Job Discussion Forums

[rellafeerf]

Can someone please tell me what is required in the invitation letter from a business in China which wishes to employ me for a short (two-month) term in the summer? I am currently in the United States and would like to obtain the proper F visa before I arrive in Beijing. And because of the short duration of the summer camp, it seems that a Z visa is out of the question. I would really appreciate some help. Thank you.

[Roger]

I am not a friend of cryptic messages and use the proper names rather than abbrevfiations such as "F' visa or 'Z' visa. If you don't understand Chinese then English is preferable, and in English the so-called 'F' visa is called 'business visa', whereas 'Z' stands for 'work visa'.

You will therefore appreciate your own misunderstanding: you want to "WORK" in China, but you want to apply for a "BUSINESS" visa?

You are contradicting yourself!

Businesspeople need a businessperson's visa; FTs need a work visa.

Working for 2 months? Even so, your employer must get a work visa for you. That's feasible although highly unlikely to happen because no one in their right mind wants to hire people for such short terms!

Either you or your employer, or both of you, are trying to mislead the PSB! Oh, I am not being judgemental - it's happening permanently! But I want you to know what I know!

[Spiderman Too]

rellafeerf

It is, in fact, illegal to work on an 'F' visa. However, I believe many (most?) language schools and employment agencies that recruit foreign teachers for 1 or 2 month 'summer camps' instruct FTs to obtain 'F' visas, for which they provide letters of invitation.

Actually, I have first-hand knowledge of a government university in Shanghai which has recruited FTs from overseas (as well as within China) and has advised them to simply apply for 'L' visas.

In any event, in my experience the most common form of invitation letter for schools and the suchlike is simply a letter inviting you to give a lecture about teaching/studying English. The host should specify that they will house and feed you doing your stay.

I have seen one invitation letter, from a school, wherein the host invited the FT to observe the school's English teaching practices and make recommendations for improvements.

[andrew_gz]

F visa and Z visa are perfectly acceptable terms on this forum
understood and used by all
(well, just about all)

[rellafeerf]

I know it is technically illegal to work in China under an 'F' visa (or "business visa" for those of you with more than 5,000 posts but are still confused by such commonly used lingo), as it is technically illegal to work with a 'z' visa for anyone OTHER THAN the school or company that sponsored you. However, I have never heard of ANYONE working in China for a period of less than ONE YEAR being granted a 'Z' visa. Because of this, summer camps in China should be technically illegal since they are never able to sponsor their foreign teachers for 'Z' visas for such a short time period. That is unless they do not pay their teachers, of course.

I know of several very reputable companies--for example, WorldLink Education--that only provide their teachers with 'Z' visas if they sign a one-year contract. Otherwise, they only provide 'F' visas. And I have been told PERSONALLY by the Beijing Public Security Bureau that the procedures for obtaining the proper 'Z' visa are too complicated and pricey if I only plan on teaching for a few months in the summer. I specifically asked, "But isn't it illegal to work for money in China without a 'Z' visa?" And I was told simply that in my case it was okay.

All of this is beside the point anyway, as my original question didn't pertain to the legality of working in China under an 'F' visa. If I wanted the OFFICIAL answer to this question, then I would just visit http://www.china-embassy.org. Or I could have just searched these forums; the topic has come up many times, I'm sure.

Thank you, Spiderman Too, for offering some kind of an answer to my questions: What is required in the invitation letter for an 'F' visa? And does it need to include a copy of the company's business license or anything like that? Is a faxed copy alright? Or how about a .pdf file? Please be specific.

[Roger]

My impression is you like obfuscation!

I don't understand your question: you can probably get answers to your own question by getting in touch with the nearest Chinese consulate.

You are, for instance, totally wrong in claiming work visas are issued for 12 months only. Lots of folks have half-year visas. And in SHENZHEN I saw a poster in the PSB that advertised the prices for the various visas (many years ago, admittedly); one-month work visas cost then 150. Whether they are avaialbe in the North is a moot point.
If you don't care about getting a regular work visa, or your employer is unable to get you one you can apply for any visa, including a tourist visa. Don't tell me "that's more illegal than working on a business visa". A woman is pregnant or not, she is never "a little pregnant".

Your outfit no doubt is not empowered to hire FTs legally. Any business that wants to deal with foreign nationals can meet their partners at any time, anywhere, without invitations being sent out; SOEs do have to go through the motions, though - for ideological reasons, one supposes. THey extend an invitation to their foreign counterparts who have to get a business visa from the Chinese legation in their country.
But SOEs also need approval from the relevant ministries or local authorities, including the PSB. And the invited party must be a bona fide business operator. You normally prove that to the embassy or consulate. Businesspeople can easily prove their status. Often, a name-card is proof enough!

You can also apply for your much-coveted business visa in Hong Kong. You will get it with no hassles within 24 hours at most travel agents or the China Visa Section of the Central Government in Wanchai. The latter would want to see better proof of your credentials than a mere business card, hence most FTs go to a travel agent (who marks up the visa price by as much as 100%).