clos
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« Reply #528 on: April 29, 2012, 09:19:45 AM » |
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Clos:
First time I have heard that a TEFL is required for an FEC.
My thinking is that if you have:
1. a degree
2. 2 years of work experience
you should be able to get an FEC.
I am not sure if your consulate can help, but anything is worth a shot. A call to SAFEA in Beijing could 'clarify' policy in Zhengzhou.
I am not sure what kind of visa your school has in mind when looking at HK for a solution. The only appropriate visa they could issue is a Zvisa - and that would just put you back in Zhengzhou facing an application for an FEC from the same department.
No, the TEFL is not required for a FEC/Z-Visa like the office is saying. They're telling me the money is to pay for the class to get a TEFL. When asked if having a TEFL already would be sufficient, they said no. There will be no real TEFL coming out of this. It's a bribe, plain and simple. The government office wants 4500 RMB to do their damn job and process my paperwork. I have the degree and work experience, and even my poorly translated CV shows this. All the foreigners at my school and 4 other foreigners I had dinner with (from Luoyang Normal University) all came here on tourist visa and flew to HK to get a Z-visa. This seems to be a pretty regular process, not to mention my school pays 100% of the costs. I guess my question is how can I get a friggin government office to do their job without being hassled for a ridiculous bribe? The only thing I can think of is threatening with the US Embassy and the negative attention (bad for face?) I could drum up. I really do not wish to leave Henan |
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El Macho
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东北人都是活雷锋!
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« Reply #529 on: April 29, 2012, 02:26:07 PM » |
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Your consulate can't help. Get in touch with SAFEA. Start with the provincial bureau and if they won't help call Beijing. Of course, that would be the nuclear option. If they burn the ass of folks in the local gvt, poop could roll downhill to you.
Can you post the name (and/or website) of the TEFL course they are saying is required? SAFEA have introduced a TEFL course that is held sporadically in Beijing and with even less frequency in other cities around China; I wonder if it's that one. If it isn't, then when you call the SAFEA offices you should ask them why Officer X, Badge #XYZ in Zhengzhou says that you must take a course from Z school. Ask if Z school is the official SAFEA course.
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« Last Edit: April 30, 2012, 01:42:50 PM by El Macho »
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Fozzwaldus
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« Reply #530 on: April 30, 2012, 02:17:26 AM » |
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Something similar happened to me a long long time ago in Golmud, Qinghai province...
I thought that this sort of BS was fading away in modern China, especially in a big(ish) city like Zhengzhou.
Don't pay the bribe. F-'em. Scumbags.
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两只老外， 两只老外，跑得快，跑得快，
一个是老酒鬼，一个是老色鬼，真奇怪， 真奇怪
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NATO
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« Reply #531 on: April 30, 2012, 03:38:30 AM » |
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Yeah thems some shady goings on. I think El Macho's advice is sound - try and get the name and officer number of those involved then go to SAFEA.
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Rin
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« Reply #532 on: May 02, 2012, 02:59:24 AM » |
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Hi all,
I am in Hebei and was told last year, when I renewed my contract, if I wanted to renew again this year I had to get a TEFL. Though I was free to choose the company, and didn't have to pay any bribe.
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Raoul F. Duke
Lovable Rogue
Despot in Absentia
Gender:
Posts: 9577
"Be specific if you order the mushrooms!"
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« Reply #533 on: May 02, 2012, 03:04:29 AM » |
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Yep...BA and TEFL isn't universally required yet, but seems to be a growing trend.  |
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"Vicodin and dumplings...it's a great combination!" (Anthony Bourdain, in Harbin)
"Here in China we aren't just teaching...
we're building the corrupt, incompetent, baijiu-swilling buttheads of tomorrow!" (Raoul F. Duke)
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Rin
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Posts: 42
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« Reply #534 on: May 02, 2012, 12:37:31 PM » |
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I don't have a BA and that was difficult to get around last year! Mainly because the recruiter I had used the year before had used fake documents, so it was on record that I had a BA.. I didn't know they had done this til I was applying for a job myself without a recruiter. |
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old34
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« Reply #535 on: May 02, 2012, 12:43:53 PM » |
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A roundabout way of affirming that: "Yes, a B.A. is pretty much required these days."
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Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad. - B. O'Driscoll
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Rin
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« Reply #536 on: May 02, 2012, 12:50:22 PM » |
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Yeah, I think I will be ok if i stay with my current employer.. Well, I hope so!
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Clos
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« Reply #537 on: May 03, 2012, 08:34:53 AM » |
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Thank you to everyone that gave advice.
A very wise person sent me a few PM's to help me get this mess sorted out. Most of it was just a communication problem between a group of Chinese people not wishing to lose face with each other.
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cruisemonkey
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You could be next.
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« Reply #538 on: May 03, 2012, 09:32:38 AM » |
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A very wise person sent me a few PM's to help me get this mess sorted out. Most of it was just a communication problem between a group of Chinese people not wishing to lose face with each other.
I'm glad it all worked out. I got my FEC & RP in Zhengzhou... no problem (but I have a TESOL Certificate). This thread made me realize something - I would never council anyone to do anything illegal that might get them: fired, detained, fined and deported; but in the entire process from job application to receiving the FEC & RP after arrival, I never showed 'originals' of my documents (except the 'Physical Examination Record For Foreigner' form... which the Consulate wanted to issue the Z visa) to anyone. Getting the 'Working Permit' and 'Letter of Invitation' was all done with scanned copies of of my sheepskin and TESOL. I was sorely tempted to save myself $327.00 and have a fake, 'Dr's. office' stamp made and forge the PREFF. I would have been so easy. To get a Korean work visa, you have to show originals of everything. They also have to be apostiled (or verified by a Korean Embassy/Consulate if your country is not party to the Apostile Treaty) and notarized. What a world of difference! |
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The Koreans once gave me five minutes notice - I didn't know what to do with the extra time.
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Nolefan
Lord of Avalon
Benevolent Despot
Gender:
Posts: 1965
八九不离十
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« Reply #539 on: May 03, 2012, 11:42:27 AM » |
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lucky.. in Beijing, it's been all originals or nothing for a few years already, especially when working in normal companies. And they're not joking about this at all..
no original degree = no papers..
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alors régressons fatalement, eternellement. Des débutants, avec la peur comme exutoire à l'ignorance et Alzheimer en prof d'histoire de nos enfances! - Random food, music and geek tales from the 'Jing: http://beijingdaze.com |
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