Job Discussion Forums

myesl · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 1:39 am Post subject: L to Z in Beijing and Shanghai

I am about to accept a position to return to China for the Spring. Given the time constraints, they would prefer me to come over on a tourist visa, not wait for a Z visa, and frankly even I look at the delay (waiting for my exam, then blood test results, then their paperwork) and cost (medical exam in the US) as more than I am willing to do yet again for China (my previous Zs all obtained w/o a medical exam; darn Olympics!). Another teacher at this school said he did this (L to Z) and had no problem, so it seems legit and all. Well, ok, for a short time I will be working on an L visa which is not legit and all . . .

1) Is it true that in Beijing, Shanghai, and maybe a couple of other places that the a tourist visa can be changed to a Z visa without having to leave the country?

2) Going on a tourist visa with a return flight in February 2010 and maxed out on luggage makes me a bit nervous at arrival time. Not like a suitcase full of heroin, but still, if the clerk at the airport asks me anything, it's iffy. Has anyone gone on a tourist visa with lots of luggage and a return flight a year out?

Thank you!

Hansen · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 737 Location: central China

Sounds like a scam. Once you're here, whut u gonna do bout it? Huh?

myesl · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:53 am Post subject:

Yeah, in the time since my first post and now I emailed the recruiter and said I'll be doing a z visa. Was going to be my last time to live in China, but even if it is a no-go now, I figure better be cautious like I have been in the past (when I still got slightly burnt by cheating Chinese public colleges!)

Thanks!

THIS THREAD IS DONE FOR ME since I changed my mind. No need for further replies, unless it makes you all happy.

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

AND JUST WHO TOLD YOU you need to do a medical exam before getting a z-visa in the US??? as of last month, same old same old, invitation letters. passport, and visa application fee.
Drives me crazy

myesl · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:49 pm Post subject:

Arioch36,

You're saying they've gone back to the good old days of no medical needed to get the provincial paperwork started for getting a Z visa in the US?

To be clear, I know the medical wasn't required for the Chinese consulate in New York, but schools all told me this year (well, 2008) they couldn't get the paperwork going on their end without my sending them my exam results. They don't need this now?

Thanks!

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Frankly, I haven't known many schools that knew crap about getting the z-visa

As of mid November last year, all the was required at the New York City Consulate, was invitation working letters, passport, and cash. I am told by other citizens (non big 4) requirement in other countries can differ

myesl · Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:04 pm Post subject:

Arioch, what I was asking in my last post was about getting the paperwork from your school. The consulate never needed a medical exam.

The schools needed an exam to get the invite + work permit from their provincial FAO. You are saying that you got that paperwork with out any medical exam?

IT2006 · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:04 am Post subject:

What arioch36 said is true as of yesterday too. No physical exam to get the Z visa. I'll get the exam when I arrive.

But why apply for an L Visa? the time spent is all theirs, not yours.

Make them get their end straight before you head out to China. It's crazy NOT to. Would you go flying across your own country completely uncertain of the conditions when you arrive?

Lorean · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 476 Location: Beijing

evaforsure · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 1217

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

A medical exam just for your school to apply for the work permit? Well, i don't know every province, but i have never heard of a medical exam being needed to apply for the school to apply for the invitation letter. No on else has had this problem at Dave's

personally I woul worry your school is manipulating you to come on an L visa, and i would make sure to talk to their current foreign teachers, to make sure this school is legit

again

robot · Joined: 14 Dec 2008 Posts: 25

myesl · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:44 pm Post subject:

Lorean, not sure why you posted, but thanks for playing!

Arioch, schools and recruiters for Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Shanghai, and other places were saying that a physical was required for them to get the paperwork processed on their end throughout the second half of 2008, though it sounds from your and other posts like the regulations may have lapsed at the end and they just didn't realize it.

In previous years this was technically true, but most schools in many provinces could get around this at that time.

Henan? I've lived in Henan. It is the Alabama of China and so not to be taken as a standard by which to judge things in general.

"THIS THREAD IS DONE FOR ME since I changed my mind. No need for further replies, unless it makes you all happy." Nice to know my thread seems to be making so many people happy Mr. Green

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

myesl · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 11:28 pm Post subject: