Job Discussion Forums

u24tc · Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 125 Location: Dalian, China

I read the Z-visa sticky but its all so confusing and contradicting.

I have the China physical examination form and am wondering if I can simply go to the GP to get him to perfom these tests?

If so, how long would it take roughly?

Chest x-ray? <-- cost?
ECG <-- what is that?
Serodiagnosis <-- huh?

Doesnt mention anything about blood tests...

I tried to call the china consulate in the UK.. they only have operators from 3.30pm to 4.30pm.. 1 hour! Line is always busy... useless...

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks.

therock · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 1266 Location: China

Seems like its a pain in the butt to get the Z visa in the UK. Why don't you fly to Hong Kong and get your Z visa there? As far as I know you don't need to have a medical to get the visa there.

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

Mydnight · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 4:55 am Post subject:

I'm going to keep this simple as possible.

. Come in on a business or tourist VISA.
. Do it over here.
. The cost is between 250-350RMB.

u24tc · Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 125 Location: Dalian, China

I'll email the employers and see what they say.

therock · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 1266 Location: China

u24tc · Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 125 Location: Dalian, China

I just got told to do it in my home country.. UK.. I sent a reply going ok but would they cover test costs.

Chest x-rays are like �70 >_<

danswayne · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 237

Your chest x-rays in the UK cost more than everything together in Hunan Province at least. I was also told that I needed to get it done at home, but I told them I would do it here like I did 3 years ago when I was here before. They did not like it but I got it done my way anyway. If you require this same route you might be looking for a job elsewhere, but if the school is not willing to fork over 400 - 500 yuan for the tests which they always used to do without question are you sure you want to work for them anyway. It seems to me the school leaders got together with some of the political guys and said we need to save 2000 yuan next year because I did not get to by my annual new car last year.

u24tc · Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 125 Location: Dalian, China

Hi guys.. i have a list of things here which the forms says.. but not sure if need so please tell me if you MUST have these... cause its gonna get into the hundreds of �� for all these things..

I got told chest x-ray is actually about �90 now...

1. Chest X-ray < -- probably a must.. this is to look for?

2. ECG <-- some heart condition thing? Compulsory?

3. Serodiagnosis <-- blood test : to test for which things specifically? or all on the list below on the form to include: cholera, yellow fever, plague, leprosy, venereal disease, open lung tb, aids, psychosis .. < --- get test for all of those?

Thanks in advance

Mydnight · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 5:17 pm Post subject:

Dude, you can do it here and it would be more than half the price. Insist that they help you to do it when they get here because of the costs...they should understand your pragmatism.

boubou · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 61

Shit I'm happy to live in Canada in those times.... I can get the whole thing free with a doc's recommendation, and at tops pay 20$ for the form he has to fill in....

phis · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 250

I got my Z visa from the Chinese Consular Office in Manchester last year. Although my contract from the university in China seemed to indicate that I should have the medical in England there was no mention of this on the Chinese Embassy website. I already knew that I would have to have the medical repeated in China, and that I couldn't afford to do it in England anyway, so I decided to go ahead and try without it.

When I phoned the Consular Office, the only thing they insisted on was that the invitation letter from your employer and the other document from the Chinese authorities were the originals, not scanned or photocopied. (Sorry I can't remember the actual names of the documents). That did result in a bit of a drama as I was short of time and had to have them mailed 'express' from China.

I believe you can also download the application form from the website as well, so you can have everything filled in before you go to the office.

Getting the z visa itself was easy. Arrived at the Consular Office for opening time, paid a little extra for same day issue, and collected the visa at 11.30. There is also a next day service and a three day service (as I recall).

I have had to get a lot of different visas for a lot of different countries, and this was the easiest and fastest service ever! I presume the London Consular Office will work on the same principles, although I can't guarantee this.

I know you guys in the US don't always have it this easy and that medical certificates are often asked for, but honestly, unless the rules have changed since September last year, getting your z visa in the UK is a piece of cake.

Good luck.

PS Remember, as far as documentation and other requirements are concerned, it is what the Consular Office wants, not what the school 'thinks' they want. The schools quite honestly just don't know the requirements in each country.

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

u24tc · Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 125 Location: Dalian, China

Yes I got the invitation letter but the employer wants me to send them these documents back to china so i sort of have to get it done here.

This is what they want me to send to them by mail:
1. passport copy

2. diploma copy

3. physical examination record (You can call the nearest China�s Embassy or Consulate�s Office located in your country consulting them about the Physical Examination)

4. recommendation letters ( if you have any)

5. work permit application form ( see attachment)

6. 10 photos

phis · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 250

Write back to them and say that you don't need the physical examination to get your z visa in the UK, and as it is so expensive and time consuming to get it here you would prefer to do it when you are in China. Explain that you have already been told that you will have to repeat the medical anyway once you arrive in China. Also offer to send them a general letter from your GP stating that you are in good health.

Also tell them that it can take anything up to six months to get hospital appointments for 'non-urgent' x-rays and other tests, and that the results are also slow to come through - maybe an additional month or more (a little white lie, but they won't know this!). Believe me they won't want to wait that long for you to arrive.

A word of warning! - it sounds like they are setting you up to pay for everything yourself. Not a very auspicious start! Unless you are absolutely sure about this school, I would start to have second thoughts. Things won't improve once you arrive, I promise you. There are lots of jobs out there, you don't have to accept this one if you have any doubts at all.

By the way, are you dealing directly with the school or through a recruiter?