Learning Chinese - Know of any Chengdu schools??? -

> Studying, Working and Living in China > Universities and Schools
Know of any Chengdu schools???
Home New Posts

Login: Pass: Log in or register for standard view and full access.





Page 1 of 2 1 2 >






nitropuppy -

I want to live in Chengdu for a few years. I'm 46 years old and I am semi-retired. From what I
have read so far, it is difficult to get a temporary residence permit. Unless, I either teach
english or take Mandarin courses myself.
I do not have time to be a full time student or teacher. My business in the "States" will need a
certain amount of attention. Which, I can do via the internet. Should I come on a tourist visa
(multi-entry), or try to get a letter from a school and apply for a 24 month student visa?
MY QUESTIONS
1. Can anybody give me the names to any schools in Chengdu, where I could take just a few hours of
language study a week??

2. How can a foriegner obtain the temporary residence permit?

3. I plan to marry my fiancee (she is chinese) in China. But according to the U.S.Consulate
website, I need the residence permit to receive a marriage license. But another site said the
marriage itself with get me the residence permit. Chicken or the egg?? Which is it?? Which must
come first??

4. Ideally, I just want to live in Chengdu with my wife. Get to understand her culture better.
Spend a few years there, maybe buy a condo. Saw a beautiful condo/apartment complex being built in
Chengdu, when I was there in February. If a foriegner is married to a chinese citizen, can we buy
property??
I have been on a search for these answers, for about half a year. I tried to contact a handfull of
chinese lawyers and law firms in Chengdu. I wrote the U.S.Consulate in Chengdu, four times. Got
nothing back. Not one E-mail. I'm quite perplexed by the silence. I even offered the law firms a
retainer fee. Again, not even an E-mail declining the offer. Nothing.
So, if anyone could pity this frustrated, confused guy, I would truly appreciate it. Even if you
know just part of my questions, any help would be a blessing. I thank you in advance. I also want
to thank this Forum and the people who contribute. You're helping to untangle the spaghetti of
rules and regulations.



Pleco Software Learn Chinese with our Dictionaries for Palm and Pocket PC.
Learn Chinese in China Learn to speak Chinese 1MonthChinese.com -Mandarin School in China.
Chinese Textbooks Wide range, cheap, varied languages. Also Chinese cartoons, toys, gifts.
Study Chinese in Beijing Affordable Mandarin language courses at BLCU with ChinaUnipath.com.
HNHSoft Dictionary Learn Chinese on Smartphone and PDA with real person's voice.
XueXueXue IQChinese Get beyond the plateau.Take your Mandarin to a new level.
Chinese in Lijiang Short term Chinese study in a beautiful town with a focus on daily life.
MandarinTube Chinese Access to current everyday Chinese language and culture, 24/7.
Learn Chinese Homestay Chinese course, cultural activities & volunteer events in China.
Learn Chinese Online 1-on-1 instant tutoring, diverse courses, native teachers. FREE trial now!
Nihao Chinese Progam Free one-on-one Chinese lesson. Win 5-years of free lessons now!


About Ads (and how to hide them) -- Your message here









nitropuppy -

Well, I guess nobody can respond to my (apparently) very difficult questions. So, I guess I'll
respond myself. .....Sorry dude, nobody knows the answers. They are impossibly difficult to
answer. Or if somebody does know some information, they're not willing to parcel out any of that
information. Even a retainer or finders fee, can't bring you help.
So, keep looking. And if Consulates, lawyers, expats and forum sites won't help you, try
elsewhere. Just remember, it's a cold, selfish world out there. The days of the good samaritan are
gone. You're on your own.
** (note to any reader of this) This may look like self-pity. I can assure you it's not. It's born
out of frustration. I'm just incredibly blown away by the facts. Hundreds of hours searching. At
least 30 e-mails to lawyers, consulates, forums,and others. Not one e-mail back. Nothing. Can't
even buy the information. WOW!!!! I'm starting to feel like Patrick Swayze in the movie "Ghost".
Nobody can see or hear me. Maybe Whoopie can help me. Anybody know her address?
(Don't really expect an answer)










elina -

Sorry, I don’t know anything about your questions, but why not let your fiancee ask some of your
questions in the local, instead of your many times enquiries cross the country?



Quote:

Just remember, it's a cold, selfish world out there. The days of the good samaritan are gone.
You're on your own.

Please do not say that too early, I think one does get help from the strangers from time to time,
not mention from one’s friends. I can always be moved by that.

Good luck!










nitropuppy -

Thanks for your reply, elina. You at least confirmed, I'm not dead yet. Ha Ha! Yeah, I tried your
route too. Unfortunately, my fiancee is one of many chinese who is afraid to approach any
authority. She is very nervous at the thought of asking any government agency for any information.
She says she will try, but never musters the courage. Ironically, I found the chinese police to be
very polite and helpfull when I visited China this year. Ones perception is influenced by ones
historic past.
As for my comment, ..... you're right! It's a bit over reaching. This forum is a good example of
what you pointed out. Strangers do occasionally reach out and offer assistance. My comment was
intended to be slightly funny, and with a certain amount of sarcasm.
It was written in a moment of frustration, and was actually my way of saying to myself, "buck-up
soldier, don't let it get to you". So, if I've offended anybodys sensibilities, I most sincerely
appologise.










terryswift -

it doesnt seem too difficult to find some of this information atleast; ive only been through
there, but i think there are several unis there including sichuan u., chengdu u., southwest
jiaotong u. you could go on a simple tourist visa, show up at the school and apply that way, or as
you mentioned just get the invitation letter and get the visa that way. if u are enrolled as a
student, you'll get the residence permit.










