Job Discussion Forums

southern blue-fin · Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 13

Greetings all
I'm thinking of getting a job in China -- I'm currently teaching in Thailand. I am a native New Zealander.

I don't like long haul flights, and don't want to have to return to NZ then turn around and fly to China.

Can any tell me -- as I understand there has in the past (in Guangdong province) been a stipulation that you must arrive directly from your home country .

Can anyone update me on whether I could get away with arriving directly from Thailand and have no issues with the approval of the Z visa?

If I obtain a Z visa before I go -- can they revoke it if I didn't arrive from my home country?

Thanks for any clarification !!

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

no problem. i'm a native 'merkan, got my z-visa in chiang
mai four months ago.

you don't get a z-visa in china. a visa allows you to enter
the country. you would arrive on a tourist visa, and maybe,
just maybe, your employer would send you to hong kong
to get a z-visa, then re-enter the country. assuming
they are registered to hire foreigners. assuming they
actually intend to hire you legally.

better to get your visa beforehand. just be sure that the
invitation letter states that you will apply for your z-visa
in thailand.

pm me if you need thailand-specific info. or check the
stickies - i added some postings as i was applying.

Mister Al · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 840 Location: In there

As long as you have a visa (any kind) it won't matter where you come in from.

Teatime of Soul · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 905

To work legally in China you should enter China on a Z visa.

That visa can be issued in pretty much any country that has a Chinese embassy.

Uniformed and under motivated FAOs spread the myth that you have to return to you home country primarily because it means they will not need to lift a finger or deviate from their routine.

All you FAO needs to do is to tell the local office that issues your pre-printed Work Permit, is to hand write the country you are in, rather than had write your home country, in the little white block in the center of the form. That's it. That's the total sum of onerous difficulties involved.

Now, on occasion, the local office may have a question about this if you look a little to tanned or insufficiently "foreign", or you have been abroad for a long time. They do want to make sure you really are from the country you claim, and if they have doubts, letting you go back to your home country is a pretty good way to verify citizenship in their view.

This is an unusual situation however and definitely not the norm.

Cheers.

DixieCat · Joined: 24 Aug 2010 Posts: 263

southern blue-fin · Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 13

Thanks all, for your advice - much appreciated.
It sounds like there isn't a way to eliminate risk completely, however if I ensure the offer letter stipulates I will be obtaining my Z visa in Thailand, that should be adequate.

Take care.

frenchfrydoggy · Joined: 16 Nov 2010 Posts: 53

There is ZERO supposed stipulation regarding what country you must arrive from. That's just crazy.

Trifaro · Joined: 10 Nov 2010 Posts: 152

"....however if I ensure the offer letter stipulates I will be obtaining my Z visa in Thailand, that should be adequate..."

That's correct. If the letter says you will apply in the country which issued your passport and you apply in Thailand, I'm pretty sure you will have a problem getting the visa.

As previously stated, it doesn't matter which country you arrive from as long as you have the visa. Similar to Doggy, as far as I know/heard, there is no law that says you must arrive from your homeland.