Job Discussion Forums

jyl2011 · Joined: 07 Dec 2011 Posts: 33

Hi.

A potential employer in China says that my wife can come to China with me on the family VISA. They also say that she will be able to work in China on this family VISA. Is this information true or can anyone shed some more light on this please?

Thank you.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

I do not believe so, although I do know some spouses who got the family visa and came with their spouse and then later flipped their visa to a working one.

peewee1979 · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:23 am Post subject:

LEGALLY it's not true. The family visa is just for spouses to come to China.

A friend of mine married a Chinese girl and he has a resident permit for being married but most legitimate employers tell him he needs to change it to a working visa to be legally able to work.

They have typically dropped that request after he tells them no as there are some challenges and requirements to get the family visa / resident permit as a result of marrying a Chinese.

HOWEVER if the police ever check then technically the person is in violation as is the school.

He has been in China 5 years I think and told me he did once get caught working illegally and it was messy. Cost him a bunch of money and a great big hassle - BUT he still works to this day on a marriage visa. ( ps it's not me, but a friend.)

w.melon56 · Joined: 11 Aug 2011 Posts: 31

There is no such thing as a family visa. Every person gets there own visa. There is no "single visa" for a family. You will obtain a Z work visa. Family members will get a visa that allows them to enter the country but it does not give them permission for employment. If anyone else wants to work they must also get their own Z work visa with specific purpose of employment and other work credentials. Don't believe what you're being told.

jyl2011 · Joined: 07 Dec 2011 Posts: 33

If she was to come with me on a family VISA and then find a job, would she then be able to transfer over to a working VISA or that very difficult?

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

family visa = family VISA

both do not exist. unless i'm mistaken, your family members will
be issued tourist visas valid for the length of your work visa.

whether your wife will be able to get a work VISA without returning
to her country of origin is another matter.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

jayjjasper · Joined: 27 Aug 2011 Posts: 344

peewee1979 · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 5:23 am Post subject:

Opiate · Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 630 Location: Qingdao

jayjjasper · Joined: 27 Aug 2011 Posts: 344

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

Yes, you do need a "Certificate of No Impediment" which basically states you are single. You can get this from your embassy, then you do pretty much show up with that, your identification and a photo and then you sign the docs and are married.

wangdaning · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154

I think what is being referred to with the marriage thing is getting issued a long term (or permanent) residence permit. You have to be here so long, and be married so long, and some other things (been a while since I looked). It doesn't allow you to work, just to stay long term.

I think accompanying family members get an L for entry which is changed to a residence permit. They don't have to leave the country every few months, like on an L, but they are not allowed to work legally.

Opiate · Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 630 Location: Qingdao