I do not know for a fact, but I suspect that many mainland PSBs are closely scrutinizing Hong Kong generated Z visas. It is no secret that HK has seen visa-generation process as a profit making enterprise for local agents. And HK-Mainland relations are, shall we say, currently stressed.

A Z visa DOES NOT guarantee you an FEC or Residency Permit. That decision is made by the provincial immigration police.

Once again: in 2016 if you leave your homeland to teach in China without a job offer and a Z visa in hand, you best be prepared emotionally and financially to be unemployed, deported, or worse.

We all seem to get treated differently in China, don't we?? And I did understand that in order to get a working residence permit you'd have to re-enter the country with a Z visa. However, I took a domestic flight to Shanxi a couple of days ago and have been wined and dined by a university hopeful to recruit me. I should say that they bought my ticket and are paying for my hotel. I brought up my unwillingness to 'go fetch a z visa' and they said that all that rigmarole wouldn't apply to me and that they would see to my, residence permit, expert's certificate, and would pay for my medical. Could it be that Shanxi have their own rules?

I am quite impressed so far with Shanxi, the air seems to put a spring in your stride and the weather hasn't been enervating at all, even had some rain, unlike where I currently work in China. The icing on the cake, Silverboy, Turnoi and other like-minded FT,' is that the pink rooms seem helpful and value for money. I have another couple of days left in this province; if only to return to my present school, finish my contract and then come back here.