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myesl

I have just called the Chinese Consulate in New York and was told some very surprising information by the visa section.

1) They said that I do NOT need any kind of medical exam to get a Z visa (work visa).

2) They said the letter of invitation is not enough. They need my WORK PERMIT from my school in China.

3) They said I only need to bring them my passport, a photo, my work permit, and fill out the visa form. And I must go to New York as they will not accept mail (tit for tat because they said the US is doing the same thing in China).

Was this guy pulling my leg 'cause I called him right before lunch? Anyone else hear this?

GeminiTiger · Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 8:25 pm Post subject:

I dont have a z visa but, each point you listed is preety much
the opposite of everything I have been told. Hopefully someone
will come along and settle the issue. =)

myesl · Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 9:09 pm Post subject:

Yeah, it's the opposite of everything I've heard, too. So -- much to the annoyance of the guy at the NY consulate -- I double and triple checked everything he said. He must have thought I was mad, or he was having fun pulling my chain.

Anyone?

quanxie · Joined: 11 Feb 2004 Posts: 91 Location: The Sticks

He wasn't pulling your chain. You don't need the medical exam because your contract is for 10 months and even if you do the medical in the States you WILL have take it again here. Also you must have both a letter of invitation (not from the school, but from the provincial Chinese consulate) and a foreign expert certificate. Both should be originals not faxes or photocopies (although some people have used copies, better safe than sorry). I have not heard that they need the work permit from your school, maybe he meant the foreign experts certificate, a school can not get one of these without a work permit to employ foreigners. One passport sized photo, your passport, money and the visa form are also required.

Good luck,
Phil

Talkdoc · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 696

My understanding is that the medical exam is to clear you for the residency permit, not the Z-Visa. Your school will most likely walk you through the process a day or two after you arrive in China. Some schools ask you to do it beforehand so that they know, in advance, that you do not have any diseases which would disqualify you for residency and then, once here, they will have it done again.

At least 14 months ago, when I applied for my Z-Visa, it was acceptable to use a service which in turn presents your paperwork to the Chinese embassy, in person, on your behalf.

Do a search on Google for "Z-Visa Service" and I am sure you will find several agencies which provide that service. You simply send them all of your original paperwork and your passport (make photocopies first) with a check or money order for the amount specified (varies depending on how fast you want it) and you will have in mailed back to you in no time.

Good luck.

Doc

Dan__ · Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 87 Location: Hangzhou

I have not had the best of luck dealing with Chinese consular officers in the U.S. (my experiences were with the Chicago consulate).

Here's my suggestion: ask them to give you their requirements in writing. Whatever some guy tells you on the phone may or may not be true. They tell you what you need, then you make the trip to New York, and then it turns out you don't have everything you need. It's extremely frustrating.

Come to think of it, I've had the same problem with the U.S. consulate in Shanghai!

Get it in writing.

cj750 · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 3081 Location: Beijing

When I left Dalian for Beijing I had a number of months left on my green book and red book (The red book is the foreign Expert book) and when I came to Beijing I was told that I needed a stamp from Dalian PSB to get a green book (residence permit) in Beijing. The only way to do this is to present (in Person or have the old school do it) The green book and a copy of the red book as well as a letter saying you are already employed (with stamp) at a company in Beijing. I have also been informed that no exam will be needed (Info from PSB) and that everything can be transfered.
As to an exam in the states..it can be done in the states but the doctors Signature has to be noterised and then the notery has to be certified by the state and then the state has to be certified by state seal..but you still have to buy a form here for 1RMB. I did this and it was good for my first two years..of cource everything can change at any time...and some of the written information on the web sites is very old.

burnsie · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 489 Location: Beijing

Check out www.speedbusiness.com.cn and the Expatriate section for more details on work visas.

You shouldn't have to do the medical exam in the US, once you get here.

Not sure about the work permit. You can't get your work permit until you get here so the school can't give it to you until then! Confusing. Could it be the Foreign Employment License? This is the license from the school to say it can employ foreigners.

I have no idea about the last question.

You will find there is plenty of grey area in China (and usually the grey areas do not correspond with the grey matter in their heads).

Sorry I can't be of more help, good luck.

chengdude · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 294

Why not check the appropriate web pages of the NY consulate?

http://newyork.china-consulate.org/eng/lsqz/fhqz/t42204.htm#4

Review the "Employment Visa" section above, and also here for confirmation of Question 3...

http://www.nyconsulate.prchina.org/eng/lsqz/VisasforChina/t114292.htm

The short answer being, no, he was not yanking your chain.

myesl · Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 7:33 pm Post subject:

Thanks everyone!

Glad we all agree on the medical exam.

As for the "work permit", that was the term he used. He said they didn't need a "letter of invitation". I'll call again before I get on the train to spend the day in NYC. My school still has to get their sh78 together.

Thanks.