Job Discussion Forums

Krucigen · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 10

I am currently working for a school and I will be leaving my position behind in about 3 weeks. I have work visa/passport/residence permit and such and none of them expire for about another 10 months. You think I would be OK to just ride this out while I travel and work and backpack and such around China? I know the school on thier end is going to cancel it but as well all know China is a society run on paper and not computers... I'm thinking I would be OK but if anyone has any suggestions of what is that I should do I would be most interested to hear from you.

Also if anyone is looking for two teachers in the south to teach for ohh... 2-3 months let me know!

Thanks in advance.

MyTurnNow · Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 860 Location: Outer Shanghai

In my admittedly limited experience with leaving the mainland since arriving here, the immigration offers have all had computers. They all scanned my passport barcode and checked over my documents.

The system here can only be relied on to be inefficient and incompetent when you want to do something, not when you want to get away with something. And border crossings are taken purty durn serious in these parts, buckaroo. Getting legal is always the best advice.

MT

Krucigen · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 10

Is the best thing for me to do is hop on into Hong Kong and get a 60 day permit to finish up my travelling? I am really not to sure of what to do. Any advice would be great about where to go and who to see.

Thanks again.

Bertrand · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 293

Jesus! You KNOW that they are to cancel your papers and you are still considering it? Obviously it is 'up to you' but I would advise most strongly against it. Though, as you say, it is - in the main - a paper society, I seem to remember having to show all my papers on a fairly regular basis (checking into hotels, buying tickets, etc.) As another poster says, border controls are computerised and staying in China beyond the period allowed by your visa, etc., is to say the least risking it. (I'm not saying you WON'T get away with it, or, even, that if caught you WILL get into trouble. All I am saying is that there is a chance (quite a strong one, actually) that you may be caught, and, if caught, there is a fair chance you may experience some problems. As you know, it is not always the best country in the world in which to experience problems with immigration!)

I aver that if you had seen the inside of a Chinese immigration holding cell, you would not be considering this!

Krucigen · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 10

Actually I dont know if they are going to cancel the papers. I don't have a clue of what they are doing anymore. Typical Chinese people just want to tell you as little as possible and by the time they tell you anything it's too late. I just wanted advice in regards to travlling on a Z visa or if I have to get a travellers visa (Don't know what class it is..). Well I have had my Z visa question answered from another source and yes you can travel on that anywhere you want as long as it's valid. Next trick is finding out how long my Z will be valid before the school cancels. So this leads to the basis of this thread. Where do I go to get a 60 day visa for travelling purposes? From all the info I have collected it would be Hong Kong. I know I can't go out and about with an expired visa.. that would be stupid and I never intended to do that. Anywho... I guess i'm off to HK.

aaronschwartz · Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 145 Location: Beijing

WRONG - WRONG - WRONG

IF YOU HAVE A RESIDENCE PERMIT OR HAVE BEEN IN COUNTRY MORE THAN 30 DAYS YOU HAVE no "z" VISA.

The so called "Z" visa is a three or four week one entry visa for an opportunity to obtain a residence permit which is then the superceeding authority to remain and travel in country.

Further, when you collect your last payment, the school will demand return of the residence permit and expert certificate. Then you have seven days by law to leave the country.

Good luck.

Krucigen · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 10

Uhm.. Im looking at my passport right now and it states I have a Z class visa valid until June 23 2004. So.. uhm.. what am I missing? I contacted the embassy back home and they said I am fine on my Z visa... anywhere in China.

don't matter anywho.. as soon as I get into Beijng im stopping at my embassy to get all this paper work looked after.

Oh and the school can't keep the two permits. It is now law for you to hand them back in at the airport. If they keep yours when you leave your screwed.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Krucigen,
sorry, but I must call a spade a spade, and a sponger a sponger. You have been in the country for just one month, and you managed to walk out on a trusting employer who sponsored you and probably paid for your work visa and assorted documents! I can't condone this type of behaviour!
Yes, you can travel on your work visa without any restriction - don't know what restriction they might invent anyway! You don't even need to produce a passport when registering at a hotel - your residence permit would take care of that (it did in my case). Thus, you can swim like a fish in water, or travel like a Chinese inside China.
The only problem I can think of is that your generous boss that you elected to let down so gallantly might now be thinking of taking revenge.
The PSB could alert all border exit points and Immigration would easily be able to stop you.
I happen to know that a 12 month work visa issued by the Guangdong PSB costs around 1900 RMB (for British passport holders). Add to this the medical exam and the permits your boss had to buy - and we are talking about 3000 RMB he invested in your short stint!
Nice guy with an angel's attitude!

