Job Discussion Forums

[jackblack55]

Hi, I am British and need to organise a work visa to teach in China.

I am currently overseas in the USA. It is not possible to organise a work visa for China from the USA as I do not have USA residence.

Does anyone know which country's I can visit the Chinese embassy in, where they do not ask for residency?

[jimpellow]

The rule since the changes over the last couple years has been that you need to return to your country of your permanent residence. You hear about exceptions, the most obvious being Hong Kong. But it is not a guarantee by any means.

The way you want to investigate this is by looking at where you will be teaching and then try to find out through SEVERAL sources what the most current requirements are in that jurisdiction. Generally the eastern and richer parts of China are more stringent. But as the visa changes slowly spread out and are implemented, more of the western and poorer parts of China seem to be requiring more and not allowing it through Hong Kong or other third countries.

It seems from googling peoples' experiences that this door is now pretty much closed, but worth checking out with a visa agency there IF the jurisdiction where you will be teaching will allow it.

The biggest piece of advice I can offer is don't listen to those responses here, or on other boards, where a person extrapolates their personal experience as gospel. "You can just fly to Bangkok on the way here. That is what I did five years ago and it was easy!". People seem to like the advice that they want to hear, that is, until they get their arses burned big by it.

[JamesD]

Important detail - if you do get your visa in a country other than your own the invitation letter must reflect this. Make sure the issuer gets it right.
It will say something like "..This letter is for a Z visa application at a Chinese embassy or consulate in Iceland (or Maldives, Jamaica, wherever)."

[tlkdmc]

It is required to obtain your visa in your home country unless you get specific exceptions to be granted to allow it to be issued in a 3rd party country. Easy to understand actually.

[ghost]

I can confirm that you can get a visa in a second country, provided that you can show evidence (I provided an ID card) that you have residence in a country which is not the one you will be coming to China on with regard to your passport.

For example, you may be an American, resident in a country in Europe and if you have residence in that European country, the Chinese Embassy should honor that situation. I had to tell the Chinese Embassy that I was no longer resident in the country which is affiliated to my passport.

If you have the proper documentation and the invitation letter from the university, it is relatively easy to obtain the coveted Z visa, which then changes to a Resident Permit in China, renewable every year. The Resident Permit can only be obtained in China, after a medical test at a local Chinese hospital, the quality of which I cannot vouch for.

Ghost in China

[Shanghai Noon]

To the OP: why not try to get a driver's license or state ID card? That may convince the Chinese consulate that you are a resident.

[jimpellow]

[ghost]

I think too the OP should note that there are two things required for a z-visa to be granted in a third country. One is that the jurisdiction where he will be teaching in China will allow it. The other is that the Chinese authorities in the country where he is physical located will actually process it. Most will not as they do not want to deal with all the regulations and hassles themselves now.

I was in a European country which processed the application and it was a relatively easy process, although it did take a few weeks from start to finish. It might be quicker in other locations. If the school or university really wants you, and the paper work is in order, it should not be too difficult to get the paperwork done in a country which is not your primary residence, but secondary residence is ok.

The way things are going these days, with so many people and business people being transients on the world stage, meaning they are jumping from country to country to earn their living - Embassies and Consulates should take that into account - and 'allow' processing of paperwork from countries which are not the applicant's main residence.

Ghost in China

[jackblack55]

Thank you for your helpful posts. I have been in touch with the Chinese Embassy in Mexico and they inform me that I can apply for the Z visa there and that being a visitor/tourist to Mexico would not be an issue.

It also seems to be possible from the Chinese embassy in Trinidad. (As long as you have more than 3 months remaining on your visa in Trinidad).

If anyone else has any experience of applying for a Chinese work visa in Mexico or other country outside of their home country, I would be pleased to hear your experience.

[jimpellow]

That is great news. And appreciate the follow-up. Many people here ask questions and never give back to the group the knowledge they have learned.

I think there was someone asking from a year back about Mexico, and found out it was not possible if I remember correctly. If you can find the thread it might help, but of course these things are in a state of flux.

I live in Mexico these days and toy around with going back to China from time to time to time, so would be great if it were true.

Of course, like I mentioned above, you still need to make SURE that the jurisdiction in China will process it. I got burned by this a couple years back.

I had accepted a job in Tianjin and doing some research learned that it now had to done be from one's country of permanent residence. So I insisted to the FAO, program director and the recruiter in HK that I really thought I should do it before I left, but was told they needed to wait a bit and could get it for me in Malaysia where I was heading next as long as it had the proper address. So like an idiot I flew from Seattle, where I had been staying with a friend, to Kuala Lampur, and when I got to the hotel and opened my email, there was a very nonchalant message from the FAO that I would need to fly back to the United States to get the visa as they had just learned the regulations had changed.

You will also be able to save a lot of money on the pre-medical if you do it in Mexico. I have lived in the Caribbean, though never been to Tobago, and generally everything is quite expensive on those islands.

BTW, you do not actually need a pre-med. The national government did away with this mandate in April of 2014. But seems outside of most schools in Beijing, the vast majority of jurisdictions still do not know this (pretty funny, isn't it?) so they require it causing further expense and effort for the Z-visa applicant (not so funny).

Please keep us up to date on how it goes.

[Son of Bud Powell]

Contact a professional. Call Travel Document Systems. This company stays abreast of the changes in visa requirements. It will tell you what you need and what you need to send them. Then they will walk your paperwork over to the consulate, process it, and then send it back to you.

https://www.traveldocs.com/expedited-visa-services/China-visa-processing-country46

Click onto CONTACT to find a phone number in your jurisdiction. It is best to call after 10 a.m. in the time zone in which the office is located.

[Quite]

[jimpellow]

[Son of Bud Powell]

I really think that TDS can answer his questions. I doubt that they'll even try to circumvent the process and policy. TDS has been in the business for a long time and have probably seen everything.

Another source would be Visa Rite.

[jimpellow]