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newrubbersoul
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Posts: 18
Location: California
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 Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:27 pm Post subject: Tourist Visas & Visa Consultants |
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Hi Everyone,
I have a question and I was hoping that someone might have some personal experience or advice that could help. (Yes, I did use google and the search function before posting here.  ) I posted here several months ago and got some great responses that really helped my girlfriend and I decide to come here. We arrived in Hong Kong this week and we're now looking for jobs in mainland (applying as a couple).
Although we've gotten a few offers from recruiters, we haven't felt comfortable with taking that route quite yet. We've read some threads about the pros and cons about finding work on a tourist visa and we're hoping that we could get some clarification on a few things.
1. We're both US citizens and as many of you know the cost for a tourist visa is quite expensive--nearly $200 US (1,080 HK).
2. This visa would only allow two entries into China and we could only stay in the country for up to 30 days each time.
I wonder if 30 days is enough time to land a job and deal with the bureaucratic process of getting a Z visa? (Especially considering the cost of the tourist visa.) We prefer living in Sichuan province, but are open to other areas.
I have a friend in Beijing freelancing with a business visa he got from a "Visa Consultant." I've read about the legality of this method, but it has worked well for him for a couple of years. He has suggested finding a visa consultant here in Hong Kong, but so far I haven't been able to find any. Any thoughts on this would be very welcome!
Our true purpose in coming to China is for the experience and not necessarily the job. There are two main worries that we have: Being here legally and having a place to live. This is where having a job comes in. It's also why the business visa sounds so appealing, should we be able to figure out how to get one.
Again, any advice would be greatly appreciated. Should we get a tourist visa and just go for it? Search for a so-called Visa Consultant and business visa? Or get a job online and take our chances with the jobs we land?
Sorry for the long and rambling post and thanks in advance! |
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arioch36
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 3589
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Our true purpose in coming to China is for the experience and not necessarily the job |
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Well, now you have opened up yourself to flaming
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| Or get a job online and take our chances with the jobs we land? |
Some people talk about coming on a tourist visa and personally looking at schools. I personally have done it both ways, and know many others who have done it both ways. Your first time in China I personally don't think visiting in person helps. If you have been here a year or two, you wil know a little what it is you want. But if you visit a place now, all you will end up doing is limiting your horizons, making a choice based on your western perspective that will limit you here. If you belive in God, put it in his hands. Belive in luck, toss a coin. I was at a school I really loved. School didn't have to pay me a penny to recruit. Had another laowai come in, hated the palce. I left, had another laowai look at my apartment, visit the school, and she loved the place. Decide where you want to work, and then
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| Being here legally and having a place to live |
This means z-visa, not a business visa. If you enter on a L tourist visa, be aware that you will have to (most likely, and according to the actusl law) leave the country and go back to Hong kong for a z-visa.
yes, some will tell you you can work and live on a l or f visa. Why bother? any legal school can easily get you your invitation letter for your z-visa... one or two days
Most famous for visas in Hong Kong is the Everbright company hear the border. They have been around a long time. I have never heard anyone being shafted by them, many foreigners have used them.
Forget Beijing. You want to be legal and have a home, then you mention your friend freelancing... which means he is not legal, just not caught, and provides hos own home |
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bearcanada
Joined: 04 Sep 2005
Posts: 312
Location: Calgary, Canada
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| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:19 am Post subject: |
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This is a bit off the topic, but I have a question about Chinese tourist and business visas. I see many posts from people who go to Hong Kong and end up with a 30 day or 90 day visa. Many have claimed that this was the longest period they could arrange, and I don't understand why.
In Canada, the visas issued by the Chinese consulate are 3, 6 and 12 months, and it is no more difficult to get a 12 month visa than a shorter one. They don't even offer 30-day visas.
Why would this be different from HK?
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newrubbersoul
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Posts: 18
Location: California
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| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:12 am Post subject: |
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Bear Canada raises a good point. It's really frustrating that the maximum visa length is the 90 day double entry (30 days maximum stay each time for a total of 60 days).
I've read about Americans getting a 1 year tourist visa in the US, but it seems our options are limited in Hong Kong. Could we go somewhere else to get a longer visa? (not all the way home, of course)
And to clarify, yes we are serious about teaching in China. We just want to make sure that we don't end up on the wrong end of a scam school. Just being cautious. Didn't mean to make that sound like an invitation to flame.
