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ippollite
Joined: 13 Mar 2013
Posts: 31
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 Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 5:32 am Post subject: Z Visa Agents in the UK |
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| Hi guys, about to take a job in Tianjin. But currently live in Bangkok, so obviously going back to the UK to process the visa is a no-go. Anyone have any solid visa reps that they could recommend? Sent out requests to a few online from google search, but theyre pretty slow at getting back to me. |
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choudoufu
Joined: 25 May 2010
Posts: 3325
Location: Mao-berry, PRC
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| Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 7:42 am Post subject: |
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are you on a long-term visa? work or study non-immigrant o visa?
it might still be possible to get your z-visa in thailand if you have
the invitation letter include that. oh yeah, chiang mai seems to be
a better choice for visas. |
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doogsville
Joined: 17 Nov 2011
Posts: 924
Location: China
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| Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 7:45 am Post subject: |
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I've never used these guys, I came over before they took over from the consulate itself in Edinburgh where I used to live, but you could check them out. They seem to have offices worldwide.
http://www.visaforchina.org/ |
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teenoso
Joined: 18 Sep 2013
Posts: 365
Location: south china
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| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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This sounds like a potential nightmare - Tianjin employer couriers to you in Thailand the invitation letter etc, you courier the passport and docs to UK visa agent , passport gets couriered back to you with Z visa.
It means you are without your passport for possibly 10 days (?) and if there is some hitch , or a mistake in the docs, what will you do?
I suppose , in the extreme worst case, you could always say you lost your passport and apply for a new one in Thailand.
Maybe nothing will go wrong , but should you take that chance, and would any visa agent be willing to run with this ? |
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jimpellow
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Posts: 913
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| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 5:30 pm Post subject: |
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Tianjin is one of those jurisdictions which requires that the Z-visa is now issued through the home country. That was what I learned the hard way through an offer in Tianjin three months ago,
Since September 1st it has become difficult to impossible to get any kind of visa through a third country. Recently I tried to gain entry through an F visa and found Southeast Asia to be basically impossible unless you had legal residency in the country, this includes Hong Kong. There have been exceptions, and no one including the immigration lawyers or visa agencies seem to really know why and when they will occur. Chou doufu appears right that Chiang Mai was easier, but recent forum posts elsewhere indicate that door has closed.
Good luck! |
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jimpellow
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Posts: 913
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| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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| jimpellow wrote: |
Tianjin is one of those jurisdictions which requires that the Z-visa is now issued through the home country. That was what I learned the hard way through an offer in Tianjin three months ago,
Since September 1st it has become difficult to impossible to get any kind of visa through a third country. Recently I tried to gain entry through an F visa and found Southeast Asia to be basically impossible unless you had legal residency in the country, this includes Hong Kong. There have been exceptions, and no one including the immigration lawyers or visa agencies seem to really know why and when they will occur. Chou doufu appears right that Chiang Mai was easier, but recent forum posts elsewhere indicate that door has closed.
Good luck! |
I should add that chou doufu is also right about asking about your status. If you have residency, your school can ask if it would be acceptable. I also believe the embassy in Bangkok would process it.
If the Philippine government ever got around to physically giving me my residency card, then the consulate here in Cebu said they would process an L or F for me. They were unsure about a Z.
Anyways, that is worth a shot if your status in Thailand allows it. |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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Don't want to hijack this, but what a mess the whole 'can I get a Z without going home?' thing has become.
Wish the Chinese government would issue a firm statement either yes or no, or the conditions for something in between.
The HK thing is case in point. Some provinces can get Z visas issued there, but not Guangdong or now we hear (thanks to Jim) - Tianjin. |
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jimpellow
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Posts: 913
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| Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2013 9:32 am Post subject: |
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| Non Sequitur wrote: |
Don't want to hijack this, but what a mess the whole 'can I get a Z without going home?' thing has become.
Wish the Chinese government would issue a firm statement either yes or no, or the conditions for something in between.
The HK thing is case in point. Some provinces can get Z visas issued there, but not Guangdong or now we hear (thanks to Jim) - Tianjin. |
I agree that this is a monstrous mess these days. One has to be truly desperate or a true China lover to put up with all this.
I think though with the z-visa there are really two things going on. Certain Chinese jurisdictions like Beijing and Qingdao have their own requirement that the applicant have it done in their own home country. But this post September 1st denial from third countries seems to be based on the embassy's interpretation of the new law, or their desire not to get caught up in all the increased paperwork and procedure. No idea why at this point HK seems more willing to process a Z for Guanxi, than say Guandong.
The Chinese government is going to have to do something quick about all this. They are losing talent and being criticized by the business and international community for being xenophobic. They are trying to spin it, but it isn't working. I think to save face one thing they will do is dictate to their diplomatic outposts that applying for visas is acceptable if the proper procedures are being followed. Of course this is just conjecture, which is never easy with them.
Personally I would advise anyone interested in teaching in China or changing jobs to avoid places like Beijing, Qingdao, Tianjin, and Jiangsu. Why bother with all the hassle and costs when there are other places to teach in that are only half insane to get the visa? |
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mambawamba
Joined: 12 Jun 2012
Posts: 311
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| Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2013 2:48 am Post subject: |
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We just used Visa World in London (contact Debra) for the sorting out the CRB check, they did the FCO and the Chinese Embassy for us then Fedex'd it back to us.
Positives: good service, very helpful.
Negatives: ruddy expensive and Fedex is pretty crappy.
If you're going to get the costs reimbursed then would recommend them and ask them to DHL, if not then there are a lot of cheaper options.
The process of sending yours docs out blindly out into the world and trusting other people to do what they're supposed to is a total f***er. There's got to be a better way to do it just nobody's come up with it yet.
I'd wait until after the holiday to start any kind of process though.
Good luck,
Mamba |
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teenoso
Joined: 18 Sep 2013
Posts: 365
Location: south china
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| Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2013 7:19 am Post subject: |
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We just used Visa World in London (contact Debra) for the sorting out the CRB check, they did the FCO and the Chinese Embassy for us then Fedex'd it back to us.
How much did they charge for the CRB/DBS check , and how long did it take? I did not know Brits could get their own criminal check done. |
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mambawamba
Joined: 12 Jun 2012
Posts: 311
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| Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2013 10:13 am Post subject: |
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| @teenoso I'll post a new thread with details of how to get the CRB check done from here. |
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