Accomodation and working hours for teachers

[nitropuppy]

I'm thinking of moving to the Chengdu region. (couple years) I'm qualified to teach english. But, I also have business interests in the States. I'll need the time to manage this.

Also, I can afford my own apartment. I'm accustomed to "Western "living. So, I will not want to live "on campus". I toured a new apartment complex in Chengdu last winter. It was modern with "Western" styling. I would like to live there. In addition, my wife lives in Chengdu. I will want to set up a new apartment for us.

I was hoping somebody would have some information for me. My questions are this;

A. Do schools or universities, insist on teachers living on campus? Or can a foreigner rent his own place? Any restrictions??

B. I have read some of the horror stories about schools piling on the hours. Then threatening police or worse, if you don't comply.. I don't care if they they nickel and dime me on salary issues. I'm not teaching for the money. The "Z" visa will help me stay in country. And I feel it's important to give something back to the community. But, I don't want to get trapped into working numerous hours. Can I get a teaching contract that stipulates (concretely) that I will only work 10-15 hours a week? How rare are part time teaching jobs?

Thanks for any insight you could share.

[wushijiao]

Do schools or universities, insist on teachers living on campus?

No. You can rent your own place. It should be fairly easy.

Can I get a teaching contract that stipulates (concretely) that I will only work 10-15 hours a week? How rare are part time teaching jobs?

Most contracts are for 18-20 hours per week. Your best bet might be to work at a public university teaching spoken English. They won't nickel and dime you, and they usually have a lot of experience dealing with and helping foreigners. Also, if you teach spoken English at a public university, you can arrange part-time jobs on the side easily.

The whole key to not getting ripped off is getting numerous refrences from current/past teachers. It'd even be worth your money to give a current teacher or two a call before you sign a contract.

[mr.stinky]

your wife is already living in chengdu. what is her citizenship, and would you qualify

for a family member visa?

[nitropuppy]

In answer to

....your wife is already living in chengdu. what is her citizenship, and would you qualify

for a family member visa?

My fiancée is living in Chengdu. She works in Guangzhou, but her residency is in Chengdu. From what I have read, I can't marry her until I can show possession of the residence permit.(Part of the prerequisite paperwork) Of course, I realize that marriage to her would entitle me to the residency permit. But, I must first get the proper visa in order to stay in country and get the permit.

Ultimately, I would just like to go there, marry her, spend two years and learn her language and culture. I don't need to work but it seems this is the only way to get a six or twelve month visa. Once I have the visa, I can apply for the residence permit. Once I have that, I can marry her. Once I marry her, I can apply for family member status and visa. This seems to be the only order of the way I can accomplish my goals.

Am I correct in my understanding of things here? I was told I can't get the residence permit on a tourist visa. Without that, I can't marry her.It's almost a catch-22.

If somebody know different, please tell me.

[mr.stinky]

you can get a residence permit on a student visa. i don't know (YET!) about converting to

a family member visa. that's not online for another six months or so.

one possible problem, for me at least; i don't know whether it will be possible to change

type of visa without leaving the country. for now, though, i still have 11 months on my

current residence permit, and can apparently extend as many times as i like.

http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/marriage_in_china.html

[johnd]

I don't think you need a residence permit to get married if your fiancee is Chinese.I was here on a tourist visa when I got married. Mr. Stinky's link says:

if both parties are foreigners, one side should present a Chinese residence permit

And what's this family member visa, is it something new?

[mr.stinky]

that us embassy link could be out of date. i've read that china no longer, or maybe

never did, certifies marriages between two foreigners.

try these (law dated 1983): http://www.86148.com/englishlaw/shownews.asp?id=358

http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/OLS/chnlaw/t206055.htm

still current law according to: http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/marriage_in_china.html

this one is fresher: http://houston.china-consulate.org/visa/english/marriage/jh.htm#aoss

new stuff here: http://www.weddingchannel.com/travel/buildArticle.action?assetUID=80834&c=80834&s=105&t=13&p=1523&l=82374

ohhh..." If both you and your spouse-to-be are foreigners, you will need to present a Chinese residence permit. The American partner to a marriage in China will need to submit a current passport and a "certification of marriageability" which can be prepared at the Embassy on the basis of an affidavit in which the American citizen swears before a Consul that he or she is currently legally eligible to marry."