Krucigen · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 10

Who said anything about me only working for 1 month? I've been here for close to 6 months now and I'll have you know I am leaving on the best of terms. What happens at the end of 6 months? Can you guess? You should know.. you've got all the right answers. All I wanted was some advice on how to get a visa changed over and what to do and where to go. What happens? I end up getting flamed by people. Yeah real friendly message board here. So much for helping eachother. Once again the people who think they know everything assume that those who don't are beneath them.

Thanks for the help. Or the lack there of.

Try asking the question before you assume the answer.

This thread is done for me.

Bertrand · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 293

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

A z visa is good as long as it says it is good for. But, you only have 30 days (I'm pretty sure it's 30 days, could be wrong) to leave the country after your residence permit expires. When you leave the country, most places ( maybe all) require you to surrender your residence permit if you are on a z visa. If you have been in the country too long after the expiration of your residence permit, they can fine you. I believe they can fine you 500 RMB per day. Of course, your z-visa also has to be current.

This does not mean that your residence permit is actually valid. Your residence permit technically becomes invalid when you are no longer living where the permit says you live (This is stated on the residence permit. Any change of address must be documented.)

So if you are no longer working, you really need to change your visa to a tourist visa.

I have yet to hear about someone getting in trouble for staying in the county 2 or 3 years on a tourist visa (ie working illegally), and then trying to go home. I'm sure that's a matter of time

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Oh, the school must not demand the return of the residence permit. This is very untrue. You need that residence permit when you leave the country. The residence permit does not belong to the school any more then the passport/visa belongs to the school. If your school is demanding your residence permit, they are very mistaken. This is not, is not, a school document. The only thing the school should request is an school card THEY issued you.

Z-visas can be single entry or multiple entry. The expiration date can be different. I had one that had no expiration date. The z-visa must remain current. It is just as important, in a different way, as the permit. Both are requirements

cujobytes · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 1:49 am Post subject: >

I've left the country a lot of times and only ever shown my passport. I've never been asked for my residents permit. I know a lot of people who come and go and I've never heard of anyone being asked for their residents permit at the border. If you have a valid Visa of any type you are legal in country.

Happy in China · Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Posts: 8

krucigen you asked a valid question and seem to not want to break the law.
if you are leaving your current job on good terms there should be no problems(YOUR FREE TO TRAVEL WHERE FOREIGNERS ARE ALLOWED TO GO) providing all your documents are in order; that is you don't overstay the expiry date in your residence permit-THAT IS WHAT'S IMPORTANT(this you hand into the immigration when leaving the country) not what the Z visa states in your passport. the Z visa is usually issued at the beginning for 1 month until the residence permit is issued because it takes longer for all the paper work to be completed(guanxi). also important is to hand in the red book-foreign experts certificate to the school cause if you don't the school could be fined.
also you said your document things expire on 23 june 2004? or do you mean 2005
good luck

cujobytes · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 3:00 am Post subject: >

Happy in China, I don't know where you get your information, but it is not necessary for the residents permit (green book) to be handed over at the border on leaving. As I said in my previous post, I have left numerous times and simply present my passport (with current z visa) at the exit point. The Z visa is not a stopgap to keep you legal while the resident permit is processed, it is a work Visa that is required if you are to work in China, seperate to the residents permit (green book) that is necessary if you are to reside in China. If your z Visa has expired, but residents permit is current you are legal, however you cannot work without a current Z (work) visa. If your z visa has expired, but your residents permit is current only then will you need to present the residents permit at the border (exit point) on leaving. You cannot return untill you have aquired a new Visa. The one month visa is a single entry L visa that allows you into the country. This is the visa you will be on while the paperwork for your Z visa and residents permit is processed.
Krucigen. The school cannot cancel your z visa.
I suggest when you leave get a letter of release, it will make it easier for you to get another job if you decide to.
an expired Residents permit is no problem. what counts at the border (if your residents permit has expired) is the expiry date on the visa. As stated if this has expired, but the residents permit is current you are covered. So as long as one of those documents is current, you can exit no problem.