Thanks again for any advice/suggestions. This whole visa situation is enough to make your head spin! 
Thanks! |
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arioch36
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 3589
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| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:29 am Post subject: |
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| Didn't mean to make that sound like an invitation to flame. |
Simply daring to post here is an invitation to be flamed, it appears at time
all the hassles you mentioned, why i always strongly rcommend coming on a z-visa. yeah you can do it other ways, and yeah, maybe you won't have problems. but a lot of problems and hassles diappear when you come in on that z-visa |
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AussieGuyInChina
Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Posts: 403
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11:59
Joined: 31 Aug 2006
Posts: 632
Location: Hong Kong: The 'Pearl of the Orient'
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| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:02 am Post subject: |
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| Bear Canada, there is an easy answer to your question and it is simply that the vast majority of FTs who come to the SAR of HK to secure their next entry permit (or whatever it is they come here for) do not have the necessary paperwork to obtain a 12-month visa. And, as I understand it, it is not HK per se that imposes such rules, rather the regulations emanate from the mainland authorities. |
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7969
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 5782
Location: Coastal Guangdong
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| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:38 am Post subject: |
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| bearcanada wrote: |
This is a bit off the topic, but I have a question about Chinese tourist and business visas. I see many posts from people who go to Hong Kong and end up with a 30 day or 90 day visa. Many have claimed that this was the longest period they could arrange, and I don't understand why.
In Canada, the visas issued by the Chinese consulate are 3, 6 and 12 months, and it is no more difficult to get a 12 month visa than a shorter one. They don't even offer 30-day visas.
Why would this be different from HK?. |
many variables to consider. which passport do you hold, which embassy did you visit to get the visa (not all consulates worldwide issue the same type of document for the same period of stay etc), which agency in HK did someone consult (some can do better than others for visas and cheaper), and which rules are currently in effect by the country concerned.
there was a thread on here 3-4 weeks ago where baasbabela stated that an agency in HK told him that the longest chinese visa any foreigner could get in HK was 30 days. thats not true. misinformation is rife in this area. |
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drakis
Joined: 15 May 2004
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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One of the biggest reasons the mainland discourages longer term visas or extensions thereof is simply the fact that they can make more money selling a visa three times for one month as opposed to one visa for three months. The cost of a visa for one month or one year are the same.
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1. We're both US citizens and as many of you know the cost for a tourist visa is quite expensive--nearly $200 US (1,080 HK).
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You may want to check exchange rates. Currently 1080 HK dollars work out to about USD 139, not 200.
Last edited by drakis on Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:04 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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kungfucowboy83
Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 479
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| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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| wow prices have gone up when i came a little over a year ago it was $50 for a 3 month visa. |
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Anda
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 2199
Location: Jiangsu Province
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| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:42 pm Post subject: Um |
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| Go with it as it is a good chance. This is Asia and such a company will have no problems getting you the right visa. You are one of the lucky people. |
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AussieGuyInChina
Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Posts: 403
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| Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 4:30 am Post subject: |
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| That's okay, newrubbersoul! No need to say 'thank you'! |
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newrubbersoul
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Posts: 18
Location: California
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| Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the great information everyone. I appreciate everyone's help. I'm still trying to figure some visa stuff out, but for the most part everything makes sense now. As usual, this forum has been an excellent source of information.  |
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kjkrause
Joined: 03 Nov 2005
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 10:59 pm Post subject: |
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| The maximum for a L visa from canada is 90 days. |
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bearcanada
Joined: 04 Sep 2005
Posts: 312
Location: Calgary, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 1:00 am Post subject: |
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There seems to be a lot of confusion here about visas. First, Drakis is not correct in suggesting the Chinese government is trying to earn money by selling short-term visas. For God's sake Drakis, the Chinese government has 1.5 trillion US$ in foreign currency reserves now; do you really think they need your US$30?
Second, the fee for a one-year, unlimited multiple-entry visa is $150, compared to about $50 for a 90-day sticker. It seems the visa agencies are surcharging by quite a bit.
The difficulty in obtaining the longer visas is almost certainly due to the visa consultants, and not related in any way to China or the Chinese government. If the OP is already in HK, ignore the agencies and go directly to the Chinese government consulate and get your visa directly from them. You should have no trouble obtaining a longer-term visa with unlimited entries.
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