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Q: Problems with referance letter!
My last employer (in Guangxi province) has left me a bad reference letter. I had numerous problems with them and mis-representation (not actually working in the city I was hired to work in, leaving me in a typhoon with no warning and when the power went out in my apartment for 2 weeks was told that it wasn't their problem). Yea, bad situation...
Now I have worked for the last year in Shanghai at a school but under my wife's visa. My wife does not want to continue working this year, and even though they would like to pursue a Z visa for me they cannot because of the prior bad reference.
Is there any way around this? The school would like to give me a good reference but I never OFFICIALLY worked for them so they can't. It seems like I can't ever get employment in China again, because no place can hire me with my current letter, and no place can give me a new one without officially hiring me.
Are there any arbitration boards I can go to so I can present my side of the story? Are their any ways around the reference letter?
Any help would be GREATLY appriciated.
8 years 49 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
Quoting the OP:
"Now I have worked for the last year in Shanghai at a school but under my wife's visa. My wife does not want to continue working this year, and even though they would like to pursue a Z visa for me they cannot because of the prior bad reference."
How did you manage to do that?
You need a Z visa to work legally in China. And the Z visa needs to be in your name.
Of course, you can get a residence permit in your passport based upon your spouse, but you are not allowed to work on it. So, to be asking for a reference from a company you were working for illegally... maybe a bit dodgy.
Or do you mean this:
You worked legally on a Z visa in Guangxi provence for a year, but your FEC and RP were actually issued in a different town.
You left that job, then worked illegally for a year in Shanghai.
Now another company want to transfer your FEC to them, but you can't because the company in Guangxi gave you a bad release letter.
I see no problem there because your FEC will have expired. Just do the whole Visa process again. I'm pretty sure you can't transfer an expired FEC/ working RP. You need a current work RP to transfer, otherwise it's Z visa time.
Because if my take on your post is correct, what you really want to do is convert a spousal RP to a working RP. Can't be done as far as I am aware.
You don't need to show (bad) Reference/Recommendation letter to the new employer. You must have Release letter and FEC Cancelation Cert. for new employer to extend Residence permit and get new FEC.
I'm not sure what exactly is written on Release letter, but as I understand RL state that FT doesn't have any obligations toward issuer/previous employer.
Try to reason with SAFEA (Foreign Expert Bureau) in Guanxi. Ask them for help and advice.
Enter 'SAFEA' in search above for address and contact numbers of Provincial Gov. headquarters, and dial them up. They'll might tell you why new employer can't get new Working permit for you.
If you'll dial Gov., please reply to the Board on impressions about Gov.'s efficiency.
Karma101:
Tell us the truth, do you get paid by SAFEA?
How would SAFEA help? I mean, a reference letter shows your pervious performance, they can’t really help to find a job or ask a school to change the reference letter, can they?
On the contrary, if SAFEA believe the bad review written on the letter they would probably ask the poor guy to leave.
icnif77:
Why would I tell you about my pay? Are you a priest?
Don't bother me! I'm working on Paki's tourist visa at the moment! LOL
It isn't that Reference letter count at new employer.
There are two letters issued by School:
- Recommendation letter
- Release letter
I assume OP means 'Recommendation letter' by 'Reference letter'. One can show Recommendation letter to the new employer or not.
However, Release letter is a must show for new Working permit, if I understand matters correct.
School in Fujian dismissed me (for unrelated/no cause, what was permitted by Contract), and refused to issue Release letter and FEC Cancel Cert.
SAFEA reasoned with them, and told me School said, I owe them 2m housing (1400 Rmb). SAFEA suggested I pay 500 Rmb, and after I did, I received RL.
New employer was able to get new WP in 2014 with both docs.
hi2u:
@karma: I would expect anyone with good advice to always repeat the same advice, not change the advice to something that's not true.
icnif77:
@hi2: 'don't bother with karme'. What is the substance of his reply? 'How they (Gov.) can help?'
Nohow, if you'll hang around the Board with BS comments.
'Dial them up, and they'll tell you (the OP), he can't get new WP for this or that reason, or they'll reason with the School, so OP will be able to get new WP.'
Quoting the OP:
"Now I have worked for the last year in Shanghai at a school but under my wife's visa. My wife does not want to continue working this year, and even though they would like to pursue a Z visa for me they cannot because of the prior bad reference."
How did you manage to do that?
You need a Z visa to work legally in China. And the Z visa needs to be in your name.
Of course, you can get a residence permit in your passport based upon your spouse, but you are not allowed to work on it. So, to be asking for a reference from a company you were working for illegally... maybe a bit dodgy.
Or do you mean this:
You worked legally on a Z visa in Guangxi provence for a year, but your FEC and RP were actually issued in a different town.
You left that job, then worked illegally for a year in Shanghai.
Now another company want to transfer your FEC to them, but you can't because the company in Guangxi gave you a bad release letter.
I see no problem there because your FEC will have expired. Just do the whole Visa process again. I'm pretty sure you can't transfer an expired FEC/ working RP. You need a current work RP to transfer, otherwise it's Z visa time.
Because if my take on your post is correct, what you really want to do is convert a spousal RP to a working RP. Can't be done as far as I am aware.
Don't call SAFEA! I once had a problem that my employer agreed to provide water for my apartment, one time the deliveryman was sick and I dejectedly had to buy a bottle of water myself. I felt hopeless.
I went to the president of the school and shouted in a loud voice "Hey! You need to reimburse this water!" He just shook his head, coldly and ushered me into the hallway. In an instant he was gone. I was left standing alone in the deserted hallway.
Full of hope, I called the local SAFEA office and they eagerly declared they would come and help, "Don't worry! We're going to come and help!" they said in a helpful fashion.
However on their arrival their tone changed "This is highly irregular." they said in a changed tone. Instead of helping me they took the side of the school. The school fired me at once as punishment and then SAFEA wouldn't even talk to me, they said I embarassed myself enough for one lifetime and I should just leave town.
"Bummer!" I impotently yelled in a loud voice.
But that's why you should never trust SAFEA, they are worse than the fish & wildlife bureau.
