If You Are Going To China To Volunteer What Kind Of Visa Do You Need?
Posted by China Sourcing CommentatorAug 29
People are coming to China to work at a migrant school. The school is legal but privately run. They will be coming for 3-5 months. What kind of visa do they need?
What if they are given some spending money while they are there? different visa needed?
Any information would be good and if you could let me know your source that would be useful
Thanks
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Why would you come to China as a Volunteer? There are plenty of schools wanting teachers and they will pay. privately owned one will be charging big bucks for your services and you get nothing (does not seem fair) The school if legit should arrange visas for you. In fact they have to arrange them for you as you need your employer to lodge the application in China. If this is not happening then beware!
DON’T VOLUNTEER !
The private school will be charging the parents of students to teach them. They are lining their own pockets off your back if you work for free !
DON’T DO IT !
If oyur source of income is not from China, and if you are NOT getting paid, then you need a F business visa. In order to get the business visa, you will need an invitation letter and a statement that illustrates you are going to China as a volunteer and will not be renumerated for your work.
Alot of people go to China as volunteers. If they are paying you a salary, you will need a z visa. Otherwise, a F visa will be okay.. BE CLEAR ON THIS ISSUE: F VISA MEANS YOU ARE GUEST LECTURER YOU CANNOT ACCEPT SALARY.
The same visa, whether it is volunteer isn’t the issue.
Why would you want to go there to be a volunteer!?!?!?
I think Tom said it best. I usually take six weeks to a few months off each year to volunteer in China and I love it. If you want to get paid for your teaching and don’t want to do the messy search looking for schools you should go through a reputable organization based in your country.
No matter what you do, you aren’t going to get rich teaching abroad but if the school is covering your airfare lodging, food expense and (they should) provide a salary.
To answer your question, if you earn a salary, you need a z visa. In order to get z visa you need to have a 4-year college diploma. If you dont have a diploma, you wont get the z visa nor will you be able to convert a L or F visa once you are in China.
I’ve taught with both F and Z visas. F or L visa is fine as Tom said, so long as you are not getting paid a salary.. It will be hard to explain your situation to the Chinese consulate if you go there on your own as they will very likely reject your request for a visa if you tell them you are teaching, because if you tell them that, they will assume you are going to be paid and then will require you to get a z visa..
You could tell them you are going for tourism but then you are limited to between aq 30 to 90 days visa.
Good luck, the consulates are getting alot more strict better to go through a visa agent. (I have used the one Tom suggests several times.
You will need a Z Visa. You come for work, it’s not relevant if you get paid or not. Maybe you can get away with a F Visa too.