Job Discussion Forums

Silent Shadow · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 4:59 am Post subject: L to Z visa in Hong Kong?

I've just heard that it might not be possible for a public school to sponsor a change of a teacher's L visa to a Z visa in Hong Kong; that foreigners may have to go back to their own country to convert. Does anybody know anything about this?

Has anybody here, recently, been successful in changing their L visa to a Z in Hong Kong while being sponsored by their school? It would be good to particularly hear from Brits that have done this.

Thank you

Sinobear · Joined: 24 Aug 2004 Posts: 1269 Location: Purgatory

If your school is legally allowed to hire FTs, then they can have your Z visa processed in HK SO LONG AS the invitation letter specifically states that HK is where you are to process your visa.
The school must fax all relevant documentation to the HK China visa office prior to the applicant showing up.

Silent Shadow · Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 12:50 am Post subject:

Thanks a lot Sino.

Your advice is much appreciated

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

When I got my Z visa in Hong Kong in January '09 faxed copies were NOT acceptable. Everything had to be original. I found out the hard way (two trips to HK).

Sinobear · Joined: 24 Aug 2004 Posts: 1269 Location: Purgatory

My college does this all the time. The college/school faxes all of the relevant paperwork to the Chinese gov't visa office, the applicant then shows up with his/her own documents (originals) and the invitation letter that clearly states that the visa is to be processed in HK.

You must have the original invitation letter with you...that cannot be faxed.

And, I don't see any college/school giving you their original business licence, so, when things are done properly, it really is a painless procedure.

Silent Shadow · Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:45 am Post subject:

I was concerned that the stricter visa enforcements that started during the 2008 Olympics were still in force. I heard so many horror stories of foreigners having to return to their home countries for visa renewals at that time.

So when I heard someone state that I might have to go back to Blighty, now, the alarm bells started ringing. Before I heard that, I thought normal service had been resumed. I've just spoken to some visa experts and have been told that it can be processed in Hong Kong. I've converted from L to Z in Hong Kong twice in the past, and I had no problems. That however, was a few years back, well before the Olympics.

Thanks, again, Sino, for your very useful input. Do you know if your college has just recently, maybe at the start of this semester, sent any new teachers with L visas to get them changed to Zs? Rules change so often in China, so very recent experiences are important to know about.

johntpartee, I'm sorry to hear about your wasted trip. I'd better make sure it doesn't happen to me! Thanks, too, for your input.

Sinobear · Joined: 24 Aug 2004 Posts: 1269 Location: Purgatory

Then the easiest solution to put your mind at rest, is to have your contracting school/college phone the HK visa office and get clarification on the procedure.

My college processed three people this way before Spring Festival...my college is a high-profile gov't college so I don't know if that has any bearing on the matter.

Good luck!

Silent Shadow · Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 5:20 am Post subject:

[quote="Sinobear"]Then the easiest solution to put your mind at rest, is to have your contracting school/college phone the HK visa office and get clarification on the procedure.

How right you are. Unfortunately my schools FAO office seems to find this simple procedure, quite difficult, even after I sent them the contact numbers of said office, myself.

My fault, too. Perhaps, I should buy myself an international phone card and ring myself.

Thanks, Sino!

mr bedtime · Joined: 15 Mar 2010 Posts: 18

You dont need to change from any kind of visa to z visa in hong kong.

You can just get a z visa there.

But youwill probbaly need to extend that once in country.

Converting visas is something you do in-country (though it was hard in 2008).

To get a z visa in hong kong, you dont even need an invitation. you just go to an agency with your passport and bussiness card. The cost is about the same as getting an l visa.

Silent Shadow · Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 7:17 am Post subject:

Sino, may I bend your ear, again?

You mentioned that the invitation letter should state on it that the Z visa can be processed in Hong Kong. Do you know what party puts this statement on the invitation letter? Is it the school or a government agency ?

Mr bedtime, I'm not sure that I understand you.

The Z visa that you mentioned would not be tied to any particular school, I assume, which I thought was necessary to be properly legal.

gene · Joined: 03 Mar 2010 Posts: 187

I believe tht the former post by Mr. Bedtime is some grand misinformation. Mr Bear has given you the goods.

Silent Shadow · Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 8:39 am Post subject:

Thanks for your contribution, Gene.

Sinobear · Joined: 24 Aug 2004 Posts: 1269 Location: Purgatory

Your school, of course, provides the invitation letter.

Really, really, really, get your contracting school to call the HK visa office. They will get the low-down on what they need to fax the office. Once everything is faxed, you show up, provide your originals (diploma, invitation letter, passport, yadayadayada), then you wait for two days and get your Z visa. Take your Z visa happily back to your contracting school and get them to process your FEC and FRP.

Get your FRP sticker in your passport and hang on to your passport for dear life.

IF your school/college/uni is above-board, you really shouldn't have any worries or problems.

Silent Shadow · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:03 am Post subject:

I'm making some headway on this Z visa business. The school seems to know what is required now, and that I can obtain the visa without going back to dear old England. For some reason, this school finds the process a lot more difficult to deal with than my previous schools did.

You've made things a lot clearer, Sino.

Much appreciated.

mr bedtime · Joined: 15 Mar 2010 Posts: 18

No misinfo.

I have personally witnessed what I am talking about. And I have been to hong kong many times with friends on visa runs, I also personally know the agency I am talking about.

PM me if you want the contact for a well established visa agent who can get z visas with only your card and passport. The price at least for US nationals, is not much more than u would pay going yourself to the prc consulate and getting an l visa.

Extending that Z visa is another question, but again you can do it in country. But its more expensive to do that, because the agency has to take care of the letter for you.

In the OPs case, it wouldn't be worth the money and he should let the school handle everything.

Z visas are usually available in 3 month, 6 month, and one year lengths ( not every city has the latter) .