Job Discussion Forums

Garphilius · Joined: 10 Jul 2013 Posts: 10

I have a few questions as I will soon fly to Hong Kong to start this process. I was just curious if anyone has obtained a Z Visa from Hong Kong recently with the appropriate paperwork that states to go to Hong Kong to obtain the visa? Any problems with the embassy there or pretty much smooth sailing? Also, I would like to ask a question about the medical check. I have already set an appointment with a private hospital in Hong Kong for the medical check and just wanted to know if the embassy just wants the "Physical Examination For Foreigner" paper signed and stamped or they also want other tests on-top of what everything else that is stated on that paper? (Please only reply if you have recently gone through this process at the embassy.)

Thanks in advance!

bharrell · Joined: 25 Oct 2008 Posts: 102

I was told by the Chongqing PSB last month, that the HK option was no longer possible. The officer said that going to another foreign country was the only way, and that HK wasn't a foreign country.

MetaFitX · Joined: 20 Jun 2009 Posts: 8

I obtained my Z-visa from HK the first week of June. I used Starbright Visa agency I believe. Very helpful. Email them and they will provide you with a list of required documents. I had everything I needed, and as such the process went very smoothly.

Toast · Joined: 08 Jun 2013 Posts: 428

Garphilius · Joined: 10 Jul 2013 Posts: 10

Since no one had any experience on this, I will post my recent experience in Hong Kong.

I arrived to Hong Kong last Thursday, August 15th. I had set up an appointment at a private medical institution prior to arriving at Hong Kong for Friday, August 16th. I had already taken the medical exam in Vietnam via a private international hospital, so I brought all the paper work from that hospital. I gave the doctor in the Hong Kong hospital a new "Physical Exam for Foreigner" paper and provided him with my chest X-ray, ECG, blood work, etc. The doctor told me he accepted all these tests and it was pointless to do the tests again, so he just performed the normal physical exam and I was out the door in less than 30 minutes with the whole paper filled out by a Hong Kong hospital (which is what is required for Chinese embassy in Hong Kong.)

Hence, I got the results RIGHT AWAY, no wait of 4 days, blah, blah, blah, etc. Thus, this is a tip: If you are traveling around (like me) and have a working permit sent to Hong Kong, I encourage you to do the medical exam in whatever country you are traveling at an INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL. Note: Obviously do this if the country you are in is generally cheaper than Hong Kong (the whole exam costed me $110USD at the Vietnamese international hospital.) In Hong Kong, the cost for the doctor to look at my exams, perform the simple physical exam and fill in both papers with stamp on both papers was $590 HKD, which is roughly $80USD. Now, I don't think this is cheap, but definitely cheaper than doing all the tests again (would have costed around $1800HKD) plus waiting 4-6 days in Hong Kong awaiting your results. Luckily, this would have not been an issue for me as I have friends in Hong Kong where I can stay for free, so I can wait forever, but this is not the case for everyone.

Since I got the results right away, I had all other papers ready (Work Permit, Copy of Work Permit x2, Invitation Letter, Copy of Invitation Letter x2, other two invitation papers, copy x2 of those, company that hired me paper, copy of those x2, contract) to head to the embassy and apply for the Z-Visa. I arrived at the embassy around 3:13PM on Friday, no wait at all. I went right in, got a number and was called in less than a minute. Showed all the papers, not even a question from the lady and I was out of the embassy in less than 5 minutes. Also, there is no same-day service but there is a one day service. Note: Make copies of all the papers your employer sends you, I made 2 of each just incase, but know that the embassy will take some copies of some of the papers. So if you plan it right, get an appointment for early morning Thursday, get the results, head to embassy, apply for visa, pick up your your visa on Friday and you can head to China right away! It took me 5 days to do the whole process as I applied on Friday and had to wait until Monday to get the visa, but like I said, if done right, it can take you only 2-3 days to do.

I got my Z-Visa today and I am headed to China tomorrow from Hong Kong. I hope this helps anyone that wants information on this as this information is hard to find online.

