Visa Shakeup?

Hey everyone long time no anything.. just back from Mexico and it seems things are cooking in the Wacky Kingdom.
Can anyone deny/confirm what is happening on the visa front? There is some new way of classifying the laowei now?
Who can fill me in
Cheers and happy Easter/Pessach/Ramadan to you all 

The only fairly recent change of which I am aware is accompanying family members of a Z visa holder must now apply for an S-type visa.

Weren't you going to Korea? What happened?

There's a new points-based ranking system for working visas. And, no joke, it was introduced in selected cities April 1.

I can't immediately find an authoritative reference, but:

http://english.cctv.com/2016/09/28/VIDEUK88RFK4DyT3nIi9yRsQ160928.shtml

and

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/22/world/asia/china-work-permit-visa.html

Also:

http://www.smartshanghai.com/wire/community/shanghai-has-new-work-visa-laws-calculate-your-points-here

and

http://www.chinalawblog.com/2017/03/chinas-new-foreigner-work-permit-system-goes-national-on-april-1-have-you-checked-your-employment-contract.html

Hey cruisemonkey, yeah had an interview with Woosong but it got messy and I didn't really like the offer in the end (split schedule etc and apartment setup sounded a bit of a pain)
Ended up just going on holiday to Mexico for 6 weeks to sniff around.
Am still sniffing around, but now have hit 60 so don't fancy my chances of getting any cushy job anywhere.
Was going to volunteer but they seem to want a lot of MONEY from people to volunteer and they don't even offer you a plane ticket 
Hence my query about the new visa schtick.

Cheers CP 

Piglet,

Theoretically, they won't issue females a Z visa after they turn 55 (males 60... don't ask me why the difference) unless the employer pulls some strings/has guanxi.

Good luck,
CM

Thanks mate, I was assuming this to be the case. Oh well, "sigh". But actually I was already 55 when I was issued my first Chinese visa in 2011.