Job Discussion Forums

[portnoy58]

Hi all I've gone to a lot of trouble and expense to get two degree certificates notarised, and the notary's signature duly certified by the UK FCO and also authenticated by the Chinese Embassy in London. I am reluctant to release the originals of either the degree scripts or their notarised copies and would like to know if any one can offer any advice here. It seems to me that the FEB would surely accept scans in the first instance and cannot expect applicants to send originals - it would cost about £500 to get the notarisation done and it would probably cost about the same again to get replacement degree certificates. My fear is that in putting them into the post I'll never see them again. I should add I am in Thailand. I would have no problem about releasing the originals in China to the relevant school bodies etc.

[hz88]

No, never courier original documents to China before you arrive. If you are told they are needed you have been misled.

Electronic copies are initially uploaded to the online system in order to obtain the Z visa invitation letter.

The originals are then (and it seems to be province specific) either required at the point where you are in China with the z visa during the interim period where your Foreign Experts Book is applied for before changing it to your resident permit.

Some provinces including mine now require them at the resident permit issue stage. The PSB are requesting verification and sight of the originals.