Job Discussion Forums

englishgibson · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 4345

Hi everyone,
We have discussed working permits in China many times on this forum and there are loads of the information posted.
However, there are new regulations that have been in effect in some parts of China and are going to be in effect in other parts of China very soon.
Fujian, Guangdong etc that have still been able to convert their L visas to Z visas or that have got their Z visas at all will soon have to THINK "FOREIGN RESIDENCY PERMIT" stamps directly in the passport and forget about the Z visas.
My question is whether those FRP stamps do replace the Z visas thouroughly, or whether there is a need for any additional (permit) document to work in China.
By the way the FRP shall come along with the foreign expert booklet, even though that does not prove ones work legitimacy.
Another question to be considered in order to get that FRPs is; "Do we have to sign that vaguely written FAOs Contracts that are well documented and numbered there?"
Cheers and beers

Volodiya · Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 7:34 am Post subject:

Both the Z visa, issued at a consulate or embassy of China, and the FRP, issued by the local authorities after you arrive at your post to work, are based on granting you permission to live and work in China.

The Z visa grants you permission to enter the country to work, and the FRP grants you permission to remain in the country to work. FTs will continue to be issued a FEC by the local authorities, as well.
__________________

E.G., if you've got something that contradicts what I've just said, could you share it with us, or does your information seem to you to fit what I've just described?

englishgibson · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 4345

Volodiya, there has been a new FRP stamp in the passport with single or multiple entry as apparently a replacement of Z visa.
Cheers and beers

Volodiya · Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 7:40 am Post subject:

Well, yes, it functions as both a grant of permission to live in the country and as a "visa" by giving you permission to exit and re-enter for the period stated on it. It doesn't replace the Z visa's role of giving you first time permission to enter the country to work.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

My FAO informed me recently that I will get a one-year resident's permit stamped direct into my passport, which will take care of the visa as well. Fewer documents, fewer hassles, uniform procedures. Only multiple-entry visas (at least here in Guangdong).

andrew_gz · Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 502 Location: Reborn in the PRC

" Fewer documents, fewer hassles, uniform procedures."

Go China!

Volodiya · Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 3:17 am Post subject:

I hate to come in behind Roger with a clarification but the foreign residence permit includes the right to exit, and re-enter, without a seperate visa. It isn't actually a "visa", itself. The holder of the FRP has the privilege to leave the country, and return, at will- anytime within the period of validity of the FRP.

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A further reminder to the reader, please- since the FRP is based on the grant to you of permission to work in China; and, that permission is, in turn, based on your maintaining your contractural relationship with your employer, should that relationship end, the FRP is subject to being revoked, at the request of the employer. Should this occur while you were out of the country, you would not be able to re-enter china on that FRP. You would, again, need a visa to enter the country.

Another way to think of it is, the FRP is given to you, for the benefit of your employer.

Some posters have said, and I have no reason to doubt them, that after one contract ends, the FRPs validity continues, and may be renewed, IF a new employer steps in immediately afterwards to sponsor you.

[These statements are those of the poster. They represent his interpretation of the valuable contributions of many other posters to this forum, coupled with what can be gleaned from published Chinese Law, at this time.]

englishgibson · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 4345

The FRPs are really less documents to take care of. There is a part in it where it says in Chinese that the FRP is for the purpose of work in China and that makes the FRP a complete Z visa replacement. I have checked my own this morning.
Cheers and beers

Volodiya · Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 7:50 am Post subject:

E.G., I may be telling you stuff you already know, but when I read your comments it looked to me like you may have been out of the loop on this for awhile.

Since Jan 1, 2005, the government has started issuing the FRP as a replacement for the former green book (the old style resident permit), which carried your name, address, place of work and a photo. To enter to work in China, you were supposed to obtain a Z visa at a Chinese consulate or embassy abroad.

Some people, however, entered on visas other than Z visas, and found work. They were given in some cases, if they met all the requirements, a Z visa, a green book (resident permit), and a FEC. Some were given multiple entry Z visas, valid until the end of their contract. These people could leave and re-enter freely- just like a person who holds the new FRP can.

Is the FRP a visa? No. Does it allow you to exit and re-enter? Yes. (It does that by giving you the privilege to leave and re-enter, without a visa.) In this sense, it replaces the Z visa. But, as for the other purpose of the Z visa, giving permission to enter the country to work, it does not. The FRP is not issued at a consulate or embassy abroad. The Z visa is.

That's what makes it misleading to call it a "complete Z visa replacement". [I assume I just misunderstood what you meant by these words. If so, I'm sorry for belaboring the point.]
________________________

Although one topic title speaks of converting visas into Z visas, in country, that topic title is misleading, also (because that practice was getting rarer and rarer, and may have ceased altogether); and, as author of that thread, I apologize to anyone who may have been mislead by it; however, I did, and I do, still find it a way to introduce and communicate the concept that, as of now, so far as we know, this is still occuring in some provinces.

[Everything I've written here is subject to revision, if future developments in the law, or the experiences of the posters to this forum, suggest it should be.]

tarzaninchina · Joined: 16 Aug 2004 Posts: 348 Location: World

That's an interesting point-to-note that the z-visa grants first-time entrance into China and then it's the residence permit for the rest.

I just got my passport and FEC back with the new residence permit in the former. There was no z-visa issued as I was in China, renewed with the college I worked at this past academic year.

Thinking of going to India for a stint during Spring Festival, so I'll encounter any border hassles then, if any.

eslLori · Joined: 11 Jun 2005 Posts: 12

We got our "z" visa in San Francisco,then came to China. Our university got our "red-book" here. With "the book" we can bank, travel, live, return.
The stamp in our passport besides the z visa is the residence permit.
Things are smoother than before and its good for 1 year.
Problem is changing from one province to another without a letter/form saying your contract is finished. Offical form seems to be non existant, signed,chopped letter seems to be the standard. I don't know about "country wide information links"(maybe in the big city provinces)but they held our cards uo for 6 weeks at first. The law/z visa stated that we had 30 days after we entered China to get the residency stamp/card.

Volodiya · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 10:27 am Post subject:

Lori, if you read just a few posts from this thread, I think you'll see that the requirement for a release letter has, in all probability, been done away with as a requirement for changing employers. In a few cases, administrators who are not aware of the changes may still ask for one.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?p=266583&highlight=release#266583

eslLori · Joined: 11 Jun 2005 Posts: 12

Vol-THANKS, it seems ok with the university we want to go to, but do we keep the red-book? Question

Babala · Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 1303 Location: Henan

The red book is the property of the school. It can not be used at another school so it is useless to you. Give it back to the school.

Volodiya · Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 7:08 am Post subject:

Barbala, we have pretty good evidence at this point that the way the Foreign Expert Certificate (red book) is being used has changed. At the end of last year, articles appeared in the Chinese Press suggesting there would be some changes in procedures designed to make changing employers, easier. Two changes are just now beginning to appear, as reported by posters to this forum. Posters are reporting that a release letter is no longer required, and that the FEC is being extended and amended to reflect the new employment, rather than being cancelled, as it was formerly.

Please have a look at this-

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?p=267920&highlight=#267920