Job Discussion Forums

[Old Dog]

Can any long-time ft here tell me what they know about single-entry and multiple-entry Z visas? This has been a bone of contention between me and the "doesn't understand much English" "cadre" (as he calls himself) here. He swore black and blue over several years that such things were not possible. Then I had to return home suddenly for a funeral. With no re-entry visa, there went my Resident's Permit and I had to cool my heels at home waiting for the red tape to be gone through to get a new Z visa for my return. Upon my return, the old swine couldn't understand why I didn't have a Resident's permit and refused to get another one issued. I took myself off to the Suzhou PSB and got it from the horse's mouth that multiple-entry visas were indeed possible, just a little more expensive than single-entry Z visas. And, no, the photo copy of the old Resident's Permit would definitely not do! Well, outrage followed. The "cadre" felt he had lost face when I presented him with the facts - through a Chinese speaker. The "FAO" old swine then contacted his mate, head of the local PSB, who in turn contacted his mate who is head of Suzhou PSB. It was then declared that the PSB man in Suzhou I spoke to didn't know what he was talking about. BUT, well, yes, multiple-entry Z visas were available but only if permission is granted by the Principal of the school. Sounds like codswallop to me - concocted to save the old swine's face. I suggested that maybe the PSB officer I spoke to in Suzhou should be sacked for incompetence - but this suggestion was only greeted with Chinese silence. Does anyone know exactly what's what? My interpretation of the situation is that the old swine just likes going off pretty often to Suzhou and as I have to return home fairly regularly, trips to get single-entry Z visas for me suit him very nicely. But a multiple entry visa would give him a Suzhou excuse only once per year.

[burnsie]

Most schools don't like to give out single, double or multiple entry visas so you don't do a runner. Also most don't like to pay for them as it's double or triple the price (for a multiple entry one).

Your idiot 'cadre' probably was too tight to pay for the multiple entry visa or didn't want you to run (as above).

Most schools don't pay for the extra entry either so you have to fork out the cost.

Go to this website www.speedbusiness.com.cn and check out the expatriate section about the entry requirements.

[Spiderman Too]

Multiple-entry 'Z' visas are one thing, a re-entry permit is another.

When I obtained my last (second) 'Z' visa at an overseas Chinese embassy, facilitated by 3 Chinese language documents supplied by my university, I thought I would take the opportunity to get a multiple-entry visa, at my own cost. I was told that I needed written permission from my employer.

Now, my 'Z' visa has expired but I have a Foreign Experts Certificate and a Foreigners Residence Permit valid for 1 year.

Recently I visited the Foreign Affairs Office in the capital city of the province in which I am staying. They told me that if I wanted to undertake a short overseas trip (maximum 30 days away) I can apply for a re-entry permit. They said I did not need permission, or any documentation from my university to apply for a re-entry permit.

A re-entry permit would cost me 600 RMB, but different charges apply for different nationalities; Americans pay substantially more.

[Roger]

I have, throughout these years, always had multiple-entry work visas, with no ifs and buts added.
Yes, it is mainlya a cost question: multiples cost several hundred kuai extra.

But I have also noticed of late that some schools seem to be stalling in providing us with those coveted visas. The reason might very well be that some of us abscond and use the visa for illicit purposes, for instance, touring Asia with frequent border hoppings.

My university is extremely parsimonious and has made us pay for the extra costs in obtaining MULTIPLE entry visas; the basic visa cost is borne by them - and that is minimal; the multiple is about 3 times the visa cost.
For example, my six-month work visa last term cost my university RMB 150-plus; I paid another 430 kuai for the multiple mention ("M" in English, character "duo" in Chinese).

[peggiescott]

I too have a multiple entry visa. I came into the country on a single entry and after I arrived my FAO went off one day with my papers and 600RMB (of my money) and came back a couple of days later with the visa.

[tigerlily20202]

my admins told me that a multiple entry visa didn't exist, wasn't possible...that i have to pay for each reentry...i'm confused...is there a visa you can get that just lets you leave and reenter 1+ times, with no additional hassle (i thought there was?...)

[burnsie]

[deezy]

I'm confused now. I am going back to Australia for 3-4 weeks at Xmas. I currently hold a single entry Z visa plus a residents book and FEbook. Do I need a re-entry visa which you say costs 600 yuan, do I need to get my school to change my single entry Z to a multiple entry Z, which sounds expensive too, or do I simply get them to give me more LOIs etc., and get another single entry Z visa when I'm back in Melbourne....luckily I live round the corner from the consulate there so it's not a big deal, and a Z visa only costs me A$20. I thought I knew what to do...now I don't!!!

And why do they make it so difficult and confusing for all of us?

[Roger]

deezy:
you need a RE-ENTRY PERMIT, not a re-entry visa.
The re-entry permit is granted to those who make a roundtrip out of the country on a single-entry visa.
The re-entry permit is available from the PSB. Sometimes it takes more than two weeks to obtain it! I don't think it will set you back more than 50 or 100 kuai!

[deezy]

Phew!! thanks Roger! and thanks for the tip about the two weeks...I'm sure I'd've just asked them to organise it a week ahead otherwise!

cheers
Deezy

[voodikon]

so what's the advantage of having a multiple-entry z visa over a re-entry permit? being able to re-enter multiple times?

when i was at the chinese embassy in hong kong attempting (as instructed by my employer to do) to apply for a multiple-entry visa, i was told by the clerk that such a thing does not exist! she then proceeded to cross out that box and check the single-entry box.

so if i want to go to hong kong for a week and then return to the mainland, i can also just obtain a re-entry permit?

[Old Dog]

It seems to me that, re visas, in China the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. Further, it seems to me that different PSB offices just make up whatever rules suit them. When I have complained here about the lack of multiple entry Z visas, they've simply laughed and said to the effect, "Well, they may do that in Beijing but we don't do that here." God only knows what the reasoning is - maybe there's a money element in it somewhere. I really don't know.

I'd not heard of the re-entry permits - and I doubt if the neanderthals here have either. But, for sudden family emergencies, a multiple-entry Z visa is obviously preferable to a re-entry permit if it takes two weeks to be issued.

[Roger]

Sorry to read about the troubles you guys had, or still have, in getting a multiple-entry visa. I am particularly fascinated by the refusal of the mainland authority in HK to deliver such a visa upon request - this used to be a mere matter of routine.

I infer therefore that practices have changed. Informally it has been said here before that the central authorities are no longer cooperative all the time in issuing multiple-entry visas, that in fact they are not willing to give them too often as holders of such visas might abscond too easily.

Here in Guangdong it is still easy enough to get a multiple-entry visa. I don't think this is going to change any time soon. We all need access to Hong Kong and Macau, and since mainlanders are being granted access to HK more readily now it would make no sense if they curtailed our right to go there.

As for re-entry permits: that is your last option, voodikon! Afraid, there is hardly any alternative.