Part-time work is permitted under the X1 visa but only under the approval of the academic institution the student is attending and application for a residence permit with an annotation of the job's particulars...
(see GoKunming article on visa changes, 2013)
Well, this wouldn't be bad at all if it weren't for the clause about applying for a residence permit that is annotated with the job's particulars. Does that then mean that once you're issued a residency permit you cannot get a different or new job without reapplying for a whole new residency permit, regardless of whether your institution approves of it or not? Who pray tell can fix up nice part-time teaching at the same time he's applying for studies at a university without having set foot in Kunming, or only there for a couple of weeks? Pretty slick individual to pull that off!
And when I asked at the PSB about this new rule, they knew nothing about it. Do let us know if you know of anyone who has managed to get this.
Well, it's perfectly fine to study on a Z visa of course, and the requirements for a full time job to get a Z visa aren't terribly stringent (I work 12 40 m classes a week). However if you are on a Z you find that trying to manage your work becomes at odds with your primary purpose of study.
I'd much rather be here officially for study and able to slip in and out of a part-time job such as an IELTS coach or something.
I guess I'll just save up and see what happens.
Yeah, I read about this and it's unfortunate, since it seems almost impossible to apply in reality. I'm going to try though, so we'll see.
Well, the sky is big and Beijing is far away...
It seems that immigration is not really looking out for the needs of students, and schools are indifferent to immigration. In time the law needs to change.
It would be ideal, for both the scholar and for China, and the rest of the world for that matter, if researchers could at least earn a stipend from work related to their area of study and not be weighted down by some English job teaching the upper middle class (not that that's a bad job, but it's probably not relevant to most master's degrees in Yunnan, right or wrong?).
I am definitely planning on moving to Kunming and by hook or by crook and enrolling at YUN as a linguist. God knows that there are scholars that Yunnan really needs, and they include linguists, botanists, ecologists, engineers, and anthropologists. I'm also determined midway through to get an X1 RP with an 'annotated' seal approving a part-time job. Heck, I even hope to be working for the university in some form or fashion (besides teaching English) at some point, however limited that may be (hey, somebody has to do IPA mapping!). To be honest (and oh so humble), it's rather a waste of my talents to continue on with EFL- I've already done that for 20 years! Not much further to go with that. Of course I will if I have to.
It often seems to me that the Kunming government has the tendency to forget that it is capital to a province that is world famous in scholarly quarters everywhere for its diversity in just about everything. I think they should work much harder to preserve it. Yunnan looks to Greater China as a model of growth when it should be looking inward towards developing more sustainable eco-friendly industries. OK, blah blah I know but isn't this all about why we want to promote education in Yunnan?
@Mark
Let us know if you manage to get the visa enabling you to work and the process. Thanks!
Sure, but from the sound of things I'll definitely be arriving in Kunming with a Z and not an X. Sounds like you need to get to know some people before you'll get a study visa you can work on.
