Illegal aliens find ways to stay in China  

“不靠谱”老外“赖”在中国：1万即可办工作签证

近年来，老外在中国惹事不少。这些惹事的外国人经查明大多属于“三非”人群，即非法入境、非法居留、非法就业。敏锐的网友难免穷追不舍：不少惹事的老外都是“三非”，那么这些“不靠谱”的外国人为何“赖”在中国？又如何“赖”在中国？ [查看全文]

(ECNS) – A number of foreigners who don't even speak Chinese are finding means to stay in China for over seven or eight years, Xinhuanet reported Wednesday, citing a Russian student in China.

A man from the UK who was involved in a motorcycle incident on Dec 14 and found to be unlicensed and working without a permit in Beijing, was detained and deported.

Many foreigners who get in trouble in China were found to be illegally entering, residing at or working in the country, according to Xinhuanet.

The incidents prompted Chinese citizens and netizens to raise questions: Why do the illegal aliens enter China and how do they stay in?

Xiaowei, a Russian who has been studying in China for six years, said many young people want to look for opportunities in China. "They just do some part-time jobs and travel around China with the earnings."

Jiang Senhai, a Brit who has lived in Beijing for over 20 years and owns a company in the city, said more than a few foreigners in China didn't obtain the legal right to residency.

Jiang said some foreigners want to pay him for a job, which would qualify them to apply for a

work visa. "They didn't intend to work at my company, but wanted to get the means for a longer residency in China, which, in fact, is illegal."

Some travel agencies provide services to help these "opportunity seekers" stay in China. An agency said they can help alter customers' tourist visa into a business one, as long as they provide a business card with a company name on it and fill out an information sheet. And another said they can help foreign customers apply for work visas if they have been in China for over one year, for just 10,000 yuan.

"Some foreigners get their work visas with the help of agencies before they come to China, which leads to the difference between their actual job location and that on the visa," Jiang said.

Besides the easy visa application, easy job opportunities also lures many foreigners to stay. Xiaowei said teaching English in China is one of the simplest ways for foreigners to apply for a work visa. And Jiang said quite a number of schools offer high salaries to foreign English teachers but set low requirements for the position.

Xiong Bingqi, deputy president of 21st Century Education Research Institute, said, "The foreign teacher cult in China offers foreigners a chance to linger in China. Some education institutions use foreign teachers as a gimmick to attract more students, which leads to unqualified foreigners filling well-paying positions."

According to Chinese law, foreigners involved in illegal entry, residence, or employment can face fines, detention or deportation. But the penalty for their illegal activities is less than 10,000 yuan.

Jiang said he hopes China will reinforce management over foreigners in China. "Every country welcomes law-abiding foreigners and opposes troublesome ones."