Also, here is the private medical institution I went to in Hong Kong: http://www.matilda.org/
Choose the Central office as this is literally one MTR stop away from Wan Chai stop which is the stop for the Chinese Resource Building for your visa. Tell the doctor the guy with the "UM" shirt sent you here. haha

Note: This is my own personal experience and how I successfully did all the procedures to obtain the Z-visa. Things can change and what not, so just take all this information as you want it. Good luck future educators!

JoeKing · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 519

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

Thanks Garphilius, that's some helpful information. Good luck in the mainland.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

cps82856 · Joined: 12 Oct 2008 Posts: 45

Dear Garphilius

Thanks for the report. I'll be going down there soon for a Z (he said hopefully) and this helps a lot.

Some quick questions:

1) What nationality are you? I had a friend from Norway go down there a couple weeks ago who said the next day service is restricted to certain countries. (Norway being one that had to wait four days. But he was going for an F, so that may have made a difference.)

2) What province are you going to be working in, what type of school, and do you think that made any difference on your experience?

If these are too personal, feel free to PM me instead of posting here.

Thanks again.

sui jin · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 184 Location: near the yangtze

Great info , thanks !

I will also be heading to HK for the Z visa next week (UK national, Uni in Jiangsu). I am in Shanghai now and will get the health check done here tomorrow.
I was thinking of using China Travel Service in the HK airport to handle the visa. They are expensive but if they can guarantee next day delivery then it could save on hotel and living expenses.
I've never been to the Consulate , is Garphilius' experience there (no queues , no questions, no problems ) typical ?

I am wondering also what part of the expenses I can expect to get back from the Uni - presumably health check fee, and visa fee , but nothing else. I have not asked my employer yet, but generally (in your experience) what are they likely to spring for?

JoeKing · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 519

Hey Garphilius, MetaFitX, sui jin, - can I ask which visa you originally came in on? If it was an "F" Visa, are they really that easy to get? I know about the invitation letter, but what reason do you give for being in China? It seems like you would have to give more reason than a vague "cultural exchange". I talked to one visa service guy who sounded skeptical as hell about my chances getting one that way, even saying I needed a second letter from this end stating my purpose there.

Can you guys or anyone else shed some light on this for me -pm me if you prefer.

It would be much appreciated, and next round is on me!

sui jin · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 184 Location: near the yangtze

I came here on an L visa , from the embassy in London. I have family here so my father-in-law wrote me an invitation letter. I got a 60 day L visa.

If it's just for travel you need to provide an intinerary and proof of return ticket , and for UK nationals I think the normal L visa is for 30 days entry.

I have travelled here twice in the last two years. Both times flying into HK and using the China Travel Service visa agency in the airport to get 60 day L travel visas. It was very simple , several passport size photos, but no invitation letter, no return ticket or itinerary needed, just maybe the name of a hotel over the border in Shenzhen for the form. It was more expensive than the visa you get in London (maybe 150 pounds).

In January this year (ie before the visa changes in July) CTS was also offering a 6 month multi-entry F visa, for about 300 pounds. The agent provided the business invitation letter. (I believe CTS used the Shenzhen border post to get the visa , rather than the consulate in Kowloon , and they were less strict there. )

Of course this F visa may be no longer available, given the July changes.
And , the L visa policy /availability may also have changed.

MetaFitX · Joined: 20 Jun 2009 Posts: 8

I currently live in Henan.

I arrived on a 30-day L-visa granted from the Chinese consulate in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I worked in Korea for a year, found a school in China through a friend, traveled around Asia for a month and then entered China via Thailand.

Once here I got into contact with the school, went to our local police station and got a 30-day extension on my tourist L-visa.

Later flew to Hong Kong and returned on a Z-visa.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

This is very interesting - almost a breakthrough - especially if employer pays the cost of the 'run'.
Is there any inkling that the HK thing is specific to a country of origin or certain Chinese provinces?

mickeyrex · Joined: 03 Sep 2004 Posts: 65

I'm on Guam and am considering taking on a new teaching position in China. Would it be possible to process a "Z" visa through an agent in Hong Kong? If so, could someone refer a company. If not, I'd have to go through a Los Angeles service. I'm an American and my last Chinese visa (F) was processed in person in LA about two years ago.