It is probably HR dragging their feet. Email the head and just mention that you are waiting for a contract. Don't be surprised if the HR has no idea what is happening, it is a common theme in China.....can't blame them, impossible to keep up with beaureacracy

That is rubbish Sid. Apple will absorb you into one of their more local offices first to determine your worth. They have no reason to offer new hires anything extra, unless they are recruiting a senior member from a competitor.

Multinationals will not offer new hires expat packages unless they are elite in the first place, either professionally or genetically.

No Z visa paperwork, then no go for me.

The school needs to be above board in the process. The contract and visa procedure is different from state to state. Beijing beingnthe most -, Shanghai the least...maybe.

What you signed may not actually be the legally binding contract, depending on which state. It might have been the amendment, which holds equal weight, only if signed with the Chinese contract.

Visas, depends on which state. But if you are going into China with anything other than a Z visa, find another job.

My advice is to get HR to tell you the entire process. If they are getting you a Z visa, they have already gone through the formalities to hire you, and you should be ok. They don't want to be scrutinized for giving out Z visas to people not employed by the school. The contract, well, they shouldn't change it on you, but it is the Chinese version that is legal, and the Chinglish version which may be vague is not.

At the end of the day, a Chinese contract is a starting point for negotiations, which is beneficial for those that can do so with tact.

Changping is ok, but will get boring quickly. You can only negotiate higher if you have a lot of experience. My advice is to check the contracted time, it is probably not a whole year

India trains are really bad. It's not so hard to book through agents, but you need to really really plan ahead.

I second what shadow jack said. Glad to be leaving this place

Shoot me an email. I have questions for you. Thanks

Obviously I never apply for work from this email.

Rice tripled in price over the 5 years I was there. Then again, village vs city prices and quality accounted for some difference.

I'm considering a post in China again, since I'm tired of putting up with crap and making a pittance, and living in a dump. I would rather be well compensated and put up with the same. At least the food was better in China.

There are two main areas for the international schools, but I assume you are talking about jalan am pang since the rent is low. Then again, you can find stuff for a fraction of the cost if you knew how and are Muslim.

The main problem with the public transport is that it is not convenient. The trains don't go to many places, the busses are slow (think granny driving, then subtract an extra 20kph), taxis are amongst the worst in the world for price gouging. Having a motorcycle is a death wish at the speeds people drive in this country, bicycles are infinitely worse (exaggeration as not many people are stupid enough to ride their bikes). The only logical conclusion is to buy a car. Which is basically the same as nearly every adult in the country with the means to do so.

There is this whole currency exchange thing. Most schools tend to fix salaries in local currency, hence vary with time. Search states salaries in USD. Schools are also lazy to change their search profile...probably.

A certain school I have learned to hate pays in local currency, but states an overly inflated salary in USD based on an old old exchange rate.

I've had schools pay up front and some wait for you to arrive. I personally think it is easier first time for the school to reimburse you on arrival because they will reimburse your visa, relocation etc all in one go. There is also the issue that you can personally make sure your whole family is on the flight. My poor daughter...almost had to leave her in Amsterdam. Fortunately I was annoying enough for them to throw someone else off the flight instead. Wasn't really the school's fault, but easier to complain if they charged your credit card.

I would only wait a week for a conditional offer to materialize. But I would still search as though I didn't have it.

You can continue paying your loan. I will continue buying property without a mortgage.

I'm happy, you're happy, great.

For India, good package.

Psyguy, their facilities are quite good from what I've gather. It's a matter of willingness to invest. They are in Mumbai, which basically means they can buy whatever, and it will be cheap.

Parents are extremely happy with the education that their kids are getting there.

Come on Psyguy, some poo is definitely worse than others.

I agree with Higgsboson.

Governments are happy to bail out financial fraudsters that send them bribes, so why not teachers that have been shafted financially for years. The only real fraud is by paying your taxes on your full income and not deducting the hell out of it with 'related' expenses.

Money is not real anyway.