Job Discussion Forums

tin man · Joined: 18 Jun 2010 Posts: 137

Need some expert advice. I returned after a few years break and the new school has been very kind and generous. However, they are brand new and owned by a wealthy businessman and seem completely clueless regarding both visas and education. As the experts know, the Z must be converted to a resident permit in 30 days. What if the school fails to do so due to their lack of knowledge or incompetence? What are my options?

Secondly, they persuaded a coworker from the US to work here on an L and said that they can switch it to the Z without her having to leave China. Is this now possible?

JamesD · Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 7:57 am Post subject: Re: Expert advice

nimadecaomei · Joined: 22 Sep 2016 Posts: 605

I got my Z visa in HK last week. Changed from a family residence permit.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Not sure that's equivalency.

Modernist · Joined: 03 Jan 2016 Posts: 72 Location: Routing

I got a Z in HK too. They will issue them there if you have the proper paperwork with the magic barcode. The Web site for PRC not-consulate not-embassy in HK is stupidly out of date and full of errors (even the visa form is wrong!).

There was a prospect that some of my paperwork from the US wouldn't arrive and the school said I could go to HK, get an L, come back, then go back to HK again and get another Z. Not sure that would have worked, glad I didn't have to find out as the document arrived here in time. They wouldn't 'convert' the prior visas, you would just apply for a totally new one, of whatever type, which would supersede the prior one.

As to the Z 30 day issue, I had that problem too due to the delay of my document. According to the PSB here in Jiangsu, you can extend a Z visa for another 30 days but ONLY if you already have the Foreign Expert Certificate issued.

Finally, as far as I know it is impossible to change an L visa to a Z inside the PRC. I think all Zs must be issued outside the country. But HK should work for that purpose (unless it's her first Z, which possibly has to be issued in the passport country, although not sure if that's still true now. Could be no issue in HK).

tin man · Joined: 18 Jun 2010 Posts: 137

Thanks for the feedback. As far as my coworker goes, I doubt she can get the Z anywhere but the US.

I read my Z again and it says the school must apply for the residency in 30 days. How is a teacher supposed to know they indeed applied? And what if they tell you they did but failed to do so? Perhaps the best thing to do is go to immigration a few days before my Z expires and see where I stand? Again, the school has treated me well but I get the impression that they are completely incompetent.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

tin man · Joined: 18 Jun 2010 Posts: 137

They keep telling me they applied and waiting the reply but they never asked for my passport. Makes no sense based on my previous work here. I told them today via wechat that I want to go to immigration and get my passport stamped. I may have to exit the country if they can't get it together and wait for them to do so. If I am not in China then that will get them off their ass.

Alien abductee · Joined: 08 Jun 2014 Posts: 527 Location: Kuala Lumpur

hz88 · Joined: 27 Sep 2015 Posts: 162

There are a lot of variables to consider so it is clear to know the state of play from what you have said thus far.

Once you arrive in China with the z visa, the school then has to apply for the actual work permit card. This is all done online, they don't usually require your passport at this stage. These applications go into a queue at your provincial Foreign Experts Bureau and your school will receive an electronic notification when it is ready to collect.

Once they have that they should be taking you, the card, your passport and other relevant documents to the local PSB to apply for your resident permit.

Some schools are known to do this on exactly the thirtieth day. If it is getting close to that time you should be reminding them of this fact. Approaching the immigration before then will only result in them telling you to ask your school.

There is no definitive way of ensuring they have done this other than keep reminding them. I suggest you subtly ask them if your work permit card has been produced yet. Their reaction should be enough to determine if they have dealt with that. The fact that they have got you a z visa in the first place indicates they are familiar with the system and should therefore theoretically be aware of the next stage. There is a set procedure to follow now throughout China, it is clearly documented in a 67 page PPT. I do have a copy of this (its all in Chinese) which if you need please send me a pm.

Once your passport is with the PSB, it can be there anywhere between 7 and 21 days, the average seems to be about 10 working days at the moment. It will then be returned to you with the resident permit on a page of your passport. The work permit card will be either kept by your employer (most are keeping them, it has zero use as a functional ID for foreigners) or given to you to keep.

That is what should be happening with regards to your resident permit application.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Interesting. I didn't know about the electronic step before submitting PP.

tin man · Joined: 18 Jun 2010 Posts: 137

I am starting to make progress. hz88 I will pm you for the instructions in Chinese. xie xie

Kalkstein · Joined: 25 Aug 2016 Posts: 80

nimadecaomei · Joined: 22 Sep 2016 Posts: 605

For the coworker mentioned by the OP, this is my experience:

The HK office was only interested in the bar code on the document. I had no real invitation letter, it was the HR Department of Jiangsu Province document that was needed and all I had was a photocopy of that document. It was the bar code that was scanned to decide if it was acceptable. Up until then, I had not left China in about 10 years. This may or may not make a difference, I think it is probably irrelevant. I had to get all of my documents in order for the Jiangsu people to give me that bar code, so I am guessing it links to all of that stuff (not an immigration officer so no sure).