Job Discussion Forums

[SilkRoad1122]

Hi all

I know on 1st July China's visa rules changed. Does anyone know if it is still possible to get a Z visa for China (i.e. work visa) in Hong Kong? Has anyone done this since the rules changed on 1st July?

Thanks

[Sonisska]

Hi

I have been dealing with similar issues now.

What do you mean changed? In what sense, can you be specific?

Actually, I was told by a school (more specifically and agent) to go to get my z visa to HK directly.
When I called my embassy they said it was nonsense and you are risking being expelled.

Who knows what is right and not, seems like there is a mess regarding the procedure and new regulations mashrooming.

Sonia

[Garphilius]

I am also curious about this as I might have to go to Hong Kong to get this done as stated by my employer as I am traveling around SE Asia at the moment. Any information over this topic is greatly appreciated!

[vikeologist]

Technically, nothing has changed in respect of Hong Kong.

So, in theory it should still be possible. make sure that you get your health check before going to Hong Kong, and that the invitation letter states Hong Kong, and not your home country.

If you're already in China, that health check should pose no problem, but if you're coming from a third country, e.g. Garphilius, I can see how that might pose problems getting a health check that they're happy with. I'd guess the simplest thing is to get the health check in Hong Kong.

It doesn't state anywhere official; that I know of that you need the health check before, but in practice you do.

Does this mean that in actuality nothing's changed. Not necessarily. More provinces may be wary of letting you do the HK run. Beijing seems to be asking for criminal checks. This isn't part of the 1 July law, but it seems almost certain that this is now going to be standard procedure for all new visas anywhere in China, and those criminal checks may require being in your home country for practical purposes if documents need to be sent and forwarded from place to place. The criminal check thing is evolving, and could well have a big effect on HK runs.

It's made more complicated by the fact that some people have always claimed that they were unable to get visas in HK, particularly Americans. I guess that these reports are caused by applicants doing things wrong and then misreporting what happened, but who knows?

[Fanyi]

It would imagine it will still depend on what location your school's local authorities write on your paperwork for where your Z visa should be processed; if they write Hong Kong then I think you're odds are pretty good, if they write your home country, then probably out of luck. Just my opinion though, not based on hearing anything new since July 01...

[Garphilius]

Thanks for the replies!

To make it a bit more clear on my situation:

I am currently in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I talked with the Chinese embassy here and they said they can process the Z visa here but the invitation letter needs to say Ho Chi Minh City. That is no problem, the problem is that the process has taken a bit longer than I expected as the school first had to get a license to hire foreign teachers, which it got last Friday and the paperwork for them applying for my work permit started this Monday.

I told my employer that since I am moving on to another country, I think it would be better to fly into Hong Kong and get the Z visa there. However, I was just curious if the July 1st laws changed something with obtaining Z visa in Hong Kong.

If once I get the invitation letter and it says "Ho Chi Minh City" I would fly back to Vietnam but if it says Hong Kong I would fly to Hong Kong, was just curious if anything had changed.

Now, about the medical check, I already did it here in Ho Chi Minh City. The embassy here would accept that. My question is, would the embassy in Hong Kong accept it if I had to go to Hong Kong? I have all the paperwork, x-rays, tests, etc. with me, would those not work in Hong Kong?

Thanks for the help!