Job Discussion Forums

melissa11 · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 25 Location: Canada

My recruiter tells me that I need only have a tourist visa when I enter China, and that the school will apply for a work visa once I am there and after the medical check. However, looking at the requirements of applying for one, you must have a return ticket (which I did not intend on getting yet), reservations or an address you will be staying at, and proof of funds so you can sustain yourselves while away.It just seems easier for me to apply for a work visa! What should I do?? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Voldermort · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 597

It's quite common for a school to ask you to come here on a tourist visa, if you read through this forum you will find tons of thread.

To apply directly for a Z-visa you will need the school to post you an 'invitation letter', most refuse. All you need for a tourist visa is to show your ticket. With a one month ticket they will only issue a 1 month visa. This should be enough for the school to deal with, but if you don't like the school you will struggle.

The biggest problem is the airline. First time I came to China they refused to allow me on the plane because I only had a one way ticket and a tourist visa. Scandinavian Airlines. I was forced to buy another return ticket at the airport costing me twice as much as the first. So check before you buy.

On another note, I really would not advice coming here on a one way. Get an open end return. I didn't listen and really regret it now. Your choice of course.

Good luck and welcome to China

cj750 · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 3081 Location: Beijing

The above post has a great deal of truth in it...airlines will offen stop you if you do not have the z visa or a residence permit...get the z first....the school then has invested in picking you and you will not be subject to scams....

krazykarl · Joined: 29 Dec 2004 Posts: 8

If you can, try and get a Z visa, its easier in the long run, although in the event that your school is a legitamate school, it will save you money to get a tourist visa depending on which country your from. I got a Z visa and a friend got a tourist one, i could have saved 30 dollars but thats not a big deal. also they may just issue a tourist visa when you arrive, either even if you have a work visa. (it happend to a coworker in Benxi) They dont always check the place where you stay, or just find a hotel in Beijing online and copy the adress. yourr done. and ya, check the airlines like V said, they may try to make you buy a ticket back, but if they dont post it, just say that your goin to Hong Kong and then to Austrailia and tell them you dont need a visa to go there. that should stop them. good luck with everything

goeastyoung(ish)man! · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 139 Location: back in US

Last year when I went to China, I bought an open-ended round-trip ticket. That's a ticket where the "to" part is scheduled and certain but the return tickets are blank as to date, time and flight numbers. You must return within one year and must remember to reserve a flight back before the year is up. I flew from the US to Hong Kong, don't know if that is available to the mainland, but don't see why not. Cost me $800 when the cheapest regular round trip was a bit under $600, I think.

I got a tourist visa in Hong Kong (search threads for where to go) in one day and was on my way. My employer, a uni, had no trouble helping me convert that quickly to a z visa. If you arrive on a tourist visa and your Nanchang employer isn't very clear about getting you a work visa right away or tries to get you to work on a business visa (f-visa) find another school. The PSB will need your passport for a few days - go with the school to the PSB, Public Security Bureau, don't just hand it off to the school for safe keeping.