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[Spaghetti]

I mentioned above that the postiton i'd been arranging in Shenyang looked to have fallen through as I didn't hear back from the FAO after asking him how my situation looked in regards to aquiring a FE certificate and Resident Permit. I was contacted again last week and after apologising for the lack of correspondance, he explained that he'd been away for the holiday period and just arrived back in Shenyang. (Why he didn't tell me he'd be out of reach before then I don't know).

Get used to this. It is very common for coworkers and supervisors NOT to tell you when they are going away on business or vacation. As a foreign teacher you will always be the last to know. Sometimes you will have to ask your students in order to get the answers your supervisors should have given you, or to receive advance notice on anything. It is part and parcel for life as a foreign teacher in China.

I am glad to hear that the holiday was the reason they didn't get back to you, as many of us had predicted. So, all hope is not lost.

He said that due to the relationship the school has with the visa office, there shouldn't be a problem, and in applying for the residents permit and letter of invitation, my file has  passed the first process, and may take another two weeks.

That is not unusual. Going by the information you have provided in your posts, nothing too out of the ordinary appears to be happening between you and your future employer.

Hopefully this means that things are finally moving along, but I still have my doubts.

Something that always applies to China related issues: prepare for the worst but hope for the best.

[Lotus Eater]

The FAO says it normally takes a good two months to do all of the processing etc to have a new teacher come.  So... start other processes and see what happens.

[Li Fu]

Hi CM and everyone. This is my first post here as well, though I have worked in China for over 3 years. My understanding is that once you get your Z visa in your home country ( 3rd countries are no longer permitted), then you have 30 days to enter China (even though it has 000 days on the visa stamp.) Once you enter China, you should register with your local police (address etc), and then with the Public Security Bureau ( Alien Entry /Exit) with all your paperwork. They will decide if a Diploma or a Degree is what they deem acceptable. After their approval, your Z visa is cancelled in your passport, and replaced with a residency permit, and a work permit is issued to your employer. Well now it's Christmas, so Merry Christmas everyone, and I hope you got your job CM!

[Leon Purvis]

FYI...we're seeing a new development that you should be aware of.

It's coming to light that the corrupt, incompetent, baijiu-swilling buttheads who issue Work Permits (aka "Foreign Expert Certificates") are now, rather suddenly, refusing to grant Work Permits as teachers to anyone who does not have a college/university degree...TESOL certifications etc. notwithstanding. This apparently includes renewals as well as new Permits.

Okay, Duke, are you saying that even though I sent the Powerz That Bee a digital copy of my degree and was issued a Z visa, I will be required to show my original when I arrive? The last time I worked in China,  I brought my degrees (all authenticated) but no one asked to see them.

[Nolefan]

Okay, Duke, are you saying that even though I sent the Powerz That Bee a digital copy of my degree and was issued a Z visa, I will be required to show my original when I arrive? The last time I worked in China,  I brought my degrees (all authenticated) but no one asked to see them.

yup. When mine was renewed this year, I had to go and show them the original copy.. first time they ever made such a request in 5 years.

[Lotus Eater]

This might depend on how long you have been with a place.  I haven't had to show my degrees apart from the very first interview with a new placement.

[Schnerby]

I did honours last year, so I don't actually have the degree, and it won't be arriving at my place (in Aus) until March.

I have an official letter from uni, so that will have to do.

[Raoul F. Duke]

There may indeed be local variations, but expect to have to produce an actual document...photocopies generally won't cut it in these situations. Most universities will produce an official completion/graduation letter on request; this is acceptable as long as it has the original school seal stamped on it.

A lot of unis will FedEx you one of these pretty quickly; you may have to fax in a signed written request first. If you're still in the process of heading over, getting it now will save you a lot of anxiety later...

[Schnerby]

It's already packed in the bag.

What would we do without the Saloon? Seems this kind of information is as readily available as the standard state secret.

[AMonk]

It's already packed in the bag.

I do hope you mean your HANDbag, or your CARRY-ON bag.....NOT the checked baggage