Job Discussion Forums

Mr. English · Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Posts: 298 Location: Nakuru, Kenya

This one seems to change all the time, so I wanted to check and see if anyone has current information. I'm an American in China on an F visa (issued last year, so it's a business visa) and getting a Z soon. Can I do this in Hong Kong? Philippines? Vietnam? Laos? Thailand? Cambodia? Is there any potential for a last-minute glitch, and in particular, one arrives at a Chinese Embassy and is asked for a residence permit for that country? Employer seems to be unsure of what is possible. I should add that I am in Guangzhou. Thanks.

mike w · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 3:02 am Post subject:

I would suggest that because rules and regulations are constantly changing, and not evenly applied, that you are unlikely to get real 'factual' information from here. At the best you will get peoples' last experience.

If you know which country you are going to apply for your Z visa in, I would consider it more prudent to try getting your information from the Chinese Embasssy in that country. But I would add, that even then, the application of the rules seems to be different in different countries.

dongbei united · Joined: 28 Feb 2014 Posts: 47

Ask the PSB in Guangzhou.

Mr. English · Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Posts: 298 Location: Nakuru, Kenya

Thanks for your replies. PSB in Guangzhou says go back to America, but they of course have no clue what an embassy in country A, B, or C might do. Mike W, how does one go about asking the Chinese embassy in, say, Laos, while one is in China, whether they will ask someone who shows up with the proper paperwork to show their residence permit for Laos?

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

Banner41 · Joined: 04 Jan 2011 Posts: 656 Location: Shanghai

wgmarker · Joined: 19 Aug 2012 Posts: 47

Mr. English · Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Posts: 298 Location: Nakuru, Kenya

Thanks again for all answers. Yes, Guangdong Province has a bug up its ass. I am hoping to do it in-country; I have been getting business visas in-country no problem for years -- so-called 1-year but in fact 14- or 15-month business visas; I stay here while passport goes to Los Angeles. 11 to 12 days, méi wèntí. How does one know whether the Chinese embassy in Laos or anywhere else will put the red ink on the page?

Banner41 · Joined: 04 Jan 2011 Posts: 656 Location: Shanghai

teenoso · Joined: 18 Sep 2013 Posts: 365 Location: south china

jimpellow · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 913

The way I have been reading it I think a couple others have hit the nail pretty squarely on the head.

You need two things to happen to be able to get the Z-Visa without returning stateside. The first is the PSB in the provence in which you are applying allows for such.

The second is that you can find a Chinese embassy/consulate in a third country that will do it. From what I have read, Hong Kong is currently the best but not guaranteed way to go. They seem to have a bit of a problem with converting from F to Z visas with the new regulations (at least theoretically). Believe it stems from the PRCs policy of punishing those who abused their "privilege" of working in China by previously doing so on the wrong visa.

Someone with expertise on the subject predicted last year that you would see the large exodus of teachers as what is happening to you occurs.

Funny, sure you can prove me wrong or hopefully it is no longer true, but I believe the recruiter for Wall Street told me that they would not place me there as they seemed to have an impossible time getting Americans z-visas.

Crazy country.

In any case, best of luck on a seemingly tough situation.