Job Discussion Forums

[Mike E]

Hello,
Does anyone have experience with a purported August 1 change wherein a foreigner can purportedly arrive in mainland China (in my case, Shenzhen) and receive the Z visa at the airport? (By having the necessary documents in hand, of course.)
I've arranged a job at a Shenzhen high school from the U.S. The recruiter has proven to be no expert in the new regulations. He is currently cutting it uncomfortably close in getting me my letter of invitation (note, I may have my terminology wrong here, but what I mean is the doc(s) that I need in order to get my visa) with enough time for me to get them and my passport to and back from the Chicago consulate in time to actually leave the U.S. with the visa in hand. His most recent line about this was "don't worry, I'm going to verify today, there is a new procedure wherein you don't need to get it ahead of time because you can get it at the airport."
To me that sounds terrifying, enduring the long flight without certainty that it's going to work out at the other end.

[Non Sequitur]

Mmmm
Have you verified that school has right to hire foreigners? An invitation from Crappola Academy won't fly.
If you do take that route, make sure you have your contact's number in case you have to make a call.
Let him/her know that you will phone if the immigration don't play ball.
Personally, I'm not convinced.

[asiannationmc]

I would wonder if you can board a plane in the US without a visa .. would the letter be enough?

[LarssonCrew]

Man this sounds shady.

I mean, I know you can get a visa on arrival transit tourist thing at a few airports but my friends were turned away when they tried to visit Xi'an for 4 days because they had no Chinese visa.

Even if it came into force no one at the airport may be aware of it.

It'd just tell the high school you'll be late. This is why when first coming to China you should aways get an airfare that is cheap to change the date of. I paid 90 USD the first time because I needed to change dates due to a problem with them getting me the Z visa docs

[Laurence]

Even if it were possible to collect a z visa upon arrival in SZ, it is unlikely that you would be allowed to board the plane in the first place if you don't already have a visa in your passport.

You can buy the ticket, but they won't let you check in!

[Dan123]

Definitely sounds like they're trying to cheat you to me, but it's a little strange why. You won't even be allowed to leave the airport without a visa, if you're even able to fly there in the first place.

My guess is that he'll somehow change the requirements to you coming over on a tourist visa, which will then (not really) get switched for a Z visa on arrival.

[Mike E]

Today I called a couple visa services, including the one that helped me get my degree authorized; they hadn't heard of this.
If you're interested, here is a page that the agent sent me to back up what he was saying: http://www.sz3e.com/articledetail.aspx?id=397

[Mike E]

Not that I see anything of particular clarification in there. It is just a local Shenzhen thing, that's one thing I notice.
Today he referred to the new law as "good news in the long run" but not something that the authorities yet know how they're actually going to carry out.

[Mike E]

Well, let me pose the tourist visa question.
The agent has not brought up that topic, by the way; he continues to insist that there is time for the Z visa to work out. (Their school year begins in early Sept.; I am slated to fly over in late Aug. Edit: They just put in for my work permit and invite letter a few days ago.)
Others, unaffiliated, have told me that the company -- CIPTC -- is one of SZ's top recruiters, is trustworthy, and has good relations with the authorities.
Would I be an idiot to consider the tourist visa angle (avoiding the awkward "trying to fly over there with literally no visa")? Trusting that they do intend to switch me over to a Z ASAP after I get there, and wouldn't have me start teaching on a tourist?

[LarssonCrew]

It normally takes two or three weeks to get the invitation letter once the things are submitted, they then need to mail it to you which might take 3 or 4 days, and you then need 3 or 4 days to get your visa.

Maybe needs a day to fly over, if you start first of September you're running it so so tight. You'll want to arrive a few days before to get used to getting to school, settling in, buying your SIM for your phone and other things like that.

I wouldn't do the tourist visa, YES, SZ is extremely close to HK to make it possible, but what happens if you get a tourist visa and then hop the border and they refuse you? You're stuck in HK and you may have to head back to America anyway.

Many Chinese have never been out of China and hence have no idea that just giving you two or three days to buy your tickets the price will skyrocket.

Oh well

[jimpellow]

http://www.gzclassifieds.com/services/visas-business-registration/visas-business-registration-in_i8094

[LarssonCrew]

That's all very well and good but are you going to risk being refused from the flight and then show that page to the check in woman and shout, 'but it says from 1st of August blah blah blah'

[jimpellow]

[Mike E]

[LarssonCrew]

And then what will you do? Get the invitation stuff from the school? There's still a chance you'll be rejected in HK