Job Discussion Forums

EnglishLanguageOne · Joined: 02 Feb 2016 Posts: 28

I am currently trying to get a new visa in England.
Do Chinese people over complicate simple things or are they now genuinely making things difficult and expensive?
They now tell me that I must get my degree and celta certificates translated into Chinese. Also they want my police criminal record check translated into Chinese, they also want a reference letter from my previous employer, signed and stamped (my employer here in the UK does not have a stamp) by my employer and also translated into Chinese.
They also want my medical check translating into Chinese.

Are these requirements all new?

I have no problem with the requirement to get things notarized and stamped by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office before taking them to be stamped at the Chinese consulate in Manchester, but all these new requirements are baffling, time consuming and very expensive.

I am fast coming to the conclusion that I should give China a miss and head for less bureaucratic nations like Saudi, Vietman or Korea.

The bear · Joined: 16 Aug 2015 Posts: 483

EnglishLanguageOne · Joined: 02 Feb 2016 Posts: 28

ChrisHenry15 · Joined: 03 Jan 2015 Posts: 99

The FAO translated my apostle and background check. I'm in Fujian. It's a requirement for the residence permit according to my school.

wuliuchiba · Joined: 07 Jul 2013 Posts: 61

It's like an entire nation of Donald Trumps. They keep trying their best to discourage foreigners with their insane bureaucratic hurdles that they keep piling up every year.

astrotrain · Joined: 18 Apr 2013 Posts: 96

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

astrotrain · Joined: 18 Apr 2013 Posts: 96

^^^

Sorry, I stand corrected.

jimpellow · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 913

"Are these requirements all new?"

They stem from the 2013-2014 overhaul. The changes work their way outwards slowly, very slowly, and are vaguely written(if at all) and open to interpretation. Personally, I have never heard of so much translation being needed as you describe. What is a little funny, is that Beijing's official stance under the latest conflicting NEW pilot programs all state that nothing needs to be translated.

Wall Street gives excellent support on working visas. They are following what the jurisdiction currently wants, not what is actually required from above. I suppose this could be at a jurisdiction level, but usually all these added requirements were talked about or required by Beijing at one time.

"I am fast coming to the conclusion that I should give China a miss and head for less bureaucratic nations like Saudi, Vietnam or Korea."

They are all bureaucratic in themselves, but the processes are streamlined and transparent. You are fast coming to the correct conclusion.

hz88 · Joined: 27 Sep 2015 Posts: 162

At the moment its difficult to give a straight answer as with the new system due to be introduced next month, everyone is unsure.

If you are still applying under the old system, then, yes technically your documents do need to be translated to Chinese but it is not your job to do.

The correct procedure is you send the scanned copies and then the FAO or HR will translate them. Just inform them of this, I think they are trying it on with you.

You do need a reference letter, the stamp is not fundamental, if it is on headed paper and signed that will suffice. Stand your ground and say companies in the UK do not use stamps.

EnglishLanguageOne · Joined: 02 Feb 2016 Posts: 28

hz88 · Joined: 27 Sep 2015 Posts: 162

If you have an academic reference then that is better. I think it should not be a problem if the referee has changed position and location since.

I will make some further inquiries about the translation issues, but I have never heard of it. It is simply not the applicants job to undertake. I know several FAO's in different provinces and one thing they often bemoan about is the time taken to translate all this stuff. I regularly get requests to explain English words in simple form.

You could say to them that if they want you to get the translation done then they must pay for it and you need a letter from them in English and Chinese (stamped of course) that they will reimburse you for the costs. If they agree to this (which I very much doubt) then go ahead and do it yourself, my guess is they will soon realize that you know the system and can't be fobbed off.

jimpellow · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 913

"If you have an academic reference then that is better. I think it should not be a problem if the referee has changed position and location since."
-Could you please elaborate on this? I have always seen that the purpose of the reference letter(s) was to verify the two years of employment. The last time I myself was talking with a Wall Street national recruiter this was also told to me. I respect your expertise on these matters, but this is odd.

hz88 · Joined: 27 Sep 2015 Posts: 162

You are right to ask. Actually both should be acceptable. The preference is for an academic one for obvious reasons. If you are not in China the reference ideally should be for your last job.