Job Discussion Forums

Tarheel 13 · Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 44 Location: Outer Banks, NC

I think it's time to revisit this issue, especially given what I've been thru this past week.

First and foremost: THERE IS NO SHORTCUT.

If you don't believe me, go to the Chinese Embassy site and go thru the phone prompts to arrive at the "authentication" of documents rules. Here they are, vis a vis the Physical Report For Foreigners that all foreign teachers will need to complete for their prospective employer BEFORE their employers will be permitted to secure a Work Permit and Foreign Expert Permit for you to be provided with your Work Visa:

(1) Get a medical done at your local doctor. If you don't do the chest x-ray and AIDs-Syphilis Blood Test, then they'll do it for you in China.

(2) Get the doctor to complete and sign your Physical Report for Foreigners and stamp it.

(3) Get a local notary of the public to sign off on the doc's signature.

(4) Get your particular Secretary of State to authenticate the documents, which is really the notary's signature. In my case I went to Raleigh and they did it in within a couple of hours.

(4) Get the US Dept of State to authenticate the documents. In my case, I went to their office in Washington and they did it in less than an hour.

(5) Get the Chinese Embassy or local Chinese Consulate to award an authenticity certificate on your document(s). In my case I arrived at the Embassy in Washington at 11:00 a.m. and had the certificate in hand at 1:30 p.m.

Then send the Chinese certificate and your Physical Report via fax to your prospective employer so that they may go to the local gov't office and acquire a Work and Expert Permit for you...which will then be forwarded to you so that you may again visit the local consulate or embassy to acquire your Work Visa.

The medical can be costly if you get it all done. I chose to get all tests as my wife's insurance covered it all. Why get probed all over again in China if it's not required? The notary signature is cheap, the state authenticity costs $10; the US authenticity costs $7; and the same day certificate from the Chinese Embassy costs $50.

I hope this has been of some benefit to those looking to work as a teacher in China. I was told by my employer, one of the top universities in China, that the ground rules have changed and that the certificates and medical are now required before a work permit will be provided to your for purposes of obtaining the work visa.

There will be other views as to how to shortchange this process, but why bother. These are the rules. Learn to live with them is my motto.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Sounds like a lot of paperwork. But there are still some employers who let you do the medical in China, aren't there?

I'm sure in Peru I could pay someone to do the running around. I did it when I had to get my degree legalised. Paid 60 USD and had everything done in 4 days.

jwbhomer · Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 876 Location: CANADA

At both universities I taught at, the school made all the arrangements and paid the costs. The hospitals were reasonably clean and the complete battery of tests only took a couple of hours. I think that beats running around and getting everything done "at home".

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

dave_merk · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 208

As far as I know, two tests have always been required. I did one in America and another when I got here. I don't know why everyone thinks it's such a huge hassle to do a medical in China and the native country. I did both and I was uninsured. No two ways about it: you have to do it if you want to come here. We all have to live with it.

SheZook · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 187

I never had the medical done in Australia. Arrived on an "F" visa, had the medical done in China on arrival (paid for by employer) and had my work visa issued here before I started working. No problem then but that was 2 years ago so maybe that option is no longer viable.

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

SheZook · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 187

With all due respect tw, the OP doesn't mention that in the title OR his original post, nor is "Z" visa specifically mentioned in any of the following posts, bar your most recent one.
I'm sure most people here are aware that he is talking about securing the "Z" visa before arrival (although this could perhaps have been made clearer for newbies), however, my post (and others) are simply stating that we have had success in coming here to work WITHOUT doing a home-country medical. Naturegirl asked the question and now she has an answer that may or may not prove to be helpful (depending on her situation) and it also may help others.
The OP may be referring to the "Z" visa medical but there's no harm in discussing other options. Don't get your panties in a twist.

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

SheZook, all I'm trying to do is to make sure that people are clear that people applying for a Z visa are very likely to be asked to submit a medical report before their potential employer could and/or would get them the documents needed for a Z visa. As such, there COULD be two medical exams. If you are suggesting that people can bypass the hassle of the first medical exam by coming here with a F visa, then that's fine. I personally wouldn't recommend that since it has been said on the forum that a F visa can not be converted into a RPF.

Another reason why I've been repeating myself over and over again is that there are some posters who seem to only want to read what they want to read. They just don't seem to understand and/or accept the fact that there is a high probability they'd have to fork out money for a medical exam BEFORE they can even get the documents needed for a Z visa.

On a side note, has anyone had to submit a police check along with their medical exam report in order to get their Z visa's documents like I had to do before going to Inner Mongolia?

Tarheel 13 · Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 44 Location: Outer Banks, NC

Employer are now being asked by their local government to provide a medical form for the potential employee prior to the issuing of Work Permits and Expert Document, which teachers overseas will require when they go to the local Chinese consulate or embassy to secure a Z Work Visa. This is the new standard that is rapidly being applied for overseas teachers before their arrival in China. We might not like it; we might have anecdotes how we didn't have to go thru the hassles when we first arrived in China. However, these are the facts as of today. Be well.

jwbhomer · Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 876 Location: CANADA

Nature girl: I entered on an L visa and my employer (a university) got me the Z visa. Having the medical done was necessary for the Z visa. This was in 2003 so it may be the rules have changed since then.

SheZook · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 187

I'm not suggesting or recommending that anyone try and come here on an F visa and have it converted (note my comment about how that may no longer be viable), and I'm not denying the possibility of requiring two medicals. I commented on my personal experience so...

Tarheel 13 · Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 44 Location: Outer Banks, NC

I'm bumping this back to the top because all you out of country ESL teachers should beware that the rules are changing. If a good school/college wishes to hire you, the GOVERNMENT demands that you must be medically cleared with a Chinese embassy authentication certificate in hand before an Expert Document and Work Visa will be provided. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Be well.

mike w · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 4:07 am Post subject:

I arrived on a Z visa with no medical required in the UK. I was issued with a foreign experts certificate before I left the UK to present to the Chinese consulate in Manchester with my visa application. When I arrived, my employer arranged for a medical and paid for it - it took less than half an hour.

Don't understand what all the hassle is about.