Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ernment now stipulates that teachers must have a bachelor's degree and two years of teach-
ing experience. You will of course find smaller schools or institutions willing to overlook
these laws, but in this case you'll probably find yourself constantly running the visa gaunt-
let and without any form of protection should your school one day decide to eighty-six you
on your pay. Companies that operate this way nearly always come with problems so are
best avoided.
Before you start your visa process, you'll need to get regulation passport photos. Some
places will specify white background, others blue, but usually as long as it's one of these
you'll be fine. Be sure to get at least a dozen copies and keep them in your wallet—it's
amazing how many places and processes require a passport photo as you set your life up in
Beijing.
If you are to apply for any kind of work-related visa, you will also need to prepare a cer-
tificate showing that you have no criminal conviction, which should be issued by the public
security or judicial authorities from your country or place of permanent residence. This will
need to be translated into Chinese by an official translation company and then authenticated
by a Chinese consulate. To add to your criminal surveillance, you'll also be required to give
fingerprints at some point down the track.
Once in Beijing, your visa and residence issues will be taken care of at the Exit-Entry
Administration of Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau. This is located near Lama
Temple and Dongzhimen subway stations, at the northeast corner of the Second Ring Road.
Unfortunately, it can be hellishly busy. If possible, get there before the doors open at
8:30am. If you have questions, this is not always the most helpful place to reach out to,
and its website and help line will probably frustrate more than alleviate. In cases where you
have visa problems, you'll often find that visa services can do magic.
Children and Visas
Every person, babies included, needs a visa to get into and out of China. They also need a
passport to get out of and back into the United States and Canada. If your child, for some
reason, does not have a passport, then the mother or father can have a “+1” added to her or
his visa. The documents required for the visa application are just as needed for adults.
When children travel with one parent, China does not require any permission letter from
the other parent; however, when they travel alone, a permission letter from the parents will
be needed. Ideally, the letter should include: the child's name and date of birth; the specific
details of the trip, if the letter is only being used for one trip; an expiry date; the full name,
address, and phone number of the parent; a notarized signature of the parent. It's recom-
