Job Discussion Forums

[jeremyjlebrick]

I am currently living in Wisconsin, United States. Just graduated from UWSP. I have been in contact with a number of schools and organizations throughout China. I need to get my work visa but am unsure of the protocol. A university in Chongqing insists I have the medical exam here in the states and it will then be repeated when I get to Chongqing. Other organizations have told me it is unnecessary to get the exam in the states because it would just be repeated in China. Don't I need a sponsoring organization to send my local consulate a signed contract with the proof of medical examination? Or can I get a sponsoring organization to send the contract alone to my local consulate. Then I would bring my proof of the examination to the consulate myself?
Also, I had an organization tell me to come to China on a tourist visa and then we would be able acquire my work visa in Shanghai. I was under the assumption a work visa had to be issued at my local consulate and if I was to do it this way I would have to fly back to the states to get my work visa in Chicago. I want to get to China as cheaply and quickly as possible. It would be nice to take care of this in China under my future employers funding but don't want to end up in a sticky situation.

[Cairnsman]

Your sponsor (employing school) will not send anything whatsoever to your local Chinese consulate.

Your Z visa package, which will be sent direct to you by your sponsor for you to take to your local Chinese consulate, will comprise:-

a) a letter of invitation from your school,

b) a SAFEA issued �Working Permit� (sic) and

c) a SAFEA issued �Confirmation Letter of Invitation� (2 pages).

SAFEA = State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs

These days, SAFEA in many provinces (but not all) will not issue documents b & c to your sponsor without a medical report being furnished (SAFEA issues the documents to your sponsor, your sponsor sends them to you).

In addition to documents a, b & c, you may also be required to give your local Chinese consulate a copy of the medical report (according to recent reports, the Chinese Embassies in Australia and Thailand insist on a copy of the medical report as does the visa office in Hong Kong).

By the way, your lack of 2 years post-grad work experience will prevent you from obtaining a �Working Permit� in many (but not all) provinces.