Job Discussion Forums

wangdaning · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154

Ok, so I have been in china since April on a tourist visa. I am currently looking for work, but I am very confused about what will be needed to change my L to a Z. I have read that I need proof of my temporary residence, but I know this is China (every night I stayed in a different place). Can I go to Hongkong or do I have to go to the USA? I have some offers, but I want to clarify where I need to go. If Hongkong is not working I know I can mail my passport to my mom/brother in the USA to get it processed. I really just want some clarification as to where one can do the conversion easiest.

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=L+to+Z+visa+English+teaching+China&btnG=Google+Search

sheeba · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 1123

http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/community/index.php/2008/04/25/guide_to_getting_your_z_visa_work_aamp_r?blog=5

Check out this site. Some useful information. I copy the applying for residence permit detail.

7) Apply for Residence Permit

Once the Work Permit is in hand, you must then go to the PSB�s Entry Exit Bureau at 1500 Min Sheng Rd. in Pudong, to apply for a Residence permit. Bring the following information to apply:
1. A Completed Visa Application form WITH COMPANY SEAL
1. Your Work Permit
2. Your Health Certificate
3. Your Pink Temporary residence registration
4. A copy of the business license (** this is where they MAY ask for the ORIGINAL Document)
5. A copy of the organization code certificate
5**. A copy of the permit for foreign investment enterprise (if your company is a WOFE)
6. Employment registration form
7. Passport
8. 1 Passport photos

I think that they will see from your passport that you have not registered with the PSB so I'm not sure what they will do. If you stayed at hotels maybe they will require some sort of form. This is something I am looking into now.

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

If you stay at an approved hotel meaning somewhat expensive then they supply details to the PSB but the cheap places don't.

If you go to one of your own embassies, say with a dried wet passport and apply for a new passport then this could help provided it was done outside of China. China is not the West and if you break the rules then they are most likely going to be telling you to go back to your home country to apply for a Z visa.

Saying that you have only stayed a night at each place won't cut it as like me they are going to doubt you didn't spent 3 or 4 days at many of your stops.

When I first started teaching English in South Korea things were very easy visa wise but nowadays one would have to be a fool to try things like teaching on a tourist visa etc.

North China Laowei · Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 419

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

North China Laowei when I started out into this game I used to do visa runs every three months in Korea on a tourist visa but after finding that I enjoyed English teaching I went back to Australia and got into Uni and got the right paperwork. So I was a naughty boy 18 years ago.

The reason I would say that we are getting so many of this type of posts is the result of the sudden crackdown on teaching on other than a z visa / resident visa. Also it wasn't very long ago that one could change from a tourist visa to a resident visa in country in some provinces. The other thing is that probably some don't want to get tied up with a contract outside of China without seeing where they will live and work and under what conditions. Then you will have your true backpacker that only wants to work a month or two at different locations. So now its Z / resident visa or nothing so those that were used to the old way are still in shock.

So considering that the above posters have been here for about four months I tend to excuse them somewhat as they could have come to China thinking that things wouldn't change so quickly. Anyway they could be getting stuck for money at this stage so I've answered as best I can.

Sending a visa home while still in China is not going to work for instance. I'm not up on whole situation but I know that Hong Kong and Seoul have been out for visa runs for a while but I'm not aware of other countries like the Philippines are like for Westeners wanting a Z visa.

sheeba · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 1123

I think that is a fair answer from Anda. And you didn't google it! Fair play!

Seriously though. It's a gamble whatever you do. Turn up on your fresh Z visa and then realise you're working with misfits and a boss that takes you for a ride. It's as bad as working illegaly. You quit and 'hey' you're back to square one again but with no salary and unexpected consequences. I say fairplay to those on L visas trying to find a fair deal. Horrible recruiters deserve a dog fight rather than conning you on some stupid game of words on e-mails or phone interviews from the other side of the world.

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

Examples of what I mean as to why we have all these Questions all of a sudden. We were all young once and many were willing to take a risk to do things we wanted to do. How would you feel if you did a degree in TESSL with a dream to teach in China and had just finished to find that the laws had changed and you had to wait till you were 25?

http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080505025228AAf8u9W

China F to Z Visa?
I know there are new rules for switching to a z visa from an f visa. I have been out of college for two years and have been on various F visa's in China since. What are the problems that i face in switching to a Z visa in Beijing or Shanghai? It is a large MNC, how much of a difference does that make? Has anyone else done this recently?

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UNDER 25 years of age can't get a Z visa anymore - Shanghai Expat
31 Jul 2008 ... UNDER 25 years of age can't get a Z visa anymore - Shanghai Expat. ... I lhave to agree somewhat with one respondant's comment "China ...

http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/MDForum-viewtopic-p-911617.phtml

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NeilBarker · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 60

Ignore the rant about illegality - no-one knows the law here very well, and in any case policies vary from place to place and among different branches of the PSB.

Ignore what was said about hotels all registering your visit. Lots of them don't. I've stayed in dozens of places without any ID check.

You don't need to prove where you've been, and it won't be checked.

What you need to do is get accepted for a job in a decent school where the staff will walk you through the temporary residence stuff after finding or providing an apartment for you.

The only real issue is whether you will need to go to Hong Kong - some places can do it all without you leaving, some won't. Again, it varies from place to place and even from day to day, just like everything else here Smile

wangdaning · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154

No one will change the visa in hong kong or in china. The only chance is to send you passport through the mail to an agency in your home county. I am not claiming it works for sure, but for L to Z it is your best shot. I will be trying it soon.

I did not intend to be here illegally (as stupid as I was for accepting the z after getting here) and the fact that the government changed the policy a few weeks after I got here is definitely my own fault.

I bought into an american owned company after interviewing close to my hometown. I know now how stupid I was. (By the way, anyone know about sueing the owner of a chinese school who is an american citizen)?

I have legitimate job offers now and need a way to be legal, thus I posted the original question. It seems so odd that China would expect people to accept jobs here without seeing the school given the current situation of efl jobs in china. I have almost two years experience and a b.a. in chinese and political science. I never intended to come to China illegally and on paper have never been illegal. I would just like to hear any experiences from people who had the same situation. Thanks

sheeba · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 1123

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

sheeba you are probally in the Jiangsu provience where visa rules are more relaxed. Also this thread was started in August and things were a lot different then.

Teatime of Soul · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 905

The local PSB here recently asked to inspect all FTs passport to check immigration control China entry stamps.

Not exactly sure why, but was told something to the effect that it was to ensure there was correct sequence of Z Visa sticker, China entry stamp and FRP dates.

No idea if anybody else is doing this or if this is just a local initiative.

Some places can be quite strict, while others are quite lax.

Just depends.