Job Discussion Forums

Sofa_king · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Shanghai

Hello everyone,

I'm departing for Shanghai in less than a week. I have a position offered, a contract almost signed and am just finalizing all my flight and visa stuff. However, one thing does concern me. The people that I am dealing with have told me to enter the country on a 60 day tourist visa, and that it can be changed to a working visa. Is this OK to do? Also, will I be forced to do a visa run to another country in order to get become a legal teacher in China? Any help you offer would be greatly appreciated.

Millerlong · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 147 Location: Shanghai, China

Yes you can go from tourist to work visa.

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

. . . or you can go from tourist visa to a RESIDENCE PERMIT (affixed into your passport similar to a visa) and a FOREIGN EXPERT CERTIFICATE (a separate red book, good for ID and exchanging money), which is more likely the case. If you're not coming in on a Z-visa, odds are you won't get a Z-visa put into your passport, rather the RP, which acts much like a visa and allows you unlimited entry and departure to and from China as long as it is valid. *whew!*

Yu · Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Posts: 1219 Location: Shanghai

I third that....
Did the same thing when I came over in 2005. At first, I was uncomfortable with it, but it all worked out. Like Kev said, I got a foreign experts cert and a z visa. School took care of everything.

izzy272 · Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 29 Location: Shanghai

I work out of Shanghai and one of my duties includes securing visas for Teachers. It is rare that I post to this board but felt it important to do so here.
While you have received good sound advice from all of the above posts IE you have not been misinformed please be aware of the following , The visa rules in Shanghai have seen many changes over the past months with more on the way. Secondly the proper way to secure a Z visa is to first get the FOREIGN EXPERT CERTIFICATE then with that in hand you obtain a temporary Z visa good for 30 days. This being done in your home country. That will then allow you to enter the PRC, have your health check then apply for your work permit and what not. While there are loop holes in the laws that make for other options, this at the present time in SH is the only 100% legal way.

The fact that your prospective employer is suggesting that you get a 60 day L visa leads me to believe two things
1. They are cheap and lazy and simply do not wish to expend the time and monies to do it correctly.
2. They have every intention of having you work without the proper visa if only for a short time.

If neither of the above two facts concern you then by all means proceed.