BUCKLAND GROUP SCAM - YOU MUST READ THIS!!!

IS OWEN BUCKLAND and his Yangshuo based BUCKLAND GROUP running a scam that puts foreign teachers' into illegal employment or has he been unfortunate in hiring a few pampered and ungrateful individuals who write unjustified complaints about his activities? Last time I checked, teachers are well trained and intelligent professionals who are accustomed to handling very tough situations so to suggest the latter is an insult. In my experience the former is definitely true and no-one should trust their fate to Owen Buckland.

I agreed to work for the Buckland Group and signed a contract on the understanding that legal employment visas would be obtained on my behalf. For 6 months I liaised with Ping Buckland by email because, despite multiple promises, I was not sent the documentation required to obtain an employment visa.

At one point Owen had me convinced that I only needed a "L" tourist visa which I had to obtain at my own expense. After making further enquiries I starting pushing him for a proper employment/working visa. He then convinced me that he would supply it so I spent more money getting medicals etc as required only to find that he was determined to offer me only an "F" business visa. I challenged him and he offered to accept MY termination of the contract which of course meant I was supposed to pay him a penalty fee!

You too could spend 6 months asking questions that will be ignored or getting responses that are often contradictory or making phone calls that will get you no closer to working legally in China but I don't recommend it. You too might be referred to people who have worked for and/or knew Owen Buckland personally him who give many assurances but listen closely for the details re "standard practices" and the "China way" will most likely only increase your concerns. Owen MAY be a lovely/great guy and all online complaints MAY have been lodged by petty/immature/spoiled people who just happened to be able to complete stringent educational programs but couldn't cope with China etc there is something very definitely wrong with the way he does business.

Standard practices include taking passports so visa applications can be processed and introductions are made to a local policeman who claims to have the authority to issue working permits but does not.

Chinese consular staff insist that anyone who wants to work in China MUST hold a "Z" employment visa which can only be processed if original (not scanned) official supporting documents are attached to applications lodged outside of China. People entering on China on a tourist "L" and eventually able to get the original documentation for a "Z" visa MUST exit China as a tourist, apply for the visa and re-enter as a worker. "F" visas are only for those engaged business and are NOT able to be used for working, even for short term contracts as Owen claims. There are no specially licenced organisations who are allowed to employ a special category of persons (ie foreign teachers of English on short term contracts).

DO your own research and DON'T believe 'convincing' but un authoritive statements from his staff or friends just because you want it to be true. Don't believe the attacks made on those who have the courage to speak out and try to save others from a lot of grief.

No-one should be so keen/desperate to work in China that they would risk their personal liberty for the sake of money - you'll get precious little of that working for Owen and risk detention and deportation to boot!

I have forwarded damning correspondence to Chinese and Australian authorities and encourage anyone else who has had bad experiences to do the same. I hope that an investigation will close this trap door forever and save more gullible/ill informed teachers the grief and worry I have experienced.

For doing this I have guaranteed that I will not receive the penalty fee he promised when he last emailed and angrily insisted that his workers are not doing so illegally...but given alll the above, I wasn't expecting it anyway.

Remember CONMEN are only successful IF they are CONVINCING and Owen apparently is...until pushed.