Job Discussion Forums

Bakunin · Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Posts: 21

i have been offered a new job in Hangzhou. My Residence permit expires on 30th August. The school told me that I might have to return to England or Hong Kong for a Z visa. However, I was recently told at an interview in Guangzhou that Hong Kong no longer issues Z visas. Is this true ? Also, as some of you may remember from my post a couple of months ago, I only have a Residence permit and not a Z visa. This was renewed after 1 year in Nanning. So, can anyone tell me about the current Hong Kong situation please ?

Bakunin · Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Posts: 21

Also, I just read on a Sticky that Zhejiang is one of the provinces that issues Residence pemits without a Z visa. Is there anyone reading this who is currently working in Zhejiang who could clarify / update the visa / residence permit issue please ?

snacksturbo · Joined: 01 Jan 2011 Posts: 25

Answering your question is difficult. As you should already know, rules are different for different people in China. The same being true for employers. If you want to go to work for podunk university in no-name city, yes, you will probably have to return to your country of origin to get your Z visa. If your going to work a for decent university or a language mill with some reputation, then you can probably get away with a trip to HK for your Z. (I have heard both stories that HK is/is not issuing Z visas, it seems to depend on who you are going to work for). If your going to work for a major employer of FT's and the number one university in the province, then you will have no worries and dont have to leave to get a Z. Everything here depends on clout, how much or how little depends on what YOU have to do to work for them.

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

Can't your new school renew your residence permit before it expires on August 30th? I'm not really up on all the ins and outs of getting these things done as I have stayed at the same place for several years and they just renew my RP every year. Someone else may be a bit more knowledgeable about these things.

Remember, you shouldn't have a Z visa AND a residence permit. The RP takes the place of the visa, which is just short term. So the question for those that are more in the know is: Shouldn't it be - - former school gives release letter which allows new school to hire you; new school gets you new residence permit and foreign expert's certificate? I honestly don't know this info.

bobdaun · Joined: 11 Nov 2008 Posts: 53

Quite right.

The Z visa is only for ENTERING China. Within 30 days of entry it must be converted to a Residence Permit.

If you have a residence permit there is absolutely no need to leave China, get a new visa, then come back and go through the rigmarole of converting it to another residence permit.

Your school simply organizes the necessary renewal papers (contract, foreign experts certificate, residential registration from the local police station, a couple of photographs and the application form) and you then trundle along to the local government and get your residence permit renewed.

I have lost count of the number of times I have done this - there is absolutely no need to leave China to get a new visa if you already have a residence permit and you are staying at the same school.

Even if you are moving schools, you should still be able to get a new permit providing your new school does the application for you before the old residence permit expires.

xjgirl · Joined: 02 Feb 2010 Posts: 242

yeah but can anyone answer
IS HONG KONG STILL ISSUING Z-VISAS?

or more pertinently, which provinces or municipalities still
accept a hong kong z-visa?

sistercream · Joined: 18 Dec 2010 Posts: 497 Location: Pearl River Delta

No personal experience, but word of mouth and some of the traffic on other threads are showing that whether the FAO in HK will issue a Z visa depends on whether the documentation from the school that contracts to employ you specifies Hong Kong or an embassy / consulate in your passport country for visa collection. If it says Hong Kong on the dotted line (and of course if all your paperwork is in order), then no problem. Otherwise, no dice.

bnej · Joined: 09 Jun 2009 Posts: 57 Location: Toronto

Cairnsman · Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 203

askiptochina · Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 488 Location: Beijing

dean_a_jones · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 1151 Location: Wuhan, China

Sam1 · Joined: 25 Sep 2009 Posts: 18

But I just had an interview with a school in Shanghai, ELFA Juyuan Preschool, and the person I was talking too said I would get a Foreign Expert Certificate, and it would take about 1.5 months. In the meantime, I needed to show up after getting a tourist visa in the US and wait for that process to occur while already working.

Then I asked about the school getting me a Z visa. She said that they are only for Filipino and Thai employees.

There was a definite language barrier, but I am certain she said the Z visa was not something I would need.

What's the legal scoop?

Thx.

dean_a_jones · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 1151 Location: Wuhan, China

peas4luck · Joined: 08 Jan 2011 Posts: 26 Location: Atlanta, GA

Does anyone know if it's possible to pick up the Z visa in Hanoi? I am currently teaching in Hanoi but am going to teach at a uni in Nanjing this fall. The uni is applying for the Letter of Invitation. I'm just curious if I can get the z visa in Hanoi or if I need to go to Hong Kong.

If anyone has any experience with Hanoi, I would really appreciate your help!

Thanks,
Christy

xjgirl · Joined: 02 Feb 2010 Posts: 242

u may have to go back to your country of origin,
double check this with the school