I had a demo class at a private school in Harbin on 2th. January 2005. Next day, I was supposed to sign a contract with them. Instead of that, I was told that they can`t do anything for me, because of the new law, issued on 1st. January 2005.
According to the new law, schools were not allowed anymore to change a tourist visa ( L visa ) into a Z visa. I had to change my L visa into a F visa ( business visa ) immediately, in order to get a job.
Some Chinese provinces have a certain autonomy.
I got my F-visa changed into a Z-visa in Jiangsu province. ( very close to Shanghai ). As far as I know, only public schools can change a L-visa or a F-visa into a work visa in mainland China. A friend of mine, who came here on a L visa too, was lucky enough to find a similar public school in Xinjiang province ( in the nord-west of China ).
Now, if I want to find a new school at the end of my contract, I must look for it early enough. I am checking the new school by myself. I am talking to the other foreigners there and I am living for one or two days in a teacher`s apartment. I am not expecting a recruiter to do this for me. They are just recommending me to that school.
Some foreigners have started to be less serious.
( like Aaron Brown, who wrote on this site, that the GLV school from Zhuhai is a great place to work ).
Therefore, I prefer to spend some money and to get a job at a good school.
Good luck to everybody !