Socks -

I second TS's idea of coming on a tourist visa and then changing it into a residence permit,
because if you study (intend to stay) over 6 months, you will need to have a medical exam done,
and if you get it changed, you only have to go through that baloney one time (this was true as of
2002, correct me if I am wrong about this)...

Now, if you are planning on getting married in China (I did recently), and are a US citizen, you
need a residence permit. Once you are married, you can apply for a (I believe, but I am not sure,
it could be one year) 6 month residence permit, that simply allows you to reside in China (and not
work).

As far as schools in Chengdu go... Sorry. Been there once, and it was enough!

Property...I don't know if this is everywhere in China, but where I live (Xinjiang), we can buy
property together. HOWEVER.... If we were ever to get a divorce or anything legally went wrong, I
would be in the wrong, and lose without a doubt...

Finally, did you try emailing the embassy in Beijing or somenone in the US, because I have only
had luck withe the Beijing embassy. I thought that they were super!










Xiao Kui -

You mentioned you don't have time to be a full-time student. Although you need to attend a certain
amt of classes to keep your student status, many schools really are most concerned that you pay
the tuition, not with your grades or your performance (though if you have good teachers they will
be concerned with your performance). So i think it's possible to be a student on a student visa
and have plenty of time for other things. Sichuan University and the Minorities Institute are 2
popular ones for CHinese study in Chengdu.. There is also Four Tones Mandarin training center, but
as a private school i don't know if it has visa issuing status. I lived in Chengdu 2 yrs but left
2 yrs ago so I'm a little out of touch.

I think being a student is a lot less time consuming than being a teacher, and many people who
like to travel but not necessarily study choose student visa status for this reason. You are still
your own boss when you're a student because you're the one paying. WHen you are a teacher the
school owns you.

It's about $900 US a semester Mandarin classes at Sichuan Uni. It used to be $600 US a semester
for Minorities Institute, but may not be as good.

Here is a link to the Sichuan University Department of International Cooperation's site for
Foreign students:

http://www.scu.org.cn/iohomepage/os.htm

I bet there's a lot of friendly English speaking people there that can help you.










cjfmsc -

Hi, none of the issues that you mention are unsolvable.

Yes you can buy property.

You can only get a "green card" once you have been married five years (or invested a lot of
money). However, you can register for a friendly private language school (not just a Uni) and they
can also help you with your "student visa". You can also apply to an agent who can arrange all the
paperwork for you. They can normally get you "F" visas.

Please note that as a foreigner you will have to register with the local police (Public Security
Bureau). I am not sure how they will react to living in an apartment on a tourist visa. ie Tourist
visa solution needs to be researched.

There are number of companies that provide "destination services" and advice on living in China.
These are normally not free services. There is a lot of useful info on the China Expert website
(www.china-expert.org) and if you need more you couls always contact them and ask them to research
the answers to all your questions, or even try "Google answers"

FYI - I am married to a Chinese national and been in China for a number of years










roddy -



Quote:

There are number of companies that provide "destination services" and advice on living in China.
These are normally not free services.

No, they normally charge an arm and a leg for helping you do something you can do yourself with a
bit of research and effort. Fine for corporate stuff and if you've got money to burn though (and
if we've got lots of loaded management consultants on here I want to know about it, time to start
charging for membership ).

To the OP - you've asked questions about Chengdu schools, temporary residence permits, residence
permits and buying property all under the title 'Know of any Chengdu schools', which is hardly
going to increase your chances of a decent answer.

There's some very old info on Chengdu schools here, and if you search for 'chengdu schools' or
similar on here you'll turn up a few more that might be helpful.

Temporary residence permit and residence permit see here. I suspect you need a residence permit to
get married (and you would have to get that one by being studying, working here) and subsequently
you can rely on the fact that you are married to extend / renew it.

Buying property is a minefield, and what applies in Beijing today won't be worth a damn in Chengdu
tomorrow. Indeed, what applies in Chengdu today probably won't count in Chengdu tomorrow anyway.
Definitely a case for on the ground research.


Quote:

Please note that as a foreigner you will have to register with the local police (Public Security
Bureau). I am not sure how they will react to living in an apartment on a tourist visa. ie Tourist
visa solution needs to be researched.

They're unlikely to care. All the local police need to know is where you live.










Annajustin -

here is something which might be useful.http://www.sculj.net/ReadNews.asp?Ne...C4&SpecialID=0












All times are GMT +8. The time now is 05:00 PM.














Learn Chinese, Chinese Mandarin, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet