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Getting z - visa outside of home country?

 
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Ramblin' Man



Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Posts: 105
PostPosted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 7:40 am    Post subject: Getting z - visa outside of home country? Reply with quote
Hey all,

I'm just wondering how easy/difficult is it to get a Z - Visa outside of ones home country?

If out of your home country is it best/easiest to get a school that is interested you to get the letter of invitation for you and then you can go to Hong Kong and get the z-visa?

What about showing up in China on a tourist visa, getting a job after arriving and then having them assist me in getting the z-visa and then later residence permit/work permit?


Regards

Ramblin' Man
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tomstone



Joined: 09 Dec 2009
Posts: 293
PostPosted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 7:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
You're going to get a LOT of conflicting comments about this, but for me the best way is to come into the country with a tourist visa and contact the potential employers directly. You get to see your accommodations, they get to see you, you get to see them. There are quite a few other threads about this (fairly recently).
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ttorriel



Joined: 13 Oct 2008
Posts: 193
PostPosted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 7:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Horrible "suggestion" !!

As all of the other threads will suggest - it's sometimes impossible to convert an L visa to a Z visa legally.

Contact your potential employer and tell them the country you wish the letter of invitation to state you should get your Z visa. It can be obtained in any country, rather than your native one, as long as it's stated on the form in which you wish to get it.
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tomstone



Joined: 09 Dec 2009
Posts: 293
PostPosted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 7:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'm not talking about "converting" an L visa. I'm talking about coming into China with a tourist visa, finding employment and then getting a Z visa. My "suggestion" is primarily that I PERSONALLY would like to meet face to face with potential employers BEFORE I have committed to a contract. Others think differently, I know, but this is just the magic that is me.
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ttorriel



Joined: 13 Oct 2008
Posts: 193
PostPosted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
tomstone wrote:
I'm not talking about "converting" an L visa. I'm talking about coming into China with a tourist visa, finding employment and then getting a Z visa.


Essentially the same thing. But understand your point.
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tomstone



Joined: 09 Dec 2009
Posts: 293
PostPosted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
Essentially the same thing.


Actually, it's not. I think this should be made clear to the OP. Here's the scenario: You come to China on a tourist visa. You look for a job. You get a job. Then the new employer will send you to Hong Kong. You go to the Chinese Embassy in Hong Kong with the paperwork that the employer provides. You get the Z visa. Your original L visa is voided. You return to China and the wonderfulness of ESL. Wondrous strange.
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mk177



Joined: 22 Jul 2009
Posts: 27
Location: London, United Kingdom
PostPosted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
is it usual for schools to pay for everything in getting the work visa, for example travel cost to hong kong, visa costs and accomodation in hk. as the couple of people who i have spoken to have said they had to pay themselves, and the school would not pay.

thanks
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tomstone



Joined: 09 Dec 2009
Posts: 293
PostPosted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
They SHOULD pay, it's my understanding that many of them don't. I wouldn't work for a place that didn't.
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ttorriel



Joined: 13 Oct 2008
Posts: 193
PostPosted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 9:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
As an employer I see no reason the school should pay for a free trip to Hong Kong. There is a reason that the "home country" issue exists for the letter of invitation - so as to get your visa in your home country before arriving in China.
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ttorriel



Joined: 13 Oct 2008
Posts: 193
PostPosted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 9:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
tomstone wrote:
Quote:
Essentially the same thing.


Actually, it's not. I think this should be made clear to the OP. Here's the scenario: You come to China on a tourist visa. You look for a job. You get a job. Then the new employer will send you to Hong Kong. You go to the Chinese Embassy in Hong Kong with the paperwork that the employer provides. You get the Z visa. Your original L visa is voided. You return to China and the wonderfulness of ESL. Wondrous strange.


As you cannot convert an L visa in-country it is the same thing. Semantics of leaving the country is the issue - unable to convert. Rolling Eyes
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tomstone



Joined: 09 Dec 2009
Posts: 293
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