Shekou International School Pre-Departure Packet

Shekou International School
Pre-Departure Packet for New Teachers 2011-12
Shekou International School
Pre-Departure Packet
Director’s Message
It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to Shekou International School! We hope that the
information in this packet is useful as you prepare for your adventure in China. This booklet combined
with the Orientation Manual which you have already received, will help you with your transition to
becoming an SIS Gecko!
We have a wonderful team who look forward to helping you settle in. I would like to introduce you to
Jackie Jiang in our Human Resources department here in China who can advise you on visas, shipping,
transport allowances and housing. (Email - [email protected]) In Princeton New Jersey the International
School Services team is available to help, particularly Desiree Bryant, who has probably already sent you
information on dental, health insurance, the ISS prescreening physical exam, retirement info, etc. (Email
- [email protected])
You will already have been talking to your building Principals Pip Curtis and Brian Tuia who will introduce
you to your professional buddies in your grade level or subject area. (Email – [email protected] and
[email protected]) Social/personal buddies have been arranged by the Double Happiness team who have
put together a great blog for you with useful and fun information. ( http://dh.blog.sis.org.cn/blog)
We wish you all the best with your arrangements and travel plans over the coming months and look
forward to seeing you here in sunny Shekou in August!
Sincerely
Robert Evans
Shekou International School
Pre-Departure Packet
Welcome from Human Resources
Dear New Faculty
We hope you find this information packet useful. It contains the following;
 Part I – Chinese Z Visas

Part II – Transportation Allowances

Part III – Shipping

Part IV - Housing
Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions. Welcome to the SIS family!
Jackie Jiang ([email protected])
Part I: Visas (Type Z Visa)
It’s time to start the process of obtaining a working visa. This involves three main steps:
1. SIS applies for an Expert Certificate for each teacher
2. Based on the Expert Certificate, the school invites the teacher and dependents to come to China on
a Z visa. With the Invitation Letter, teachers and dependents apply for and receive a Z visa good for
3 months for a single entry to China.
3. Once here in China, the school applies for a one year, multi-entry, resident visa for each teacher and
dependent.
In order to apply for the Expert Certificate, Jackie Jiang will need the following items emailed to her
([email protected]) by no later than Thursday, March 31st. They may be in Word, PDF, or jpg
format. Please do not mail hard copies except for the Authentication Letter (last on the list of
documents below). Scanned documents are perfectly acceptable.
Shekou International School
Pre-Departure Packet
Please Send No Later Than March 31st

Resume

Signed version of the attached Chinese employment contract at Party B (see attachment 2). This
contract is for visa purposes only and its conditions do not supersede the official contract offered
through ISS mailed to you in April. Do not fill in other information on the contract as that must be
done in Chinese. Important: do not date it by the signature line, either. An English version (see
attachment 3) is also attached for your reference. Return only the Chinese version.

Highest Diploma

Teaching certificate or license.

Current digital passport photo for each teacher and dependent.

Child’s/children’s birth certificate if accompanying as a dependent.

For an accompanying non-teaching spouse seeking a visa or spouse on non-ISS contract, the
marriage license or certificate is required.

Copy of passport for each teacher and dependent clearly showing passport number, date of birth,
date of expiry, and nationality. There must be a minimum of 6 months validity remaining from the
date of your arrival in China.

Health Report (teachers only, not for dependents) – in which the blood test for infectious disease is
the most important item. The physical exam report from ISS for employment plus the specific blood
test items will be a complete health report for your visa.

Police Clearance (for teachers and dependent adults, not children) - which says you have no criminal
record. Please note that this police clearance should be issued from the country listed on your
passport. A state or local police clearance of any locale will do, but the statement must reference
the entire period of your life and be appropriately stamped or notarized so that it is clearly official.

Home address plus contact number in your home country– we are going to include it in the
application form for an official invitation letter issued by the Chinese government. With this letter,
you can apply for a Z-visa through your local Chinese consulate or embassy.

Mailing Address where you can receive the “Invitation Letter” in July.

