Job Discussion Forums

jesusizbak · Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Paris, FRANCE

Hi All !

I've been offered a job in shanghai in a private school and being right now in europe (France) I've tried to apply for a Z visa at my local embassy, but even though my future employer is willing to send me an invitation letter, the embassy here tells me that I also need an employment/work permit in order to apply for a z visa(which is weird since they don't even ask for a medical check nor a copy of my degree)
How am I supposed to get that since I'm still in europe?? And who I should ask for it ???

Any info on the matter would be greatly appreciated

Cheers

Alex

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

A new twist. The visa saga is rolling on. Keep tuned!
In your case, it might be best to just get a two-month tourist visa and regularise your status in China!

By the way, I was mightily surprised that my employer did not have to send me to a doctor for the medical last time.
That was a first.

Louis · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Posts: 275 Location: Beautiful Taiyuan

This is very odd, since the z-visa is required to apply for a work permit, as I understand. I second Roger's idea, get a tourist visa and sort out the paperwork on-site.

JamesD · Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 11:21 pm Post subject:

This may be a miscommunication and they are talking about the school's permit (work license?) to hire foreigners which some embassies require.

Louis is right, you need the Z vis to get a work permit, not the other way around. If this is what they need the school should be able to send you a scan.

jesusizbak · Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Paris, FRANCE

are you guys sure of this ???
look at this>>>
http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/lsyw/qzxx/t27094.htm .

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

folks at the embassies are even less in the know than those in China! I could write a book about all the crap that the Chinese embassies in Morocco and France wanted for a Z visa or a tourist visa!

I got so fedup with those guys that I flew into HK and got my tourist visa there!

Listen to everyone's advice and get your tourist visa, fly over here and it will be taken care of on location!

JamesD · Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2004 1:52 am Post subject:

From the site "An employment permit from the Ministry of Labour or the State Bureau of Foreign Experts of China together with an invitation letter from the company authorized by the Chinese Government."

"An employment permit from the Ministry of Labour...." is the SCHOOL'S permit to hire foreigners, not your work permit. The school should send you scan of their license. Although many embassies don't require it, they are within the regulations to ask for it.

I'm with the other guys. Come on a tourist and get it changed here.

tony lee · Joined: 03 Apr 2004 Posts: 79 Location: Australia

if they are then they will be able to send you an official letter of invitation AND and foreign expert certificate. To get these the school has to be approved and they would need a scan of your degree to prove your foreign expert status.

Several listers have suggested you come in on a tourist visa but if you are interested in being 100% legal you need to find out if the school has enough influence to make the changeover, or whether they will pay your fare to go to HK or similar to get the Z visa.

Many teachers come in on tourist or business visas and quite happily teach for years as an illegal alien. Every three months they take a trip to HK and renew their visa.

Tony L

Katzwyl · Joined: 19 Feb 2004 Posts: 54 Location: In Guangzhou

Is it cheaper to buy the Visa from HK or from your home country?

How about this, how much did it cost in HKD to get a L or F Visa? Or can someone point me to a website where I can find this information?

I will be stopping in HK for at least a couple weeks before going to China, and a couple of weeks in Vancouver before that. So should I get the Visa from Toronto, or will I lose a whole month doing so?

Thanks! Smile

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

In HK, you can get your tourist or business visa direct from the Chinese Ministry Visa Section, 5th (or 7th?) floor, 18 Harbour Rd., Wanchai.

I don't think travel agents offer it cheaper, though they may be quicker obtaining it for you from their Shenzhen source (the PSB there).

Otherwise, try Apt, 8-10 Hankow Rd., Peter Bol got his last one-year multiple-entry visa there for HK$ 1200 (or 1000?).
These are pretty hassle-free ways of getting your visitor's visa; don't bother the official Visa Office in Wanchai with more than one businessman's visa demand (you might need to show credentials as a genuine business person). They do run a check on every applicant!

ChinaLady

if, IF, your school is legit - the Z visa and the work permit and the foreign expert cards will all be obtained BY THE SCHOOL after you arrive. come in on a touist. be aware you cannot work/teach legally on the tourist visa.
the bug-a-boo right now seems to be getting a multi-entry Z. the local office makes more yuan if they giove you a single entry, you leave the country, and o,my gosh - you need another visa. my school FAO seems to enjoy going to the entry-exit bureau every 3 months or so.
the song and dance is that only businessmen are given Z multi-entry. this is China - money talks.
I came in on a tourist visa and had my Z within 10 days, before I started teaching.

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Quite confusing. My understanding is the Letter of invitation is your work permit. The letter of invitation doesn't come from the school, but comes from the provincial level education bureau. So if you told the consulate/embassy that you had the invitation from the school, they could quite correctly misunderstan, and tell you you need the work permit from the Education Bureau.

So when I say "Invitation Letter", I mean the letter that your school gets from the education Bureau to legally invite you to work in China. It has red writing with a stamp, and code number. Most consulates in America will accept a faxed copy.

I would disagree about coming on a tourist visa, much much better getting your Z-visa first if possible. My current coteacher came on a tourist visa, and the school still hasn't changed it ... 3 months later! The rules are changing. Most problems are with people who come over with a tourist visa, though if your school sends you the invitation letter from the province education bureau, you should be all right.

Volodiya · Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 4:33 am Post subject: "Z Visa" issue

Check this site for a statement of the rules and procedures for obtaining a "Z" visa-

/www.chinatoday.com/; click on "Laws and Regulations"; then "Rules for Administration of Employment of Foreigners...."

Article 8, while stating that you must enter China on an employment visa if your wish to seek emplyment, also states that it is possible to change your status while in the country (say, from a tourist visa to an employment visa). Very Happy

In my case, that's exactly what happened. I entered on an "L" (tourist) visa and my prospective employer applied for a change of status on my behalf, after which I was given a "Z" visa and a resident permit. It wasn't necessary to apply for the "Z" visa while abroad, nor to leave the country to get it.

millie · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 413 Location: HK

yes, just get a tourist and then change to a Z
very common
However, if the employer has not set those wheels in motion in the first week or 2, it might be time to ask some very direct questions

Don't fret, it is just a visa and you *are* wanted here.

There is no big business regarding multi-Z's - just pay the extra few $$ and it yours

And where to get the visa??
where is cheaper...

huh?? are you talking about the price difference of a pencil?? Shocked

M

Clancy · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 162

http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/articles/index.pl?noframes;read=852

Your school either can or can not provide you with a "Z" visa.
You will either be legal or illegal.

You will either have a great start or a dismal beginning.