Job Discussion Forums

[fpshangzhou]

Hello,

I have a z visa valid til June from my last job. When interviewing with different training centers, I'm getting conflicting reports. One center says I have to return to my home country to renew the visa, while another center claims they can process the visa without me leaving. The visa renewal will take place in the same city as my current visa is valid for. Since the visa expires in June, when would they actually apply for the visa and how long does it take? Some of the centers say I can work off the current visa, which I think is a bit shady. Can someone shed some light on the subject?

Cheers,
Aaron

[johntpartee]

Your visa doesn't allow you to remain here, the Resident Permit does. If you get a new RP before the old one expires, you're okay.

[choudoufu]

here's the way it (usually -- YKMMV) works:

get support documents sent to your hometown.
get z-visa at embassy in your hometown.
come to china with 1-entry z-visa, 0 days validity.
(you have 30 days to apply for residence permit.)

get police registration and healthy certificate and expert cert.
apply for residence permit.
get residence permit.....z-visa is cancelled.

enjoy your stay in china.
come and go as you please, RP is your entry/exit permit.

sign contract renewal.........get new RP before current RP expires.
new visa NOT needed.

sign contract at another school........get release/recommendation letters.
get new RP before current RP expires. new visa NOT needed.

don't sign contract, RP expires.
leave china before expiration, or get tourist visa from local office.
find new job, get new z-visa from your hometown.
don't count on in-china/hongkong conversion!


be careful with terminology....a visa is not an RP. often confused.
as to those centers........they are correct. you can work off the old visa
meaning you don't need to get a new work visa.....unless the RP expires.

if they say you can work at their school on the RP (if longer than the
original contract) from another school, they are incorrect. your RP is
tied to your employer.

[RWA1981]

I thought everyone just goes to Hong Kong to handle visa issues like this no?

[fpshangzhou]

Here's an update on the residence permit renewal:

Just to clarify things, I used to work in an international hotel in Hangzhou, (been hanging out on extended holiday in same city for the past 7 months). My residence permit would be renewed by a training center for a teaching position. I have submitted all documents requested of me, but the FOA told me some documents were rejected and they also wanted more documents. I've copied & pasted the statements from the email below. See if any of this makes sense to any of you teflers.

I got feedback from the Shanghai office. According to the visa office's requirements, we need to submit certain documents as required:

1. Please find in attach for the sample of Alien Employment License. Visa officer said, if you have a working Z visa, your previous employer should have this license otherwise you can't get your old Z visa application approved. So could you please ask your hotel to check on this license;if you can find it, make a scanned copy of it!

2. About the red stamp on your Release Letter. The visa office said that the red stamp are needed on both your release letter and reference letter. What's more, the stamp should not be from HR department. You should get an official red stamp from the hotel/company/corporate. For example, it should not be "Four Points Hotel-HR Department", it should be "Four Points Hotel-Sheraton Group".

I've never even seen the Alien Employment License, or had it on my person. I also don't know where I can get such stamp, since HR dept is the one who deals with visas and work permits.

All this rambling makes no sense....off to a cold beer


Cheers,

Aaron

[NoBillyNO]

The AWP is much like the FEC. Serves the same purpose, usually in non educational settings.

[teenoso]

sounds like the new employer is asking for three things, all of which you get from the hotel :
AWP
release letter with red stamp
reference letter with red stamp.

If the AWP is similar to the FEC , then it is not surprising you have never seen it . My school keeps the FEC and I have never seen mine.
The release letter says something like, you have completed the contract and are free to work elsewhere.
The reference letter is often in standard form with boxes to complete (you were a very good/good/average employee etc) , but could be a letter, I suppose.

[mw182006]

Did you have to do another health exam OP? I'm planning to change to another uni in the same province and they're basically asking for docs all over again. I have copies of the vital stuff (including the old exam) but I thought that a RP renewal was as simple as providing the release/recommendation letters since everything else is on file.

[bluetortilla]

I'm switching schools (and provinces) and my RP expires August 31. The problem is that my daughter wants to travel with me through SE Asia for 2 and 1/2 weeks from the beginning of August.

If I hand in my paperwork on time (a month before) can't I keep my passport for a couple of weeks more? I was in a similar situation in February and immigration told me that it's OK, I have until the day before expiry to hand in the passport itself. They just wanted all the papers scanned into the big computer a month before.

Mileage may vary.

[teenoso]

[bluetortilla]

[KnockoutNed]