Job Discussion Forums

[neverheardofem]

I have been told to bring my original medical report to HR of my school when I arrive in order to apply for my residence permit, including blood test, ECG, x ray etc. The thing is, the doctor just wrote N/A on my ECG and there is no photo of my xray, just a statement of results. The school insisted on my doing it before I arrive in China - they said they needed it to apply for my work permit.

Is this going to be a problem when I arrive? Should I go to the doctor again and ask for an ECG and xray picture?

[Listerine]

I would be surprised if you're not required to do another one after you arrive at the official Chinese Entry/Exit bureau. It seems to be more or less standard these days. Often the schools just ask potential employees outside the country to do an additional med check in advance so they can be assured you don't have cooties before they go to the time and expense of applying for your invitation paperwork only to find you rejected and given the bum's rush leaving them without a teacher.

The embassy will quite possibly require a copy of the medical check when you apply for the visa in your home country or elsewhere, although they're not going to analyze it or care about x-rays, ECG printouts etc. (they will just return them if you hand them in with the visa application anyway). It's more just a box to check, and as long as your doc has generally completed and stamped the right form and it says somewhere you don't have one of the big 3 (TB, HIV or Hep) the embassy will be satisfied.

[jimpellow]

You may be able to get away with educating them that a pre-medical is no longer required before arriving as of April 2014. The information is within:

www.lawandborder.com

Before the national law stated "should" which led to different local interpretations and policies.

Exemplifies how reactive schools, recruiters and local authorities are to the ever changing national directives. I would be interested in seeing what transpires if you take this approach with them.

My gut instinct though is since you are the one paying for it, they will insist that you go back to the doctor. Further, I would tend to think that they do know what the local authorities require, even if there is now a national directive telling the local authorities not to require it.

[roadwalker]

OP do you already have the work visa in your passport? As Listerine wrote, most teachers reporting on this site have had to have a second exam in China once they arrived, despite having paid for a home-country exam for many of them to get the visa or have an invitation letter issued. The exam in China will be short and sweet unless the clinic is filled with Chinese workers going abroad and then you may want to pack a lunch. (Kidding- don't eat until after the blood draw at least.) The school should pay for the second one but if not it shouldn't be over 500 RMB. The Chinese exam should be done as soon as possible after you arrive because your school will need the results for applying for the Residence Permit. Get on them if they haven't arranged it by the second week.

Yes, bring anything original that won't cost you more to acquire, such as an x-ray or ECG report. You may get lucky and avoid the Chinese exam. May.