Want to teach in China? It is a wonderful international addittion to your resume and if you are single without a student loan to repay (or other debts) you will surely have a blast and see the best tourist sites in the world. But look before you leap, because China is famous for ripping off foreign visitors whether you are a tourist or decide to work here as an expat employee. Sadly it is not the Chinese government doing the cheating, but fellow-foreigners who evade the long arm of the law from their homeland authorities. http://www.opnlttr.com/letter/300-china-job-scams-target-expat-foreign-e...
The scams range from unpaid overtime, having fake taxes deducted from your pay, to being sold fake documents you were not told you can get for free, and even being extorted and skimmed by your own China job recruiter. But there are seven questions you can ask your recruiter that will shield you from 99% of the scam in less than 15 minutes. And this protection is free. Just be direct with your China job agent/recruiter (if you decided to use one) and ask him or her the following:
1) What is your SAIC business license number?
2) What is the SAIC business license number of my new employer?
3) What is your complete legal Chinese name? (Ask for a scan of their national ID card if they are Chinese and a passport scan if they are foreigners)
4.) Is my true employer the same party that is issuing my invitation letter for a Z Visa (work visa)?
5.) Can you send me a signed copy of my contract to review BEFORE I come to China?
6.) Will this employer provide free housing or a housing allowance, and if so how much?
7.) What is the SAFEA registration number of this employer so I know they are legally authorized to hire foreigners since I do not want to get arrested, jailed, and deported?
Agents who are running scams and plan to cheat you will refuse to give you this information. If they have nothing to hide they will provide it. If they change the subject or tell you that you do not need this information, you will probably find them blacklisted here:
http://reddit.com/r/chinascamcentral
http://www.chinaforeignteachersunion.com
http://scam.com/showthread.php?704467-UPDAT...orters-etc-BLACKLIST
http://eslwatch.info/forum/china
http://www.chinascambusters.com
https://reddit.com/r/tefl_blacklist/
If they answer the above seven questions to your satisfaction, and the information checks out, Congratulations! You may have found yourself an honest recruiter, and yes, there are about two dozen honest recruiters operating in China who are properly licensed and accountable. They are the minority and not easy to find. *** If you are not provided a Z visa BEFORE you leave your homeland, you are dealing with a fraudulent recruiter and/or school. *** One American ESL teacher named K. Cox told her story at ESLCafe about how she was swindled out of 66% of her salary by the lady Rebecca T. who owns China ESL. By asking the above questions and reading this here, you will never be caught with your pants down: https://www.scam.com/showthread.php?642187-The-Silent-Scam-Cheats-China-...
