Ask Headmaster Ken

Dear Ken,

I've been working at a private English school in Shanghai for almost 2 years, and I will be renewing my contract shortly. I have been offered a promotion which I'm very excited about.

However I have recently discovered something about my visa. Although I possess a Z visa, under occupation, I am not listed as a teacher but as a manager (under the same company). After finding this out my coworkers and I checked out all the other teachers' visas and we found that none of the teachers that worked had a teaching visa. In some cases the Z-visa was registered to another company. Because of the expo I have heard rumors of police going to schools and checking things out. Do you see this as a big problem or is it all depending on the relationships of my boss?

Also I am assuming that the reason that we are not hired as teachers is because the school is unable to do so. What is required for a school to acquire the SAFEA accreditation so we could be hired as teachers? And is there anything I can do to get this type of visa without leaving this school?

Thanks,

Ben

First, I assume you are talking about your FRP, not your Z Visa. A Z visa is only good for 30 days from your entry into China.

Your school has chosen to do an end-run around the proper visa procedure. Obviously, your school has the means to allow this.

The only problem with these type of arrangements is that they work fine - until they suddenly don't. An administrator is changed, a school employee leaves, the police are ordered to crack down, etc.

One of the above happens and suddenly your, "trust-me, no-problems" visa becomes a "Sorry, you have to go; now" situation.

Your school needs to have been open a year before applying for a SAFEA license to hire foreigners. There is quite a bit of paperwork and inspections in order to get the license. Sometimes, it can take several years.

Only you can decide if the situation is tolerable. Changing schools only for this situation could put you in a position where you are working legally, but the employer is abusive in other ways.

If you are engaged or married to a Chinese woman, that makes the possibly negative consequences much more difficult for you. You could face being barred reentry into China for several years for this. That is looking at a worst case scenario.

So, only you know your personal situation and how much risk is tolerable.

I wish you well.