Hi,

I have been working as a teacher in Sichuan province for the last 6 months. I was not happy with the school I was working in, so the company offered me a position in a new school. A friend from the UK traveled out here and was offered a job in the same school as me. My friend has got a Z visa. Unfortunately the said company have messed us around so much that we have had to break the contract. We both still want to work in China but the previous company say this is impossible for my friend as they have already started the process for obtaining a residence permit for him and other companies will not be able to employ him.

Any thoughts on how this can be resolved?

You have to get a letter from your employer releasing you from your contract obligations. Without said letter, another company will not be able to obtain an FEC which is required for legally working in China. And your company is correct. If the paper work is being completed for your friend, he'll have to stay with them at least until it is finished. seeing that he arrived on a "z" visa, he has to be employed by the inviting company to have his residence permit and FEC issued.

My advice, finish your contracts and get your release letters then. Whatever problems you've been experiencing will most likely exist in any other school you may work for. It is the nature of the business, and this is China afterall.

Ok, thanks for your reply. I have seen in various other posts that people have suggested leaving the country and getting a new z visa. Would that work in this case?