Job Discussion Forums

[bule_boy69]

Does anyone have any (preferably recent) experience of applying for a Z visa in a third country where they do not have resident status?

I'm not in a position to be able to go back to my country of origin to sort out a visa.

Presently in indonesia, but Malaysia or maybe Thailand would be ok.

Hoping that someone here has encouraging news for me, but if your application was not entertained because of non resident status,would be good to know too.

Thanks

[jaybet3]

I live in Solo, Indonesia. I applied and got a Z visa last year and never left the country. I sent my documents via DHL to a company in Washington, DC that had my visa processed by the Chinese embassy and I also had my university degree authenticated by the Secretary of State office as well as the Chinese consulate.

I found it was cheaper to send the documents by DHL rather than fly to Jakarta and stay in a hotel for a week while my visa was being processed.

Presently, I am waiting for my new Z visa to arrive from China and I will send it to the USA and have it processed like last year.

The most difficult thing the first time was getting the criminal background check from Indonesia since that's where I had been living the previous year.

If you think China paperwork is bad, then you're in for a real good time getting that stuff done in Indonesia. I actually had to pay "extra" to the chief of police in my wife's home town to get it processed.

For the visa this year, I got my criminal background check done in China where I had been working. It took 20 minutes and was free.

FYI: It doesn't matter where you are, as long as you get your visa processed at a Chinese embassy.

[bule_boy69]

[jaybet3]

Where you are applying in China is the big caveat. My first job was in Chongqing and my new job is in Guangzhou.

So far, the requests from Guangzhou have been the same as Chongqing.

Yes, I'm here on a KITAS which gives me residence for a year. I thought you were talking about permanent residence.

Never been to the Chinese embassy in Jakarta so I have no idea if they would do it. I avoid Jakarta like the plague.

In regards to the medical check, I checked with the Chongqing school and they said that a check in Indonesia was fine. It's all nonsense anyway since you have to repeat the process once you get to China.

So, is your concern where you will physically be when get the invitation letter to apply for the Z visa? ie: Mailing address?

If so, have the school inform you when the letter or whatever document it's called is ready. Go to Thailand, check into a hotel and have them send it by an international carrier (DHL, FedEx, etc.) then process the Z visa in that country.

I'd rather hang around Bangkok for a week than Jakarta.

[bule_boy69]

[jaybet3]

I'm gonna guess you're holding a US passport.

I can't recall if during my application I was ever asked for proof of my residency beyond giving them a copy of my passport. I know I wasn't asked for proof for my new job.

So, tell them you're an American citizen. Have your school mail the invitation letter somewhere in Asia, then use a service in the US to process your Z visa.

No one in China is gonna question your Visa if it's been approved by the Chinese embassy in Washington, DC.

I think you are over-thinking this process. The government workers are mostly ticking boxes. After they send your employer the approval for the invitation letter, that government office isn't going to know where your school mailed the document to you.

PM me if you want the name of the company in Washington that I use.

BTW: I'm off to Cambodia for a few days so I may not reply straight away.

[bule_boy69]

[indoboy17]

hi has anyone in SE Asia got their Z visa in the country they are in assuming you have an ARC (residency card) for that particular country. I am going to apply through HK as an agency said I dont need a HK ID to apply there. I have an ARC for Korea but it expires in mid August and I am still waiting for my work permit number online. So has anyone got their Z visa in Asia>