Job Discussion Forums

Lei Feng · Joined: 28 Feb 2006 Posts: 59

The PSB came to my home this evening asking to see my passport, Visa and Residence permit. I have a F Visa, but no Residence permit. Since my Chinese is not great I really couldn't understand the policeman instructions.

In the four years I have been in China I have had four Z visas, but only twice was I given a residence permit. This time after I moved to Shenzhen from Zhuhai my school arranged the Z, but again no Residence permit. My contract and visa expired I recently started freelancing so I bought a F visa through an agency, but again no Residence permit.

Will I get into trouble without a Residence permit? Can I be deported? Has anyone here ever gotten a Residence permit on thier own and how did you do it? Are the PSB suddenly being more stringent about freelancers all of a sudden or have I always just been lucky?

Sorry if all this has been asked and answered. I tried the search function but it never works for me.

Thanks

chongcheng · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 3:10 pm Post subject:

iirc you need to register with your local police station within 24 hours of arriving at your place of residence. It's just a matter of filling in a form. You keep one copy they keep the other.

It shouldn't be too serious. Just go to the local cop shop and fill in the form. Do it ASAP.

C

KES · Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 722

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Freelancing - you were asking for this sort of trouble! Yes, keep us informed!

lf_aristotle69 · Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 546 Location: HangZhou, China

WordUp · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 131

That area of China is cracking down on tax fraud and making foreigners pay back taxes.. In fact in Zhejiang, the newest deal with Visas is requiring anyone who has ever had a visa before to provide scanned copies of those visas as proof of having entered China before.. Before the Z visa will even be issued..

especially if you want to work in a College.. Otherwise, they send all the invitation paperwork back to the school until the scanned copies of former L and F visas is provided. Its getting to be a nightmare processing these invitation letters with the government..

I'm talking about folks who have been to China before in the past and are presently located in their homecountry who are qualified to teach (BA or MA Diploma)

www.journeyeast.org

yesteacher! · Joined: 07 Feb 2006 Posts: 31

I am having the same difficulty. Does anyone have any info on this?

HunanForeignGuy · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 989 Location: Shanghai, PRC

In order to work in China under the new rules, actually the old rules that were sometimes obliquely not applied, a Z visa / resident permit is required. This is a one-step in folio passport process. The PSB had ever right to ask you what you were doing in China and yes, you are required to register with the PSB within 24 hours (week-ends notwithstanding) for either a change of residence in China or an initial entry. And there are fines for that kind of thing. And in a worst case scenario, contrary to what a previous poster remarked about Internet in jail, you most likely, that is for sure, would or could be deported, in a worse case scenario -- I want to stress. Otherwise, in many cases, it may turn out to be a "go with the flow" type scenario at the PSB. Two different officers may give you two different opinions.

Look, as for the rules regarding issuance of a Z visa, they are currently fluctuating wildly from province to province, and in many cases from city to city. Do your homework and contact a FT in your area -- particularly a recent arrival.

Lei Feng · Joined: 28 Feb 2006 Posts: 59

Well...Here is the result. My girlfriend called the number that the cop gave her and they told her to come down and fill out a form. They said that it was not required for me to be there. I figured that this was a misunderstanding and went with her anyway.

Once there she was handed a form, filled it out, and I signed it. OVER!!!

I am even more confused now. I had people saying that working or even undocumented freelancing was grounds for dismissal, but it knows seems sorted. Not sure what to do next. I am thinking of biting the bullet and working for a training center.

I had promised that I wouldn't do that ever again considering that in Shenzhen there are more then enough privates and companies that will pay directly to the teacher.

Well...We will see.

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

Ok! there still seems to be a bit of confusion around the whole visa thing after it's been debated ad-nauseum.

L: tourist visa
F: business visa. Issued to businessmen, consultants and as of recently to most people who are coming to work in China for a period of less than 6 months.
Z: issued by embassies to people coming to china to take up a position. Once you enter the country, it should be CONVERTED into a residence permit sticker that resides in your passport. more often than not, this comes with a red booklet that can be either a 'Foreign Expert's card' or "work permit card"

Lobster · Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:49 am Post subject:

The issue here obviously had nothing to do with your visa or work status, but rather your failing to register your place of residence at the local cop shop. Every few months here in Nanjing, the cops come by our apartment to check the documents of all the foreign residents and ask who's living here. I don't know if the Chinese residents are asked. They just look at our passports, have a cup of tea, and then take off. They've never asked who we work for or what we do.

RED