Job Discussion Forums

[Serious Traveller]

Can anybody shed some light upon the deal regarding an F visa being issued, apparently renewable every 3 months, for a teacher with a one year contract at a government school?
The recruiter has advised that the government has stopped issuing Z visas to teachers who came here on tourist visas.
Will salary still be able to be converted to foreign currency, as indicated in the contract,?
Does the F visa allow you to travel around China during academic vacations ?
And finally what if you wanted to visit a neighbouring country during one of the vacations?
Do you need a muliple entry F visa to return ? Even to Hong Kong.?

[nolefan]

It is true that in some provinces, it has gotten much harder to change an L visa into a Z visa once you're in the country. I know it is the case in Hebei province at the moment where the psb and the F.A.D have a few outstanding issues to deal with. Check the thread about "which provinces issue a Z visa"

China has changed certain immigration policies right now and it is more acceptable to work on an F visa than it was before. We are used to much sticter immigration policies in the west where you can do certain things on certain visas. In China, it is not as clearly defined yet. There are a few exchange visiting professors at one of the Unis in Tagshan that were issued an F visa for the year they will stay and work in China. That visa was issued by the embassy and everything is alright.

What you should be more worried about is your red book!! With a Z visa, your school can get you Foreign Expert permit. with an F visa, they should get you an "Alien Employement Permit". If you have that, you're clear!!!

Before anyone starts flaming me, this advice is ONLY specific to HEBEI province.

[Roger]

Your employer is keeping you illegally. You have no right to work in China on a business visa. It is silly to renew it every 3 months; get a 6 month, multiple-entry visa in HK to save trouble and time. It will set you back some 150 a month (the agents there mark the price up by around 100%). Of course, a single-entry visa is single entry to the mainland even from Hong Kong or Macau; if you cross the border your visa expires subito!

As for travelling around China, there is zero restriction on holders of any visa; the only restriction that applies is: a work visa ties you to your employer and his place of work. Holidays are not covered by regulations.

[orangiey]

I thought you could only get a multiple entry visa if it was stated on your invitation letter you needed one?