You may scoff at this, but I am a Catholic monk and helping others is why we do what we do.

I don't believe there are many readers scoffing at your revelation. I think you are an unsung hero!

A few years ago I had helped a disgraced American pastor come to China as an FT. That pastor had gotten himself into trouble by allowing desperadoes who had lied to him about not having pedophile offenses to live in a trailer parked on land that belonged to his church. His local congregation turned on him for that. He had also committed adultery, in a moment of weakness caused by his problems with his church, with a female member of his congregation. He had confessed to his wife, but nonetheless his wife divorced him.
Now he continues to be very happy In China, teaching English and being wed to a Chinese teacher of English. I'm sure he's sensible enough not to preach religion to his students.

Well Roxie, I guess we shouldn't trust anyone :-) Let's just go online and read what everyone else wrote and somehow try to derive truth from that. Bait and switch is something you absolutely should watch out for if you sign for a Z visa before coming to China. Of course, if you go through one of our people, that will likely never happen as we have gotten rid of the recruiters hurting teachers over the years.

You may scoff at this, but I am a Catholic monk and helping others is why we do what we do.

China ESL is like a minefield. There are deceitful recruiters, agents and direct employers, all of whom dupe foreigners. Even SAFEA is a cheat! Why haven't they increased the end of term travel allowance from 1,100 RMB over a period of more than two decades? These days it should be around 6,000 RMB. Terming that 1,100 a travel allowance is outrageous!

All I'm saying is that due diligence is necessary in all respects of possible future employment as an FT in China. Nowt wrong with saying that, given all the horror stories associated with teaching English in China, and the crappy Z visa regulations! The contract and its associated appendix can be signed by both parties, and stamped by the Chinese side BEFORE you get your Z visa in your homeland! That'll stop 'bait and switch" tactics being applied to foreigners abroad seeking teaching jobs in China.

I'd never scoff at you being a monk, though I am a non-believer in religions of all kinds, as well as opposed to meditation.

Maybe you are unaware of Dr Turnoi being a former Anglican priest! You two have indeed got something in common! You and he should try harder to get along with each other in public on the board!

It is illegal to work without a Z visa in China. I absolutely said that, but if you think you know better and want to take things completely out of context and confuse everyone…

I would recommend a tourist visa as a safety precaution.

I would recommend that you contact employers directly prior to arriving in China. These employers will generally be superior to those represented by agents.

At the very least, choose an agency that does not advise you to break Chinese law.

You do realise that it is not illegal to resign from a job right? Whilst, it is very, very illegal to work on a tourist visa.

Most people who find new jobs can easily switch their residence permit to their new company, although shitty company may try to withhold documents. However, many teachers can probably tell you from experience: Nobody f**ks with a public uni.

If you work at a private training centre or any other employer (like Golden Staffing) that talks of threats to hold you to 'a year of slavery,' simply find a new job at a public university.

Most public universities are aware that these places don't tend to have the most professional of management and if they try to slander you through bad feedback, etc, they probably won't give a s**t about what they have to say. They'll give you a proper job interview for a reason and are perfectly capable of determining whether you are a suitable teacher or not.

If they try to withhold documents to prevent you switching your visa over, many a public university will happily threaten to get the government involved; therefore nobody f**ks with them.

The only downside is that many university contracts have a contract breach penalty. However, not all universities do.

Don't waste your time with tourist visas and trips to Hong Kong!

Absolutely correct: Never trust any recruiters, do your homework first!

It seems that many Chinese recruiters are toiling badly to attract the right kind of foreigner to teach in China this hiring season. When I I say the right kind, I mean those who are legally entitled to teach here.

If you check out recent job ads on 'the greasy spoon', you will see a recruiter you despise has placed an ad on there to try to attract new foreigners to fill some specific vacancies at a couple of his client schools. Can you identify who it is?

I will summarize by stating that jobseekers should not trust recruiters nor agents nor employers. I'm sure you will agree that these days a jobseeker should only enter China on a Z visa, and with the contract already countersigned and in his possession after negotiation via the Internet while he was in his homeland. This will avoid bait and switch tactics being employed by dishonest employers/agents/recruiters. We should be fully aware that direct employers should not be trusted either!