User profile: Mark0625

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Forums > Study > X Visa and Part-time Job

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.

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Forums > Study > Another Yarn in the In-China Z to X Visa Change

I'm on a Z visa (although I guess I should say I came in on that visa and have a Residency Permit based upon it). I wish to attend college and change to an X1, and get a new Residency Permit based on that.

I have heard to contact the school I'm interested in, and I'm waiting on that now.

I have never heard that it would be OK to change my Residency Status (since it seems that it's the Residency Permit, not the visa itself that matters) unless I leave the country, Hong Kong sounding like the best bet for me. Then I would have to apply for an L visa, reenter China, go to my school in Kunming, and have the L visa changed into an X1, whereupon I would be issued my Residency Permit?

That seems to be the case, but it's quite odd. Why can't I just apply for an X1 visa in Hong Kong? After all, I entered China on a Z visa- why would the X be different?

Another question- I'm living in Guangzhou now. My Residency Permit expires March 15. So until that day am I free to go in and out China until I get new Residency Permit or until this one expires? Couldn't I just go to Hong Kong, apply for the X visa, go back home to GZ, then pick it up later? I heard that the Residency Permit is 'set in brick' and only expires upon either condition described above. Then I wouldn't have to wait in Hong Kong spending tons of HK dollars or go back into the PRC with butterflies in my stomach because all I would have is a tourist visa.

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Forums > Study > X Visa and Part-time Job

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!

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Average Monthly Salary in Kunming?

I think the top end figures here are way overblown. I'll be attending University in Kunming from Sept., and expect to work part time to supplement savings I've built up from 7500/month (for six 80 min. classes a week) College English teaching position I have in Guangzhou. Granted, my apartment and utilities are free so that cuts out a lot of expense. I live on 1800 a month, and that's about the cheapest I can reasonably do. I don't date or go out, but I want for nothing as all I'm doing is studying for the HSK anyway.

Last year however I was dating, taking trips to Yunnan, etc. and still saved about 6000 USD. This year I'll take a trip to Japan to see my kids but expect to roll into Kunming with at least 10000 USD (well, I hope!) leftover after tuition and whatever housing arrangements I make.
As far as I know, teaching English in public institutions in China was never considered a lucrative deal and I don't think it is now (private schools are a different story- be prepared to put in the hours though). But like anywhere else in the world actually living costs can be surprisingly affordable if necessity dictates it. China may be attracting more and more foreigners these days with attractive salary packages, but this is a recent phenomena I think.

Finally, I sometimes worry when I hear that the lowest median incomes in China are catching up with mine! I heard on an NPR clip for ex. that 'poor' people in Shanghai were 'only' making 300-500 USD a month! Actually, that's a pretty good wage. I think there is some obfuscating going on here, but never mind. I am in fact genuinely happy to see the standard of living rising in China and why should it bother me if my wages are humble? China is still a great, inexpensive and fascinating place to live.

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I hardly ever believe statistics like these. If you compare mean annual income a family with only one child (not two or three!) would have to be earning at the very leas 2 m. yuan to provide for the education of the child, meet a mortgage, and pay for other 'necessities' like an automobile. I tend to think stats like this are a matter of civic pride and reflect the lifestyles of Nuevo Riche, not the masses.

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