Job Discussion Forums

oldboy · Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Posts: 38

My letter of invitation is on it's way. I'm meant to fly over in about 2/3 weeks to start my year contract. I have now realized that my passport expires July 2011, although it will still be valid by the time I finnish the contract, is that too short?
Will I need to go get a new passport? I hope to God I don't, otherwise I'm screwed Shocked

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Why would you be screwed? You can get a new passport in China at the US Embassy.

Von Dut · Joined: 21 May 2009 Posts: 108 Location: Limbo

You have 2/3 weeks. You have a couple of options.

1. Do what johnpartee said, renew at the embassy here in China.
2. Renew your passport now, paid for the speed process, get the visa, come to China.

If I remember correctly, the Chinese Embassy will not issue you a visa if the visa expiration date is set to end with less than 6 months on your passport. ie. Passport expires July 2011 so they will not issue you a visa which will expire past Feb 2011. It depends on what visa you are getting mind you. I would go for option 2 just to not have to worry about doing it in a different country.

oldboy · Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Posts: 38

Wait, aren't you guys contradicting each other?

So will the embassy not issue me the visa because it doesn't have 6 months after the expiration date, or can I still get one and just renew my passport in a UK embassy in China?

Thanks guys.

Tried calling the Chinese embassy in London, 35 minute phone que :l

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

I didn't know you were a UKer. I can't comment on the British Embassy procedures. Call your government office before you leave, ask them if you can renew your passport at the UK Embassy in China. You have more than 6 months NOW before the expiration date (July '11), so get your visa to come here. When you get here, renew it! No muss, no fuss.

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Edit, never mind.

oldboy · Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Posts: 38

Okay, thanks.

Any UK citizens done this?

The Ever-changing Cleric · Joined: 19 Feb 2009 Posts: 1523

oldboy · Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Posts: 38

Are you sure the people that are able to renew their passports in China, did not already have sufficient time left on their passports when they applied for their first visa out there. Then after staying longer, without returning, they needed to renew?
Unlike me, as I haven't got there yet, so they would want me to renew it before I go? And therefore wont be able to renew it there instead?

The Ever-changing Cleric · Joined: 19 Feb 2009 Posts: 1523

it's been awhile since i applied for a Z visa so i can't remember if your passport information is linked to the documents (letter of invitation et al) necessary for the work visa or not, but it probably is. if that's true, you wont be able to renew the passport now because it would null and void those documents the school is sending you.

lionheartuk · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 173 Location: Guangdong

I renewed my passport in December 2008 by posting it to the British Embassy in Beijing even though it still had almost a year left before it expired.It would have expired by the time my new impending contract ended (February 2010) so I got in early. They renewed it for another 10 years minus 3 month. Took 3 weeks to do the renewal and I got my stay here at this school extended for another year.

oldboy · Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Posts: 38

Perfect thanks guys, I'm going to book appointments with embassies tomorrow and see how it all goes.

Getting excited now! Moving to the mother of all China towns!

ayahyaha · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:48 am Post subject:

This all sounds good -- I just went through something similar. Yes, better to just renew your passport before coming, but if that doesn't work, there is enough time on your passport to get the Z visa, renew your passport once in China, and then get the RP.

The reason I'm posting is to say that if you (or someone in the future) comes to China with a Z visa and needs to renew his or her passport before getting the RP, get on it *right*away* once in China. A passport renewal in Shanghai took me two weeks. There was no expedite service. The RP bit takes time too, so you'd really have to keep moving to make sure it all (medical exam, FEC, RP) gets done in time.