<P> As of February 2017 the legal process for processing and awarding Z - visas in China has become considerably more strict . Applicants now require a criminal background check, 120 hour of more TEFL certification and copy of a bachelor degree from a Western University . Before the Chinese employer can issue an invitation letter to work in China all of these aforementioned documents are required to be notarised and legalised in the candidates home country and then verified in China after physically posting to your Chinese employer . This procedure is in addition to the existing visa process and it can take approximately 3 months from being given a job offer to having all the relevant permits to enter and start working in China . </P> <P> Hong Kong was once a British Crown colony, and English - language education is taken seriously there, as demonstrated by government - funded research. (11) Hong Kong was handed back to the People's Republic of China in 1997 and became known as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). </P> <P> Teaching English in Hong Kong has become quite a business . Many English teaching institutions have since opened . Big private names include Headstart Group Limited and English for Asia . Native English speakers may quickly find a job teaching English, although foreigners should be aware of shady companies who often pull tricks on their employees . A qualification in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) has become a pre-requisite to enter the Native English - speaking Teacher scheme (NET scheme), which is funded by the HKSAR government and provides the ultimate career destination for an English teacher . On top of attractive salary, housing is provided with all the other fringe benefits including full holiday pay, provident fund and health insurance . Housing or rental support is the biggest incentive to foreign teachers as housing cost in Hong Kong is ranked one of the highest in the world . </P> <P> Once a teacher is on the NET scheme, they can move from school to school after completion of, normally, a two - year contract . Therefore, a teacher with a strong track record has a lot of opportunities to land an ideal position at an ideal school . While many foreigners think coming to Hong Kong with a short online TEFL qualification is sufficient, both public and private schools are looking for TEFL qualifications listed with the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Vocational and Academic Qualifications and Hong Kong Education Bureau . Acquiring one of those qualifications gives a foreigner a definite advantage to securing a preferred teaching position at a formal school, whether private or public, kindergarten, primary or secondary . When selecting NET, schools will not normally consider learning - centre experience due to the differences in class size, continuity of student group, level of classroom management skills and sophistication in teaching pedagogy required between schools and centres . </P>

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