(Haiku Science Academy) So that you can make a checklist for yourself to get going on the right path, I am sharing with you the basic documents you will need.

Summary

REQUIREMENTS ( teacher)

• Bachelor’s degree / B.A..
• A TESOL / TEFL Certification.
• The ability to obtain a clean background check.
• Available to live abroad for at least 12 months.
• In order to meet China’s visa regulations, applicants must be citizens from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa.

It is with these documents that they will determine whether to write you an offer letter or not. Without this, you cannot get a work visa.

Your Bachelor’s Degree, the authentication of the degree, the TESOL / TEFL Certificate, and Background check all need to be presented to your potential employer.

Hakeem@HypnoAthletics.com

My experience comes from someone who was born in the United States of America and therefore, I am a United States citizen.

In other countries there are similarities. For anyone who is just getting started, I am able to help sort out all of the details. Also, I will be publishing specifics about the six other countries listed above after I receive replies from their official agencies.

Getting Started

Passport

Since you will be traveling to another country, you will need to apply, pay for and obtain a passport.

I applied for my passport on March 22nd of 2015 and when I picked it up, it is dated that it was issued on April 20th, 2015. So just about 4 weeks total wait time.

I needed to submit my birth certificate and show two forms of I.D., which were my California State I.D. and my Social Security Card.

I applied for it at a post office in Glendale, California where they provide an information sheet that informs you about everything you need.

I am sure this is the way it is anywhere that you apply for a passport.

Diploma / Degree

One of the things that is required of all the schools you will apply to anywhere in the world is that you have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher.

Degree Authentication

In order to get a Work Visa, also known as a Z Visa, your degree needs to be authenticated by the Chinese Consulate and submitted to your potential employer for verification.

TEFL / TESOL Certificate

TEFL is an acronym for Teaching English as a Foreign Language, and TESOL abbreviates Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

There are other certifications with different acronyms but they all are credentials for teaching English that many employers find favorable in addition to a degree.

F.B.I. / D.O.D. Background Check

You will have to submit your fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s, Department of Justice in order to get a background check which is required by your employer.

There are many places that will do this, you will just have to do a search. It took about 2 months for me to get mine back, so do it ASAP.

Also, note that the background check must not be dated any earlier than 12 months before the date you start to work.

Work / Z Visa

There are many types of visas like the tourist or L Visa. The one you will need to legally work in China is the work visa or Z Visa.

Your potential employer will have to write an offer letter, or letter of intent to hire and mail this to you so that you can present this at the Chinese Consulate when you are applying for your visa.

* Your Bachelor’s Degree, the authentication of the degree, the TESOL / TEFL Certificate, and Background check all need to be presented to your potential employer.

It is with these documents that they will determine whether to write you an offer letter or not. Without this, you cannot get a work visa.

I do believe I have covered most of the basics. If you are someone in the know and see that I have left something out, please let me know by email: Hakeem@HypnoAthletics.com