What is the big deal about airfare upfront? I´ve been offere...

Sorry John but this is standard procedure...call it collateral on an investment. A lot of schools hire people from the states and spend money on things like the visa, apartment, and in country transportation only to have those teachers bail on them once here. It´s a lot easier to be picky about a job when you´re in country.

What I don´t understand is why you think they should send a stranger in another country money upfront for airfare? If you had a low level job in the states they wouldn´t provide transportation either. But since you are new to China and new to teaching- you really are a big risk for them. Some teachers get here and hate it so bad they just leave, some don´t like the school, some the location, and some just don´t like teaching...that is why they don´t give you the airfare back until after 1 year- to make sure you finish the contract.

My experience has been that the schools outside of China in the more "developed" nations are more eager to pay for the airfare upfront. So maybe it´s "standard procedure" for China, but not the rest of the world. And yes, there are numerous employers that consider it their obligation to pay for the way.

Hi, it is usual when accepting a teaching post overseas to pay the airfare yourself, when you arrive they return half the airfare and the rest when you finish your contract. This happens in most countries, but be careful in China, it is NOT unusual that they try to forget to return the second half of the airfare later.

John, common sense tells me, they should pay up front. Their job should be good enough that you will stay.

Yes, in China they make you pay for flights up front in most cases. I worked there and they paid me half back in 6 months and the rest when I fisnished my contract.

John, If you can´t save 1,000 USD to relocate. How do you exspect some one to pay for you. Also, it sounds like all you want is a job. Being a teacher is a calling. It´s not all about the money.

I know this is over a year old, but unless one is a high level executive can one really expect a prospective employer to pay for them to come half way around the world? Seems iffy to me.

I agree with John the author of this thread. I believe the perspective employer should pay for the airfare upfront as a sign of good faith. By imposing this cost on the perspective employee subject to reimbursement at a later date is an undue financial burden. As for what most employers offer for reimbursement mainly those from China $800 seems to be the standard and this does not come close to covering the one way airfare out of any major city in the US. As one person here said if it was for a job that offered up a salary worth considering fine, but for an average salary of $1200-$1500 USD a month I think not.

He is not saying "send me the money!" he is saying "pay for a ticket so that I can get there" I don’t understand why you don’t understand that. Would you like for me to explain the other comments to you, as well?

I agree he is not asking for the money directly just that a plane ticket should be purchased in his name. One comment here was condescending in nature by stating that teaching is a calling and it seems that Mr. Fier is only looking for a job I disagree with this statement, I feel that many ESL employers are taking advantage of a depressed economy by requiring perspective employees to accept cut rate salaries and preconditions like covering their own airfare up front subject too reimbursement.

It is common in China because they want everything to benefit the Chinese. China wants western teachers to travel very far and take on all the risk and costs associated. They are bad at paying final salaries often, and do not treat teachers well. Many countries still pay your airfare up front and they tend to be Middle Eastern Countries. I think companies should pay the fair up front if they are very far from where you are travelling.