In addition to sending us a scanned copy of each dependent child’s birth certificate and nonteaching spouse’s marriage license, an Authentication Letter must be acquired from your Chinese
Shekou International School
Pre-Departure Packet
consulate or embassy. You have to take the original marriage certificate and/or birth certificate to
your local Chinese consulate to get the Authentication Letter. Once obtained, mail the original
Authentication Letter to SIS and bring or scan a copy for back up.
Note:
Please bring all the original certificates, including the diploma, marriage certificate, children’s birth
certificates, etc. with you when you come to China. The visa office will need to check the originals when
we extend your working visa.
Please save all receipts related to this process for reimbursement in August. SIS will reimburse you for
visa costs when you arrive. Also once you have arrived at SIS we will ask you for your passports which
will then be given to the police station and the necessary government offices who will then hold on to
your passports for about 15 working days in order to process your working permit and travel visa.
New teachers 2010-11
Part II: Transportation Allowance
Your transportation allowance is paid in RMB into your Bank of China account as soon as it is opened
during orientation. This is the RMB equivalent of $1300 for teachers and children over 11 and $900 for
children under 12. You may choose any airline or route. If you plan to arrive on or after Sunday, July 31,
you will be met upon arrival and SIS will have staff available to assist you. Orientation begins on
Wednesday, August 3rd, calendar attached.
Shekou International School
Pre-Departure Packet
Part III: Shipping
If you ship belongings, you will choose your own shipping company. Those companies which have
contractual relations with UniGroup, Allied Pickfords, Crown, or Santa Fe would be preferable, as their
local agents in Shenzhen have a proven track record of excellent service on this end, and they know the
complicated procedures very well at SZ customs. Their local experience could save costs for you.
Pay the company out of pocket. Save original receipts for reimbursement upon arrival. Your allowance
maximum is stipulated in your ISS contract.
Organize arrival of the goods to the address as: Jingshan Villas, Nanhai Blvd., Shekou, Shenzhen, 518067,
People’s Republic of China. The local school phone is 86-755-2669-3669 and the fax 86-755-2667-4099.
The arrival date for unaccompanied goods should not be before September 10. Your Foreign Expert’s
Certificate and Residency must be approved in order for the items to clear customs.
Note: in lieu of a shipping company, SIS can also reimburse you for excess baggage that comes with you
when you fly to China. Do not mail items as they will be dutiable.
Remember that you may defer up to 50% of your allowance to your pack out at the termination of your
contract.
If you need assistance importing a pet, email us and we can direct you to agencies which offer such a
service. Those costs can be deducted from your allowance.
Part IV: Housing
SIS will recommend two agencies with whom we have some understandings about level of service. You
are free to work with one of them or any other agency. Most new teachers have found an apartment
within a few days of arriving but you could need up to 2 weeks to find just the right place.
Shekou International School
Pre-Departure Packet
There are many agents in Shekou. Two who have agreed to offer a small discount on their commission
and to provide a level of on-going service are:
 Wendy, from Coastal Times (SIS teachers can get 10% discount for the commission fee)
Email: [email protected]
Cell phone: 132 6584 0856
 Kitty, from Dial-An-Angel (SIS teachers can get 10% discount for the commission fee)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (86)-755-26814240, (86) 136 3151 4107
Bayside Campus
Aerial view, Jing Shan Campus
Shekou International School
Pre-Departure Packet
Temporary Housing upon Arrival
We can recommend the following temporary housing if you wish to look for an apartment after you
arrive in Shekou. As in any city it can be difficult to gauge quality from pictures on the internet or the
agents’ description. Housing is plentiful and readily available in Shekou – you may wish to stay in one of
these locations for a week or more so that you can be sure you are going to be happy with your choice.
SIS can book temporary accommodation in the Fraser Place serviced apartment, and if you want, we will
pay the bill directly and deduct from your September housing allowance. Your housing allowance begins
in August and will be paid at the beginning of each month.
Fraser Place Hospitality
No. 1033 Nanhai Road
Shekou 518067, Shenzhen
People’s Republic of China
Tel: +86 755 2688 3333 Fax: +86 755 2688 5706 Email: [email protected]
Reservations Hotline:Tel: +86 755 2688 3333 Fax: +86 755 2688 5706
SIS rate - 607 RMB studio apartment. This complex also offers one and two bedroom apartments and
has a pool. It is walking distance to the Elementary School Campus at Jing Shan.
Fuzon Hotel (Jinluan Fuzhong Jiudian)
蛇口（南山）地区1 Kangle Road (Kangle Lu)
Shekou 518067, Shenzhen
