Job Discussion Forums

bqd37340 · Joined: 15 Apr 2018 Posts: 2

Hello everyone,

I have secured a great position that I am very happy about, but the contract does not start until August. I am wanting to move to China sooner than my contract start date, and am wondering if anyone here has experience doing this, or if this could impact my Z visa and the like for my main job in August? Could I move on my own on a tourist visa, or get an additional Z visa?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Blistering Zanazilz · Joined: 06 Jan 2018 Posts: 180

Your plan is not feasible for several reasons. Get your Z visa sometime in June, early July, and don't arrive in China more than 2-3 weeks before your job begins. Doing anything differently will cause you mucho problemos.

happeningthang · Joined: 08 Oct 2003 Posts: 117

It's true - you will need to enter China using your Z visa within a certain timeframe.

The timeline is like this.... you'll have to apply for and have your Z-visa issued by the Chinese consulate. Just that alone is a major pain in the arse that will take a lot of paperwork and co-ordinated bureacracy.

They need your passport for this - so you won't be using it until that's done.

Then you will need to enter China on this visa. After doing so you then set the clock for your school to organise your work visa. As long as your school starts working on that straight away after you arrive - then it's not really a problem... Enter too early before your position starts without speaking to your school and you won't be able to get your resident visa.

I guess you'd be able to enter China on a tourist visa - before starting work - travel around and then exit to re-enter again with the z-visa when it's time to start the job.

In any case you'd need to organise both visas and have them in your passport before heading out....

nimadecaomei · Joined: 22 Sep 2016 Posts: 605

Blistering Zanazilz · Joined: 06 Jan 2018 Posts: 180

bqd37340 · Joined: 15 Apr 2018 Posts: 2

Blistering Zanazilz · Joined: 06 Jan 2018 Posts: 180

Sure, you can travel to China right now as a tourist, but be prepared to fly back to the US and spending up to a couple of months doing all the prep work before actually applying for the Z visa.

nimadecaomei · Joined: 22 Sep 2016 Posts: 605

You cannot hold two visas at the same time.

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

The 'travelling to China on an L (tourist) visa and converting to Z (work visa) once here' idea has been traversed many times. There are posters who claim they easily achieved this by popping over to HK. But on closer scrutiny it appears thay have some other claim like a Chinese spouse to smooth the pathway.
The best idea is to talk this over mano a mano with your employer. They are your best ally. IMHO you should enter this process with the thought that you can't convert L to Z.

nimadecaomei · Joined: 22 Sep 2016 Posts: 605

No one was saying travel here and convert your visa. I am the one in question here, I do have a Chinese wife, but she had zero to do with my visa process. I have also mentioned my co-worker, who is not married to a Chinese woman, was able to do it also. Someone who has been out of the country for years should be more careful.

I said two visas cannot be in a passport.

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

I concluded my post by stating that getting the employer onside is the best way forward if the standard route is to be avoided.

twowheel · Joined: 03 Jul 2015 Posts: 753

getbehindthemule · Joined: 15 Oct 2015 Posts: 712 Location: Shanghai

I arrived in China on a tourist visa early. I think it was approx nine or ten weeks after that, before my school had all the documentation ready. I then popped out to HK for a few days with the documentation in tow. In one day with the paperwork + passport. Then called back the following day and collected my passport with my new Z-visa. Enjoyed another night in HK before re-entering the mainland on Z.
I then had a month to convert my Z-Visa to a residence permit (RP). My school helped me to do this and it was painless.
Note: this was four years ago.

getbehindthemule · Joined: 15 Oct 2015 Posts: 712 Location: Shanghai

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

Yeah it's such a lottery and compounded by agents lying about how easy a HK run is.
I would say that a job applicant should make sure he/she is talking to the employing school (not an agent) when asking about this topic. At least the school has skin in the game.
Also the school should hold authorisation to employ foreigners. You still need an invitation from an accredited school to apply for a Z - even in HK.
Then again guanxi can solve just about anything.