Job Discussion Forums

[DavidJ1609]

Hi,

I am UK citizen, wife Indonesian - officially married with all appropriate documents.

I have an offer from a school in China who now have all my certificates and have got the work permit, but apparently need a medical form from me before I arrive to get the "Visa Authorisation Notice" form.

I am confused:-
In Thailand the Chinese Immigration gave me a medical form, and asked for it to be completed, following which I would need the work permit and other form. Folks I met in Thailand had just done this. The school were merrily arranging their end, and I jumped here to Hong Kong as my Thai visa expired 24th Sept, just as this job came up and was accepted.

In HK, the mainland Chinese Immigration said I do not need a medical, just the two forms from mainland china via the school. I clarified and was cheerfully told that I could get it done when I got there, and they could issue me a Z-Visa without it. Great, thought I.

The school called me just as I was leaving the immigration desk and told me I needed a medical before coming. They then spoke to the immigration desk. After this, Immigration in HK told me I must go to North West China on a tourist visa, get the medical locally, then return to HK for the visa! Again I clarified and this was reaffirmed. I don't believe this is true.

Also, they said in HK that my wife can be named as dependant, but in China the locals queried how she would be sustained - despite the salary being better than local teachers earn with their families to sustain.

___________________Slightly as an aside_______________________
I spoke to the school again, who thought it was nonsense. I returned to the counter and got to another person. I asked for the medical form outright and got a blank stare. She then spoke to the girl I had spoken to earlier. What happened next surprised me! Her face changed from normal to angry and she "accused" me of asking the same question before. I put my best sorry face, and said I was confused, but she was having none of it. She simply wrote down two (later-incorrect) numbers and thrust the paper at me telling me to phone them. I tried to explain, but she blanked me, pushed the paper at me and pressed the number for the next person?
I am fairly well travelled and culturally sensitive, but this really threw me. Is there an issue with questioning what you have been told in China?
_______________________________Aside over___________________

Now, like most people, I have never found the money tree and rely on regular income to keep me afloat. Hong Kong is apparently the city where rich men feel poor. Writing from an international hotel room the size of my toilet in Indonesia, with no wardrobe space and having arrived in some important holiday week where I am lucky to have a room, I can see why.

I am in urgent need of good, solid advice and Hong Kong shuts tomorrow!

1) Do I need a medical before I go?
2) If so, who needs the medical; immigration or the school's local officials?
3) Where do I go to get a medical - this is important as in Thailand the Chinese Immigration desk had a list. Here in HK they say it's not necessary and could not even be persuaded there is a form for it. (I did check - I was not in the Latvian immigration by mistake, nor HK.)
4) What about my wife's status? She needs to be with me for the duration. How would this be achieved?
5) Does anyone know a good immigration/visa specialist who can sort this out in HK?
6) Does anyone know a good, cheap, reliable place to stay for a couple of weeks. I have tried the "hostels" famous for backpackers and, despite having roughed it in my travels, my kneck-hairs were raised enough to put me off on security grounds.

Any help would be appreciated. At the moment I am looking at time-scales of weeks rather than days, and that is not possible on my budget in Hong Kong.

Thanks,

DavidJ.

[writpetition]

Hi! I understand your position and would love to give you more information but all I can tell you is a cheap place to stay in HK - Chungking Mansions in Kowloon. You can find small, dingy rooms albeit with attached toilets and a/c for about HK$ 100 a night...if you look around a bit. Chungking Mansions has many small 'hotels' and you can check out one that suits you best. Prices might have changed/risen since I did that once some years back.

[johnchina]

I am also from the UK. Speaking from my own experience and those of my friends/colleagues:

1. No, unless you are coming from an area plagued with something.
2. It's not really an 'or' situation. You need it for the Z visa. The medical is usually taken as part of the procedure for getting a Z visa.
3. In China, at the local hospital wherever you are going to get your visa/work.
4. There's a thread running about this on Dave's. I'm not married, but as far as I know this shouldn't be a big issue.
5. Japan Travel Agency in Kowloon (East Ocean Plaza???)
6. Couple of reasonable hostels on Paterson Street on HK island. Somewhat better than Chungking Mansions.

[jeffinflorida]

I work with a guy who has his non chinese wife with him. he got no problems having her along for the ride. She doesnt work and just hangs in his room and doesnt even speak english. she's from bali.

By the way, I just got an RP in china from an F visa and never had to take a medical.

Sounds like you are getting a run around and lots of bad info.

[u24tc]

This is how it should work.

1. To get a Z-Visa you DO NOT need the medical BUT the school will usually ask you to get it done before hand as it will cause them less hassle.

2. You only need the medical WHEN you apply for the residency permit. You can simply get this done in china WITHIN 30 days after you have entered the country. Local hospital 450rmb roughly.

3. Some consulates are weird and ask for the medical form when applying for the visa whilst some don't.

4. It does not state on the website that the medical form is required when applying for the visa either.

[tw]

[Mister Al]

If the school says you need a medical before you can get your visa notification letter you will need to get one. As for where maybe the Chinese Embassy could tell you where to go in HK. Course it might be expensive. All it bit messy it seems.

As for your wife, once you sort out your issues and if the HK Chinese Embassy let your wife enter as a dependant then take advantage of that. If not, she should get a 90 day tourist visa and apply for dependancy status when you are in mainland China

Good luck