Job Discussion Forums

[raven15]

I tried to read up on this, but was not clear on the answers. Can a residence permit be extended an extra month or 45 days for the purposes of travel?

I'm finishing at my second university position and decided not to continue teaching in China, so I will not be teaching next term. But I'd like to travel through August and my residence permit expires at the end of July. Is there a way I can extend it, or will I need to leave the country and get an L visa? That is less convenient.

Thanks for your answers. I'd ask the university (in fact I already did), but I don't know if they know, and if they do they might not tell me.

[randyj]

[raven15]

Thanks! I really didn't know what I could do.

[Mister Al]

Go to the PSB a few days before expiry date and apply for a tourist visa. I think 30 days is the maximum but you could ask for more and see what they say. Also you may be asked to show proof of funds so take a recent statement of your bank account just in case. And make sure you have a local police registration slip that is dated AFTER the last date you entered China.

[dakelei]

Hmmm...a timely thread because I have a somewhat closely related question: My present contract expires July 15 and my RP on August 20 of this year. My boss set it up that way purposely so that I'd have some extra time when my teaching duties are over. Unlike the original poster I fully intend to stay in country. If the expiration date of my RP arrives and I also get an "L" for a month from the local PSB what happens when a school that is legal to hire foreigners and all hires me for the term beginning in September? (Provided this happens, of course, which is what I'm hoping and planning for.) Will I have to start from scratch and get a new "Z" visa and all? I already have the "Foreign Expert Certificate." Is that at all relevant? These visa regulations confuse me to no end.

[Teatime of Soul]

That may be a challenge.

Some PSBs refuse short term, i.e. stopgap FRP extensions (that isn't the purpose after all). They insist on issuing tourist visas.

You might be able to convince a school to go to the time and trouble to obtain a FRP extension, (thereby incurring gratuitous legal and medical liability on your behalf).

You might try to explain how it would spare you inconvenience in obtaining future employment, assuming they are interested in your employment situation after you will no longer offer services to them.

As they say in China, "You can try."

BTW: You don't need your school's assistance to get an L Visa. Just go to the local PSB and request it, (or have a friend translate). They'll normally issue a 30 day visa.

Cheers and wishing you well.

[Voldermort]

[xiong20]

hmmm..... sounds like things have changed somewhat....... in Oct. and Nov. of 2008 (in Shijiazhuang) when I got a 30-day L visa (twice)at main PSB in this city I had to prove via statement from BOC that my account had 21,000 minimum ($100USD x 30 days x 7 rmb (exchange) which the bank prompty froze 21,000 rmb.Good news is that PSB simply photo copied the statement,gave it back to me,and I went back to the bank returned the original statement (not folded or creased in any way) and they removed the freeze from my account.I went through this same routine for each 30 day L visa.The PSB were very good about it. I told them it was sort of stupid if they say I must have a certain amount money and then the money gets frozen!Don't worry....we just want to see the bank letter and then photo copied it.The one policeman said though that it was sort of frowned on to hang around for months and months on a tourist visa.Cheers

[maotouying]

[caleypatrick]