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north_time
Joined: 09 Mar 2010
Posts: 15
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 Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 4:52 pm Post subject: China visa |
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I have a question re:terminology, maybe someone can assist.
Is a 'Z' visa and 'work visa' the same document?
And are they also referred to as a 'working permit'?
Many thanks |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Z visa is a work visa. Working permit is the Foreign Expert Certificate (at least for teachers); the FEC and the Resident Permit allow you to stay here and work here. |
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north_time
Joined: 09 Mar 2010
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 7:46 pm Post subject: China visa |
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Many thanks,
Is the FEC then equivalent to a Resident Permit? In other words do you need both, or would a Z visa and FEC suffice. |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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| You need the FEC and the Resident Permit and the Z visa. |
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LanGuTou
Joined: 23 Mar 2009
Posts: 621
Location: Shandong
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 9:52 pm Post subject: Re: China visa |
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| north_time wrote: |
Many thanks,
Is the FEC then equivalent to a Resident Permit? In other words do you need both, or would a Z visa and FEC suffice. |
No, the Foreign Expert Certificate (FEC) is a small booklet that is issued by the State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs (SAFEA) on application from your school or place of work and granted to you should you meet their statutory minimum qualification criteria. Once you are given this small booklet, it is all but useless in your possession. In days gone by, it could be used to exchange CNY to a foreign currency but that can be done now at many Chinese banks without the FEC. Some say that the FEC is a personal ID document but most places will only accept your passport for this purpose.
However, the FEC is now part of the integral process for granting a 'z' visa invitation letter and subsequently obtaining your Residence Permit (RP).
The 'z' visa is a sticker inserted in your passport that is obtained usually from the Chinese consulate in your homeland but may, on occasions, be obtained from other offshore locations e.g. Korea or Hong Kong. The thing to be careful of here is, if you choose to apply for the 'z' visa in any other location than your home country, that is stated on the invitation letter as consulates are becoming more and more reluctant to grant the visa outside of your homeland.
The 'z' visa has two uses as far as you are concerned. The first being a single entry visa that is canceled as soon as you pass through China border control. Do not worry that the expiry date is shown 000 days. By all intents and purposes, you have thirty days from entry date to then get your residence permit.
The other use of the 'z' visa is simply one of the minimum statutory requirements in applying for your Residence Permit (RP).
The final stage of this irksome process is you are accompanied by a representative of your place of work to the local registration bureau to get the RP (sometimes there is an intermediatery stage of getting a medical check carried out and obtaining a medical certificate. This requirement is locally applied but is becoming increasingly common). Once at the registration bureau, the employers' representative presents all of your documentation and the necessary fees. You have your photograph taken within the bureau and then the process is complete.
Around five days later, your passport is returned with yet another sticker in it. That being your new RP which will have an expiry date hopefully after the completion date of your contract. In some circumstances, it will expire slightly before the end of your contract. It is then your employers' duty to convert it to a 'L' visa in order that you can complete your contract and return home, or alternatively, to renew the RP should you wish to renew contracts. If you decide to change employers in China, you must obtain a contract completion certficate from your current employer and get your new school to renew the RP before the expiry date. If you allow the date to elapse and get a 'L' visa, you are back in the situation of leaving the country and starting the whole process again from scratch (not recommended).
One you have the RP, it is that which gives you permission to live and work in China. It can also be used as a multi entry visa for entering and exiting Mainland China throughout its entire active period. |
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north_time
Joined: 09 Mar 2010
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 9:52 pm Post subject: China visa |
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Thanks JP,
When and how does one obtain a Resident Permit?
Many thanks, |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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| The school has to do it for you. |
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kukiv
Joined: 13 Dec 2009
Posts: 328
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
One you have the RP, it is that which gives you permission to live and work in China. It can also be used as a multi entry visa for entering and exiting Mainland China throughout its entire active period. |
A little off topic - but of interest to those of us married in China - the one year family visit L visa has now been changed into a multi-entry RP. You now have to get a medical check to obtain this document - and since it states purpose is for family visit, I don't know if it gives any rights with regard to working in China. |
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north_time
Joined: 09 Mar 2010
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 10:06 pm Post subject: China visa |
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Thanks LGT,
I would assume then that the school would ensure you are 'processed'
to acquire the RP, given that you have entered into a contract with them?
And at their expense. How much does it cost?
Many thanks! |
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Teatime of Soul
Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Posts: 905
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| Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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No reputable school would charge you for the FRP.
It costs about 800 RMB for a one year permit. |
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Miles Smiles
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1294
Location: Heebee Jeebee
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| Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 4:55 am Post subject: |
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| Teatime of Soul wrote: |
No reputable school would charge you for the FRP.
It costs about 800 RMB for a one year permit. |
I believe that the cost of visa, FRP, etc. depends upon the FT's home country. I was told by my last FAO that my residence permit cost 900 rmb. Mine cost more than a Brit's because I am an American.
I know that Americans pay more for visas. It was recently hiked from 130.00 USD to 140.00 USD. My last FAO complained about the cost of the FRP, but didn't ask me to pay for it. She went shopping for plane tickets for my return flight and asked that I pay for half my flight. Of course, I didn't pay for it, but I wonder if the state charges more for Americans. The FAO went to a travel agency to buy my ticket. |
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Teatime of Soul
Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Posts: 905
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| Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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Visa costs vary by country.
But I have never heard of FRP costs varying. |
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