Job Discussion Forums

[PyRoT]

Hello,

I am currently doing an educational internship in Beijing, a district outside of it anyway. I arrived on a L visa and converted this to a 6 month F Visa with the help of an agency.

My internship will end at the end of February and I would like to stay in China longer but find a different, proper job. The agency which helped me appears to be able to convert my F Visa to a Z one though it requires several steps:

First step: applying for a work permit
Second step: applying for a temporary residence permit
Third step: applying for employment certificate
Fourth step: applying for one year residence permit

No idea what all this means though.

Also, I wonder if anyone would know of a school or company (or a place I could look for these), which could help employ me for 3 months and give the required support to obtain a Z Visa.

Otherwise, is there really a big risk of getting caught working on an F visa? If I do get caught what is likely to happen.. and could I ever come back to China?

I am considering staying in China one day to teach English and I want to trial this idea by working for 3 months and being more independent than I am in this internship. However, I don't wish to be locked out of China if I screw up with a Visa so if there is a realistic chance of me getting caught, I would definitely want to work legally.

Do I even need a Z visa though? I have read that I may only need a residence permit as a Z Visa is required to enter China to work but since I'm already here..

Thanks

[arioch36]

I can not offer comment on the illegal ways it can be done, or guanxi ways it can be done.

I would not trust or distrust your agency. Just remember though, that if they fail to deliver, being here illegally falls on your shoulders alone.

Take a look at the visa sticky posts.

Take a look at the Chinese visa website

And best, pay a visit to the local PSB station

There are promises of what can be done, and then there is the legal way

[PyRoT]

The company definitely seems to be legal, just probably makes things go faster. They have told me all of the amazingly complicated hoops I must jump through in order to get a work visa.

Its quite discouraging.. I don't think I will be able to get a Z visa as I'd have to fly out of here and then back. Its quite crazy.

I may have to stay on my F visa it seems. Perhaps someone can tell me what happens if they catch you and if its possible to ever come back...

I really wouldn't mind finding a way to get a work permit without the hoops.. just money hehe

Tomek

[arioch36]

A z-visa is only for coming into the country. Everyone I have known of (let's say 50-100) has had to go to Hong Kong (which is out of the country) to get their z-visa.

If you are teaching on a z-visa? Well one guy just got deported, and must apply to the PSB for permission to re-enter, one of the z-visa threads recently. So 10 day deportion notice is possible. If they think you are doing this, they may hit you up for the whole amount of the fine. But this differs so much from place to place. Then there is the question of whether you are thougth to have avoided taxes

Also reading through the threads, you will see that the PSB has stepped their visits to schools looking for laowai working illegally.

If you are working independently, probably less likely to get nabbed. Is it worth it? Any legit school can get you the work invitation letter. You have to go to Hong Kong