People’s Republic of China
The hotel offers a total of 176 guestrooms and the room types include standard king sized rooms and
twin rooms and deluxe king sized rooms and twin rooms. This hotel was a hit with new teachers last
year and is conveniently located between Bayside and Jing Shan campuses, handy to restaurants and
shops.
SIS Housing Allowance Benefits and Procedures
SIS provides each recruited employee a housing allowance and some advice and assistance in finding
suitable accommodation in the Shekou area.
Circumstances
Single
Single with dependent
Teaching couple
Couple with 1 dependent
Couple with 2 or more dependents
Allowances
7800 RMB per month
9400 RMB per month
9400 RMB per month
11200 RMB per month
12700 RMB per month
Shekou International School
Pre-Departure Packet
The SIS Finance Office will deposit the housing allowance into the recruited employee’s Bank of China
account before the 10th of every month beginning in August. The equivalent value official tax receipt
(‘fapiao’) for the rental needs to be turned in to the Finance Office before the 1st of every month
beginning September. If the fapiao is not received for the equivalent amount, the Finance Office is
required to withhold the relevant Chinese Income Tax (IIT). This will be discussed in detail during
orientation.
Parkside Campus
Procedures :
ISS will summarize and report housing allowances or housing cost covered by the employer to the
employee on an annual basis in the Fringe Benefit Statement.
All employees are eligible to request up to a two month equivalent of the monthly leasing cost as an
advance to meet the contractual stipulations for a deposit. This advance will be amortized over the life
of the individual’s employment contract and repaid via monthly payroll deduction.
The first line of communication with the landlord should be provided by the leasing agent. SIS will
provide backup assistance to all employees residing in the Shekou area with communication with their
respective landlords and further provide coordination regarding maintenance or security issues if the
agent is not being effective.
SIS will provide a cable modem with internet and international TV service if this equipment is not
included in the lease terms.
SIS will reimburse employees for access to a swimming pool and also provide access to a fitness center.
Shekou International School
Pre-Departure Packet
Supplementary Information for Housing & Utility Allowance
SIS will assist new teachers to open a Bank of China account during your orientation. Rental allowance is
deposited into your bank account monthly. Teachers can go to The Bank of China (BOC) in person to
apply for an automatic deduction service to withdraw your monthly rental If your landlord also holds a
Bank of China account.
It is common practice for the real estate agent in China to collect commission from both the landlord
and tenant at 50% each of one month’s rent for the initial one year lease contract. Teachers should
negotiate with the agent before signing any agreement and/or contract if you want a discount of the
commission or if you do not agree to pay that commission.
A new regulation by the Public Security Bureau requires the official tax registered rental contract in
order to issue the resident permit. All rentals must provide the official rental tax receipt for compliance.
The teacher must make appropriate arrangements with the landlord or through the real estate agent to
obtain the official rental tax receipt. This should be turned in to the Finance Office so that your monthly
housing allowance can be paid into your account without withholding Chinese income tax.
Arrangement can be made with the landlord or through the real estate agent to issue an official rental
tax receipt each month.
Shekou International School
Pre-Departure Packet
In China, the landlord’s bank account is the only authorized source for monthly deduction of utility
payments. The Finance Office will pay the utility bill (including water, electricity and gas) on behalf of the
teacher through periodic direct deposit to the landlord’s bank account. Any excess above and beyond
the allowance limit will be paid by the teacher.
All rental contracts require a management fee. Security, public area maintenance, public area
electricity, elevators, etc. are theoretically paid for with this amount. The management fee usually is not
included in the monthly rent and it will be deducted from the landlord’s utility bank account every
month. SIS Finance Office will deduct the amount of the management fee directly from the monthly
housing allowance and deposit it into the apartment utility account.
Telephone is not included in the utility allowance. Arrangement can be made for automatic deduction
from the teacher’s Bank of China account on a monthly basis.
SIS requires all real estate agents to collect the following documents and present them to SIS HR Office
for record keeping purpose when a teacher renews or signs a new leasing contract.
 Copy of landlord’s ID card
 Copy of landlord’s property ownership certificate
 Copy of the rental contract
 Copy of deposit receipt
 Landlord’ bank account book for utility payment purpose (original)