Please spend more time in the classroom. Then move into a coaching position and THEN consider whether or not you may be an affective administrator. Four yrs is not nearly enough time to understand the classroom. Spend some time coaching to get your feet wet to understand what leadership is like and coping with the demands of teachers, students and families. There's way more to admin then what is assumed and we're surrounded by too many jr admin who have been given roles they are grossly underprepared for.

You do not need to do paper copies and wait months. If you go to the FBI site and scroll down you will find the section on FBI Approved Channelers. Use them. You will find an office in your city no problem. You go in, they know exactly what you need. 1st you register through the channeler. They send you a code and you download their application. Make an appt, go in, get live scanned, wait a few days. Prints approved. Print your document, send into the school. Easiest process. If you are near ajor cities you will have no problem finding and office. https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/ident ... ubmissions

Wow because I have no idea how hiring works and I wasn't involved at all in the process.
Thanks for letting me know psyguy. You are the expert.

China info is not exactly true. Numerous teachers in Shanghai, over 60, who have not been here for an extended amount of time, are losing their jobs as there IS an age restriction and the work permits/visas are no longer going to be obtained in the typical way as there is scoring system now.
Be very careful where you apply and do your research. Our counselor is losing her job after 1 contract year and the school new this may be an issue and should have said something before bringing her on.

psyguy you really are clueless sometimes. Others who are actually working and living in these areas know what is going on.

Shanghai is not messing around with the age change. There is a new foreign hire expert rating system. It will affect more than just teachers.
We had numerous challenges with getting spring hires here on time for August orientation. The process to get their work permits was not easy. One candidate had his issued the last week of July. Expedited visa fees later, he made it on time buying a ticket on a Friday to arrive the following Monday.

SO if you are 60 or over, your chances of getting a position at a legitimate school in and around Shanghai and other major cities in China will be very limited. It's a bummer, schools will lose some incredible staff.

Shanghai just sent out changes. All our teachers over 60 are NOT guaranteed a visa next year and were given an option not to renew because of it. The school cannot guarantee they'll be able to obtain a work permit for the 2017-2018 year. They're all in a wait and see mode

Helen is correct, do not come in on the tourist visa route unless you have it in writing they're paying for the visa, the travel expenses to get to Hong Kong and your stay there and whether or not those are "personal" days.

Sorry can't help with a service rec, I was able to handle the visa app on my own at the consulate. Hopefully the new company will be more helpful. The process is stressful enough.

Where in China will you be moving to?

I hate when people make assumptions...
Some people choose their school for the location, some choose it for the package and disregard the location and make everyone and themselves miserable, some people just bounce around period.

Saying someone chooses China because they're uneducated about the conditions...well... I may be safer here then flynt Michigan where they've knowingly poisoned the water and insist it's safe or anywhere in Oklahoma where they've fracked the land to the point they have major earthquakes ANd contaminated water...but I digress.

SA and ISS fail to properly recruit applicants with ECE credentials, period. They focus solely on k-12 and forget that many international schools have ECE programs, some thriving and some wanting to thrive but cannot without decent teachers. An education focusing on ECE and equal credentials are no less valuable then k-12. Without excellent ECE programs forming the foundations in education you have animals in your school age years... Perhaps one day people will actually have respect for their ECE teachers.

We filled all positions for K & up right away...so pollution wasn't an issue. The issue now is ISS and SA not providing qualified applicants for ECE programs. They do little to advertise and recruit potential candidates. I have suggested we go out on our own and direct market to ECE teacher education programs in the US, Canada, etc

Don't wait around for a call or email. Hopefully you sent a follow up thank you post interview. You can send another one if you were promised a date for a response, but keep it direct and professional. After that move on with other options. If you wait for that one call you will be missing out on other opportunities. Admin are busy at this point and if they haven't hired out of Bangkok or London they're prepping to head to the states for the job fairs in Feb.
Sure it seems rude, but it's not uncommon. Just stay professional with any contacts you've made and then move forward.

all those other fees are to be expected as penalty from the schools. I know if I break contract I may have to pay back my recruiting fee (and still get blackballed) and pay my relocation fee, airfare, and shipping, possibly even deposits for rent, etc.
Better make a good choice or suck it up and do your job, even if it's hard.

Hey I know psy guy mentioned CA, but do look at UCLA's program. They have 3 diff induction programs, and you may be eligible. It's not cheap, but you can do it while living out of state or out of country. A colleague is doing it now in N Carolina and me from China.

What age/subjects do you teach?

Familiar or employed?
Aren't tiers made up anyway and a marketing tool?

My pay is higher than the advertised and my PD fund is great as is on campus PD. Great housing and other bennies. Hours are no diff from other spots. Parents and staff are happy, buildings are purpose built curriculum is good, if not great. Always depends on the quality of the teacher anyway.

What's the issue?

@Senator how about she doesn't have to justify to you or ANYONE why she is counting down days. You choose to work where you do and apparently love it. Good for you! I guess I am a "real" teacher as I have taught at both private and public, whatever that means.

Counting down mine too as are all of the teachers at our school. We're tired, we're ready for summer. We've worked hard this entire year, we've gone above and beyond and have put our heart and souls into it whether we're at a great school or one of the many that just stink because of a myriad of reasons. We're counting down to vacation like ANY professional in ANY field does.
T minus 8.