Job Discussion Forums

Drizzt · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 229 Location: Kyuushuu, Japan

Hello everyone...

Right now I'm teaching in Shanxi but I got a job in Shanghai at a private university starting in September.

My problem is my current visa expires the very beginning of July and the university in Shanghai told me that they can't extend my visa so soon and that I should leave the country and re-enter on a tourist visa and I can get it changed over once I begin working there in September.

Is this true? I was told by a friend that in Shanghai you can't change over the tourist visa to a residence/work visa, but I don't understand why not.

Thanks for any advice you can give...

Voldermort · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 597

Yes it is true, it is near impossible to convert a tourist visa to a work visa within China. If you read through the forum you can find out more details about this.

I am guessing that you are working part time while holding a tourist visa. You should have thought all of this through before coming here.

At some point in the near future you are going to have to leave China and re-enter with a work visa. Get all the paperwork from your university, and ask them if they will help towards the cost. You can take a trip to Hongkong to obtain a new visa, the cost would be about 4000 RMB total if you take the train. So get saving.

In the meantime you need to get your current tourist visa extended. You should ask your current school to help you with this. Going to the PSB on your own and asking for a 3 months extension could lead to a few problems.

Another option is to convert your tourist visa into a business visa. You may buy yourself 6 months by doing this. But you should really keep this as a last resort as it is not exactly legal to teach while holding one.

Drizzt · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 229 Location: Kyuushuu, Japan

Thanks for the info, really helpful.

I would like to add though that right now I am not on a tourist visa, I actually have a residence visa it's just that it's about to run out and I am going to work at a different school...

randyj · Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 11:04 am Post subject:

Has anyone used the services described in http://www.visainchina.com/visa1.htm ? Perhaps the OP might find this helpful.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

I would believe you can get a visa extension on your own provided you are staying at reputable guesthouses. Last time I was given an extension in Jinghong, Yunnan, for 2 months.

But if you fail - and we don't always know why some are accommodated by the authorities and some are not! - your best bet is to go to Hong Kong or Macau and reenter the mainland from there.

Drizzt · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 229 Location: Kyuushuu, Japan

Ok, I will keep that in mind, thanks!