Job Discussion Forums

[Garphilius]

I have a few questions as I will soon fly to Hong Kong to start this process. I was just curious if anyone has obtained a Z Visa from Hong Kong recently with the appropriate paperwork that states to go to Hong Kong to obtain the visa? Any problems with the embassy there or pretty much smooth sailing? Also, I would like to ask a question about the medical check. I have already set an appointment with a private hospital in Hong Kong for the medical check and just wanted to know if the embassy just wants the "Physical Examination For Foreigner" paper signed and stamped or they also want other tests on-top of what everything else that is stated on that paper? (Please only reply if you have recently gone through this process at the embassy.)

Thanks in advance!

[bharrell]

I was told by the Chongqing PSB last month, that the HK option was no longer possible. The officer said that going to another foreign country was the only way, and that HK wasn't a foreign country.

[MetaFitX]

I obtained my Z-visa from HK the first week of June. I used Starbright Visa agency I believe. Very helpful. Email them and they will provide you with a list of required documents. I had everything I needed, and as such the process went very smoothly.

[Toast]

[Garphilius]

Since no one had any experience on this, I will post my recent experience in Hong Kong.

I arrived to Hong Kong last Thursday, August 15th. I had set up an appointment at a private medical institution prior to arriving at Hong Kong for Friday, August 16th. I had already taken the medical exam in Vietnam via a private international hospital, so I brought all the paper work from that hospital. I gave the doctor in the Hong Kong hospital a new "Physical Exam for Foreigner" paper and provided him with my chest X-ray, ECG, blood work, etc. The doctor told me he accepted all these tests and it was pointless to do the tests again, so he just performed the normal physical exam and I was out the door in less than 30 minutes with the whole paper filled out by a Hong Kong hospital (which is what is required for Chinese embassy in Hong Kong.)

Hence, I got the results RIGHT AWAY, no wait of 4 days, blah, blah, blah, etc. Thus, this is a tip: If you are traveling around (like me) and have a working permit sent to Hong Kong, I encourage you to do the medical exam in whatever country you are traveling at an INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL. Note: Obviously do this if the country you are in is generally cheaper than Hong Kong (the whole exam costed me $110USD at the Vietnamese international hospital.) In Hong Kong, the cost for the doctor to look at my exams, perform the simple physical exam and fill in both papers with stamp on both papers was $590 HKD, which is roughly $80USD. Now, I don't think this is cheap, but definitely cheaper than doing all the tests again (would have costed around $1800HKD) plus waiting 4-6 days in Hong Kong awaiting your results. Luckily, this would have not been an issue for me as I have friends in Hong Kong where I can stay for free, so I can wait forever, but this is not the case for everyone.

Since I got the results right away, I had all other papers ready (Work Permit, Copy of Work Permit x2, Invitation Letter, Copy of Invitation Letter x2, other two invitation papers, copy x2 of those, company that hired me paper, copy of those x2, contract) to head to the embassy and apply for the Z-Visa. I arrived at the embassy around 3:13PM on Friday, no wait at all. I went right in, got a number and was called in less than a minute. Showed all the papers, not even a question from the lady and I was out of the embassy in less than 5 minutes. Also, there is no same-day service but there is a one day service. Note: Make copies of all the papers your employer sends you, I made 2 of each just incase, but know that the embassy will take some copies of some of the papers. So if you plan it right, get an appointment for early morning Thursday, get the results, head to embassy, apply for visa, pick up your your visa on Friday and you can head to China right away! It took me 5 days to do the whole process as I applied on Friday and had to wait until Monday to get the visa, but like I said, if done right, it can take you only 2-3 days to do.

I got my Z-Visa today and I am headed to China tomorrow from Hong Kong. I hope this helps anyone that wants information on this as this information is hard to find online.

Also, here is the private medical institution I went to in Hong Kong: http://www.matilda.org/
Choose the Central office as this is literally one MTR stop away from Wan Chai stop which is the stop for the Chinese Resource Building for your visa. Tell the doctor the guy with the "UM" shirt sent you here. haha

Note: This is my own personal experience and how I successfully did all the procedures to obtain the Z-visa. Things can change and what not, so just take all this information as you want it. Good luck future educators!

[JoeKing]

[roadwalker]

Thanks Garphilius, that's some helpful information. Good luck in the mainland.

[Non Sequitur]