Job Discussion Forums

[ms_casillas]

Geez !!

I got myself in twouble I listened to this school, said go get
your L visa. You can arrive in China, work six mos, no prob. Well
switch you to a Z visa when you arrive.

Long story short, got the L visa then (i know duh !! ) then came to this
forum and realized oh no !! thats not a smart thing to do.

This was a month ago. Now I want to get a Z visa legit from the US
before I leave. Will it look weird to the consulate to say oh, i wanted
to tour, yea I have an L visa, but I changed my mind. Now I need
a Z. Or do I ask them to replace the L with a Z?

The Consulate wont answer thier phone.

Thanks!!

[mike w]

The consulate will not just change an 'L' to a 'Z' visa just like that.

For your 'Z' visa application, you must have the necessary supporting documentation such as invitation letter etc. (all should be detailed on your consulate webpage).

Basically, to get a 'Z' visa, you need to have been offered a job with a legitimate employer who has is authorised to hire foreigners, BEFORE you make your application.

If you can supply the necessary documents, then changing to a 'Z' visa shouldn't be a problem.

[evaforsure]

Advice, do not take an unused visa into the Chinese Consul. and ask to change to a Z, even if u have the paperwork.....if u want to work for this company but are not sure ...and a z will give you no more assurance that you will not run into a disappointment...many companies still convert or pay for the trip to HK to convert....but if you want to work for this company and are not sure..contact them with your worries and ask to speak with current employees...even then ..Nothing is for sure...

[Teatime of Soul]

Your employer needs to be licensed by SAFEA to issue the work permit/Invitation Letter.

You must submit this, along with your passport and visa application in person, or by agent, to a Chinese Embassy/consulate in the country specified on the work permit. Usually this will be your home country.

You will then be issued a Z visa, good for thirty days after your entry into China.

During those 30 Days, your employer will process this into a Foreign Residence Permit (FRP) which serves as a multi-entry travel visa.

[eddy-cool]

I think your case is at this stage beyond repair; not only can't you have your visa cancelled and replaced by a work visa, you must now accept that you have been lied to.

That employer simply cannot extend a regular invitation to you because he or she is not legit.

For the employer to hire you legally, they will have to get a work permit for you as well as an FEC - both of which before you actually arrive.

Based on these, they can invite you on a work visa.

It is obvious to me that they do not have those suporting documents. For why else would they have given you that abstruse advice of applying for a tourist visa and work in China for up to six months?

You had better apply for a legit position with a legit employer. The majority of jobs advertised in the Internet are not kosher! Do your Due Diligence, which takes some time but also saves you a lot of hassles later!

[evaforsure]

Many schools still request employees come over on an L, and they are fully capable of changing the status....that being said....in China, careful career moves are the most valuble assets a FT can have....

6 months is a long time for this ....and perhaps you havent gotten all the info you should have...like i said check with the school and tell them of your worries and see what they have to offer..haggle, this org may be able to provide u with the paperwork needed but will not unless u strongly request it....what ever, u should not go back adn ask for a change .. it will send red flags

[Teatime of Soul]

Likewise, many schools have no ability to issue a legal work visa and tell you to come over anyway with promises to convert later.

Promises that never materialize.

Only you can decide what level of risk is acceptable.

[evaforsure]

It seems that more and more schools are not issue]ing Zs before the applicant come to China and instead of reverting to the way it was dne in the past with the conversionn, but to be sure .. and to not miss a possible chance at a good job youwould like or enjoy, try and contact other future co workers as they would actually have the answer as opposed to the advice offeed here....there are still quite a few people in China working on Ls and Fs and not tied to their employer and if your smart, you can protect youself against fraud, but scheduling the paymments so that your never exposed too long with out payment and you dnt let the boss get int he rears...it is always bette to abide by the rules but if you find a job you like that is not koshier as opposed to the guys who cross their Ts and dot their I's, in a work enviroment that would seem less then the dream lyou desire, why rish your china experience on an employer who uses the law to control the FT and they are left powerless due to the fact that their visa or RP is tied the employer...just cause they can get legal doesnt mean they will treat you fair ...just met a guy last night who has worked here for three years..most on an L...his company has changed the name three times...and so I ask him why he stayed with them.. and he stated .. they pay on time and they pay more .. and are not concerned about anything I do .. he has now been through the Games and the purges to come out on this side of 2009 with a job that would not be considered legal by many people who post on these boards.. but in all honesty...it seems he is quite happy with the things as they are...again .. I would always recomend that all come with proper attitude before theproper paperwork.. I mayself chose to come on an L when I had paperwork for the z as I didnt want to be tied to this employer if I didnt want to be..but afte coming here and finding out all was ok...I used the paperwork I received in the US and my US Med evalu. to transfer from an L to a Z....

[evaforsure]

It seems that more and more schools are not issue]ing Zs before the applicant come to China and instead of reverting to the way it was dne in the past with the conversionn, but to be sure .. and to not miss a possible chance at a good job youwould like or enjoy, try and contact other future co workers as they would actually have the answer as opposed to the advice offeed here....there are still quite a few people in China working on Ls and Fs and not tied to their employer and if your smart, you can protect youself against fraud, but scheduling the paymments so that your never exposed too long with out payment and you dnt let the boss get int he rears...it is always bette to abide by the rules but if you find a job you like that is not koshier as opposed to the guys who cross their Ts and dot their I's, in a work enviroment that would seem less then the dream lyou desire, why rish your china experience on an employer who uses the law to control the FT and they are left powerless due to the fact that their visa or RP is tied the employer...just cause they can get legal doesnt mean they will treat you fair ...just met a guy last night who has worked here for three years..most on an L...his company has changed the name three times...and so I ask him why he stayed with them.. and he stated .. they pay on time and they pay more .. and are not concerned about anything I do .. he has now been through the Games and the purges to come out on this side of 2009 with a job that would not be considered legal by many people who post on these boards.. but in all honesty...it seems he is quite happy with the things as they are...again .. I would always recomend that all come with proper attitude before the proper paperwork.. I myself chose to come on an L when I had paperwork for the z as I didnt want to be tied to this employer if I didnt want to be..but after coming here and finding out all was ok...I used the paperwork I received in the US and my US Med evalu. to transfer from an L to a Z....