Job Discussion Forums

[Iceberg7811]

I am currently on a L visa 90 days which expires in a couple of weeks.

Is it possible to extend the 90 days L visa in Shanghai?

I am waiting for my school to process my Z visa but they said it takes around 1 month to process.

Another question. They said that I can get the medical done in a hospital in Shanghai and dont need to go to HK is this possible.

Thanks in advance for your reply.

[samhouston]

You should be able to get a 30 day extension, and probably another extension or two after that. (There is some weirdness coming up in Sept, so not sure what happens then.) I went a couple months ago and it cost 940rmb or something ridiculous like that. The office is in Pudong. Here's some detailed info on directions:

http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/MDForum-viewtopic-t-40911.phtml

[crunchyone]

I have an Australian passport, and got my first L visa in South Korea. I was able to get it extended easily the first time, and maybe the second time.

Then I got a Z visa, doing the visa run to HK. I quit that job for another, and was given a 10 day L. I was sent to HK again, and got another 30 day L.

That expires on Saturday, and my school has told me that PSB told them that I have to show I have the cash to survive in China for the next 30 days to get an extension (nothing like this the first time around). They are claiming that this is 20,000 RMB in my account.

I dont have that much in my Chinese account, so I have saved the webpage showing the balance in my Australian account, and am hoping that is enough, otherwise it is off to HK for yet another L visa while waiting for the paperwork for the Z to come through.

h

[Iceberg7811]

That you for the info sam.

I guess what I want to make sure is that I can get an extension on my 90 day visa. I thought that it would be ok to extend a 30 day visa but not a 90 day.

As for the second question.

The school agreed to pay for my rerun tix to HK now they are saying that they will not. From reading your post it looks like it is inevitable to go to HK which means I will have to pay for this, the new visa and the medical check. Which was all meant to be paid for by the school anyway!!.

Anyway very stressed atm since my time is running out, dont have a lot of cash and there is camp I must go to soon.

Thank you.

[nobleignoramus]

As for your upcoming 'Z' visa, surely you are confusing a work visa with a Resident's Permit?

By the way, are you sure you can upgrade from a tourist visa to an RP?

[samhouston]

No prob. But don't take what I say as 100% accurate, since govt policies and requirements change all the time. Also, the 940rmb I quoted for the 30 day extension is the price for Americans. For most other nationalities I think it's much less.

I'm having sort of the same problem with my school saying they'd cover the costs, then I dump a s***load of money taking care of everything myself, and now they pretend like we never had that conversation. These morons don't take the visa issue seriously enough, or at all. Of course them living in a country where they are forbidden to leave, maybe I can understand why they might not grasp the idea that we get the boot if our paperwork isn't in order.

[Iceberg7811]

I have more questions than answers unfortunately.

My school is adamant that I do not have to leave the country at all.
That I can extend my L visa for 30 days and get a new Foreign expert visa which allows to stay for one year.

I have the medical in Shanghai.

[englishgibson]

i don't think your school's bullin'ya as for that no need to leave the country, but don't take my word for it. visas don't usually take longer than 10 days...medical, residency registration, foreign expert cert..

[dragon777]

BS; the Z visa takes a few days to process if your FAO is switched on. No longer than 7 days to process. However they may hang on to your passport for a few weeks.

[Duboshi]

Step 1: Get invitation letter, work permit, and medical done. (not sure about the timing for the work permit.)

Step 2: Leave the country, present documents at nearest Chinese embassy or equivalent and get the Z-visa. In HK should be same day if you apply early in the morning. I do, however, suggest looking at a few other countries as Elong travel has a lot of deals for flying to Korea, Thailand, etc. - this would be a nice little holiday especially if you were going from Beijing or Shanghai, since if you were in GZ, you'd just hop on a bus.

Step 3: The Z-visa now allows you entry into China for the purpose of work. Go to China and let the employer help you process your RP within 30 days of Z-visa issuance. This is also the time to get the FEC. You need a Z-visa only once for the purpose of entering China for work. The RP is the actual sticker you get which allows you to stay in China and work. This can be renewed. If it expires, you need to reenter China with a new Z-visa to get another RP. Exceptions do exist for F-visa holders in some places like Shanghai, but as far as I know everyone has to leave China for the Z-visa if they come on an F-visa.

Btw, what's the fee for the medical in Shanghai? I'm going into that direction soon, and it probably might be cheaper for me to do a medical in Shijiazhuang, as it's only about 330 RMB there based on last information. I remember Beijing one time was something like 800 RMB.

Z-visa takes no time to process. Your FAO should be able to get papers together in a few days, not a month.

[Iceberg7811]

Hey mate

Thank you very well explained.

So it seems I have to leave the country. Well dont really have too much money for that so I guess the school is going to have to pay for it or reimburse me.

As for the medical in Shanghai its 705 RMB plus 25 RMB to post you your results.

Cheers.