I'd like to know if I have the option of moving to Kunming on a tourist visa, look for a job, then change to a work visa? Can this be taken care of in China? Hong Kong? Or is it a must to have a work visa prior to arrival?

Thanks!

of course it is possible, it is what 's being done by all of us, come stay for a while and then find a school on gokunming to offer you a job and so you can stay here long term, they will send you to hongkong to get the work visa approved then that is it

That is, in fact, the only way to do it.

Just make sure you have enough cash until you get settle and know the in's and out's.

I don't get how someone living here can say that coming on a tourist visa to look for a job and change your visa after is the only way to do it in China, while it's barely legal.

If you are qualified enough, you can find a job from your own country and get your working visa done before arriving in China. This is the legal and normal way to do it.

However it might be a little difficult to do it, so yes, you can come first with a tourist or a business visa, look for a job and change your visa after. But if you tell to the immigration when you arrive that you come here as a tourist to look for a job, I highly doubt they will give you a warm smile and tell you "welcome to China".

This way of doing is in the grey zone, you'd better not talk too much about it when you come here until your situation is settled down.

Be aware that the PSB require a Criminal Check from your own country these days, so bring that with you or the Hong Kong hop will just be the first of many.

a lot of places hire overseas candidates online. why put yourself through the hassle? a visa run is like a root canal. and do all employers actually pay for visa runs to hong kong? not sure, but from what i've heard, no.

Good advice from the old timers.

We're all assuming you're after a teaching job. Is that so?

Great info. Thanks everyone! Obviously I'd feel a bit more settled to have this all wrapped up before arriving, especially since I'm in NYC and can easily go to the Chinese embassy/consulate here. I am true to my New York nature in that I can spot a scam a mile away, but online it seems impossible to sort through these things when every good post has an equal and opposite bad one. (regarding recruiters, schools) I will teach initially. (degree + TEFL Cert) but my end game is to explore the wine markets in China. I'm a sommelier (wine expert) and am interested in pursuing something along those lines.