Job Discussion Forums

greenmountain · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 15 Location: Beijing

I'm back from Hong Kong with my z visa now.
Spent a hectic day and a half there. The visa office is quite efficient.
I chose the same same day service and they processed it in about
3 hours.
The trip wasn't too bad, I found Hong Kong is a nice place and easy
to get around in. Took the chance to pick up some good reading
material too.

Thanks for all the advice Smile

cmoseley · Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 299 Location: Touring

2 over lee · Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2004 8:28 pm Post subject:

Mosley, all right ist now looks like you are a legitimate poster, sorry for doing the Ludwig on you. Milk is easy to find.

Ludwig · Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 2:56 am Post subject:

2 over lee · Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 3:09 am Post subject:

Life is tough in, �grim�, Buenos Aires, is it not?

HK has bookshops, great. I was talking about a soulessness in the popular culture.

Anyway I know your angry that I�ve just defended your photos.
You are a *beep* fish!

I suppose my Masters, CELTA and 5 years experience would never get me a job in HK.

Ludwig · Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 3:19 am Post subject:

2 over lee · Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 3:25 am Post subject:

Ignatius J. Reilly wrote:

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

I've got to go to HK on Sunday, 24 October, and try to change my L visa to a Z visa on Monday and fly back to Chongqing on Monday night.

What's the address of the Visa office. Is it in Wanchai?
Did you have ANY problems at all?
What documents did you take?
What documents were you asked for?
How much was the same day service including Z visa fee?
Any good hotels near to the Visa Office?

All info will be gratefully recieved from you or anyone reading this posting.

greenmountain · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 15 Location: Beijing

Did you have ANY problems?
Yes - my plane was late, so I didn't get to the visa office before it closed.
I got the express service the next day, and it was ok.

Where is the office? Wanchai?
Yup, in Wanchai,

Visa Office
Ministry of foreign affairs of the PRC
5th floor
Low Block
China Resouces Building
26 Harbour Rd

(Well that's what it says in the LP, but I think they might have changed what floor they are on - easy to figure out though)

What documents did you take?
What documents were you asked to produce?
I don't remember exactly, but the school should have given you everything you need (except for passport).
I remember:
Passport, and letter from the school. You also need one or two passport photos.
When you get there you fill out a one page form stating what visa you are applying for.

Oh, and when you come back to collect your passport, don't bother to get a number to queue up. Just go to the cashier.

How much was the express service including visa fee?
400$HK.
I think they like you to pay in $HK, but you can easily change money at the airport. Some of the money changes in town might give you a better rate. ATMs are fairly common too.

Where did you stay? Any good hotels near the visa office you can recommend?
I stayed in Chungking Mansions (36-44 Nathan Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui)
It's a bit of a hole, but its cheap and tollerable.
About 120-150 $HK for a small (really small) room a night.
If they say $160 or so you might be able to bargain them down a bit.

I think I caught bus A21 from the airport, it goes down Nathan Rd.
They don't give any change in the buses.

There is another place with guest houses called Mirador Arcade (58 Nathan Rd).

I hope to make my application first thing in the morning (Monday 25 Oct) and want to fly to the mainland later that day. Do you envisage any problems with that?
I had to get the express service because my plane was late. I got there about 10 mins before it opened in the morning. There is a queue of people who wait outside.
The office is quite efficent though, and with the express service they got my visa done in about 3 or 4 hours.

I think your plan should be ok, so long as you get the visa office early enough. Probably wise to have the number of your airline, so you can make last minute reservation changes if need be.
Also don't forget that the visa office closes during its long mid-day break! That's 9am-12:30, then 2pm-5pm they are open (mon-fri)
9-12:30 (sat)

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

Greenmountain

Thanks for your great help. I think I'll fly to Shenzhen and return from there- a wee bit cheaper- and cross the border to HK. Gonna have a couple of days there and fly back on Tuesday.

Thanks again and good luck.

burnsie · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 489 Location: Beijing

Yes, go to Shenzhen. Though I didn't do the trip to change my Z visa I did check it out.

Get an early flight to Shenzhen then get to the harbour for the ferry across to HK. It takes about an hour and they leave at all times of the day. It costs around 100RMB one way.

MyraG

And am I right in my thinking is tha all is illegal unless you have resident and work permit which requires the medical. If you do not have residence permit or work permit, can you change money into dollars when you leave,
. I thought you had to have a medical before you got z visa, I got my z visa and work permit and resisents permit in one go.

I just sent a new teacher a letter of invitation fr4om the school and school documentation allowing a foreign teacher to Sydney Australia, and the Embassey wouldnt process it. So she is arriving here on Sat night on a one month tourist visa, and I will try to get her a z visa and everything legally otherwise here comes hk.

burnsie · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 489 Location: Beijing