Indian yoga teacher in Chengdu deported after pay dispute led employer to report him. He earned 180k RMB on business visa, fined 10k, banned. Institute also fined.
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Source: OT-Team(G), 成都市司法局
A collaboration between a Chengdu yoga training institute and a visiting Indian instructor ended in fines, deportation, and a bitter fallout.
On March 12, the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Justice released details of the case. All names and organizations in the report are pseudonyms.
From Yoga Conference Encounter to Business Partnership
The story began in spring 2024 at an international yoga exchange conference in Chengdu. A, founder of a local yoga training institute, was impressed by a demonstration by Raj, an instructor from India.
When invited to join the institute, Raj explained that he had been unable to obtain a Chinese work visa due to issues with his documentation. A proposed a workaround: Raj could enter China using an M-class business visa arranged through a commercial invitation from the institute. Classes would be paid at RMB 600 per session.
According to A, the arrangement would fall under "cultural exchange" rather than formal employment—an approach she suggested was common practice as long as it avoided regulatory scrutiny.
The two reached a verbal agreement. Raj would enter China on an M visa with a six-month stay, renewable if needed. The institute would cover his living expenses in China, handle promotional materials, and pay him monthly based on teaching hours.
Rapid Popularity and Online Fame
Raj's classes quickly gained popularity. His teaching combined classical Hatha yoga with modern posture correction techniques, appealing to students seeking both philosophical depth and practical training.
Sensing an opportunity, A launched a series of workshops branded as "Master Classes from India," charging students RMB 398 per session. Demand remained strong.
The institute also invested in online promotion. Short videos featuring Raj—morning meditation sessions, demonstrations of advanced poses, and English-language explanations of yoga philosophy with Chinese subtitles—were posted across major Chinese social media platforms.
The clips went viral. Within a month, Raj's account grew from zero to more than 200,000 followers, with total topic views exceeding two million. Fitness brands began reaching out with potential endorsement offers.
Pay Dispute and Growing Tension
By this time, Raj had been working with the institute for about ten months. Despite his growing profile, his teaching fee remained unchanged at RMB 600 per session.
After one class, Raj approached A to renegotiate. Other institutions had privately contacted him offering up to RMB 1,500 per class. He requested the same rate.
A refused, offering only a modest increase to RMB 800 per class. Raj rejected the proposal, and the conversation ended abruptly.
In the following months, tensions surfaced in the classroom. Raj sometimes arrived late or left early, and students began to complain that the once-enthusiastic instructor seemed disengaged.
Three months later, Raj posted a cryptic message on social media: "True yoga practice unites body, mind, and value." The post included a dimly lit photo of a classroom corner. Online speculation quickly followed, with commenters wondering whether the instructor was being underpaid.
The Conflict Escalates
Angered by the post, A confronted Raj at his residence. During a heated argument, Raj expressed his intention to end the partnership. A refused and reportedly threatened to report him for illegal employment—warning that he could lose all earnings, face fines, and be deported.
After a long silence, Raj simply said he would stop teaching.
The next day, A submitted a report to the Chengdu Exit-Entry Administration. Police launched an investigation.
Authorities Find Illegal Employment
Investigators determined that between June 2024 and April 2025, Raj had stayed in China on an M-class business visa while teaching more than 300 classes and earning over RMB 180,000. Authorities concluded that the activity constituted illegal employment.
The yoga institute was also found to have knowingly hired a foreign national who lacked both a work permit and a work-type residence permit.
Under Articles 80 and 81 of China's Exit and Entry Administration Law, authorities imposed the following penalties:
1.Raj was fined RMB 10,000, ordered to leave China within 10 days, and placed on a list of individuals barred from re-entry.
2.The yoga institute was fined RMB 10,000, and all illegal gains from the unauthorized employment were confiscated.
A Final Message
Before departing China, Raj sent A a message from the airport:
"Yoga teaches balance, but neither of us achieved it."
A did not reply. Beyond the official penalties, she now faces refund demands from students, doubts from business partners, and criticism online accusing the institute of unethical practices.
Ironically, the instructor she once discovered and promoted to online fame ultimately left China through deportation proceedings triggered by her own report.
Legal Context
Legal experts note that visa and employment compliance remains one of the most common legal challenges faced by foreigners in China. The M-class business visa is intended for short-term commercial activities such as trade visits, exhibitions, or market research, and does not permit recipients to work or receive ongoing labor remuneration from Chinese entities.
Under Chinese law, foreigners may legally work in the country only after obtaining a work permit and a work-type residence permit, typically following entry with a Z-class visa. Engaging in paid labor without these approvals constitutes illegal employment.
Authorities warn that both individuals and employers can face fines, confiscation of illegal income, deportation, or entry bans if violations occur.
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