Job Discussion Forums

dractalks · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 136 Location: Boston/Shanghai

Could someone who knows please tell me exactly where I go and what are the steps for going to Hong Kong to get a 6 month visa. Someone on this site said not to bother with an F visa. My Z visa (as well as my current contract ) expires June 30, 2003. I want to remain in Shanghai and teach privately so need to get a new visa the cheapest way possible.
Someone mentioned the Japan Travel Agency in Hong Kong or Macou?
Suggestions?
Thanks ahead
-DT

Bertrand · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 293

noodles · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 67

Well this is not my information, it was kindly supplied to me by Roger. I in the end did not need this as my school supplied me with my z visa, but i felt it was useful information so i saved it and to save Roger the trouble of repeating himself here it is....

In Hong Kong, you can get it from the Chinese VIsa office (but I don't know where they have relocated to; I suggest you ask at the HKTA office in the Star Ferry building in Tsimshatsui!).
I don't know how much they charge now (it used to be some 300 RMB for 3 months, maybe even for 6 months!).
An alternative is PHOENIX TRAVEL,
96 Nathan Road, 7th floor, telephone 27 22 73 78, Ben Wong;
I srongly recommend this outfit!
A multiple-entry visa will cost around 700 HKD. You must be there before 11 a.m. in order to get your passport back by 6 p.m. You will need one passport-size photograph.

Some tourist agencies get your visa too, in some cases a little chaper than PHOENIX, but I have no experience with them! Note that PHOENIX will take your passport all the way to - yes! - Shenzhen to get it stamped by the PSB there! You can't do this on your own!!!
No. 96 Nathan Rd is just opposite of Kowloon Mosque, very convenient if you stay at MIRAMAR MANSION or in CHUNGKING MANSIONS.

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

Drac,

IMHO you've chosen a risky, or at least expensive, road, even by expatteaching standards...especially if you don't have some knowledgeable local help in Shanghai and/or exceptional Chinese language skills. And this is without the possible vagaries of income the private teaching could add.

I don't suggest an 'L'. Even with renewal the term of validity is short, so you'll have to budget frequent trips to HK for new visas. And if you rent an apartment, if the $#it ever hit the fan you might have some tough questions to answer with only an L visa.

An F visa would be better. The term is longer and I believe it may at least give you the legal right to rent lodging, if not draw a salary.

Of course, the Z is the best solution. Get one if you possibly can, even if you have to outright buy one from a local visa mill. Like a good insurance policy it's expensive...until you really need it.

Getting a Z in hong Kong requires a sponsoring institution and certain documents, as Bertrand pointed out.
But getting an L or F there is very simple! Take the train from Shanghai to Hong Kong's Hung Hom station. Get off the train and go into the station. Look for the China Travel Service shop in the "mall" area of the station. They'll give you the forms and take your photo, if you don't already have one. They'll have deals listed for local hotels, and they can also help you book your ticket back to Shanghai at the same time. Go spend a night in HK (or buy a newspaper and sleep in the station Wink

) and then come back the next day and pick up your visa. Get back on the train and off to Shanghai you go.
I've had great luck with CTS....convenient, full-service, one-stop shopping.

MT

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

The CTS office, Kowloon Branch is on the corner of Nathan Rd., Peking Rd., about two hundred meters north of the PENINSULA HOTEL. It is on the second floor. If MyTUrnNow says they have got their act together, fine, and I believe him!

But I warn you about your perceibved "rights" as a holder of a F visa. You MUST not rent accommodation, nor accept any job!
I repeat here what I said before: There is no absolute advantage in having a F visa! You can obtain a six-month tourist visa from the JAPAN TRAVEL Ltd., or some other travel agents who buy it from a mainland PSB (PHOENIX buys them from the Shenzhen PSB - but you CANNOT go there on your own for this matter).

smarts · Joined: 24 Feb 2003 Posts: 159 Location: beijing

In Beijing, expat/english publication such as "city weekend" carrys adverts for visa consulting and renewal. thru them, you can pick up at least an L visa without having to leave the country or travel all the way down to Hong Kong. I'd be sure that you could find a similar service in Shanghai.
Best thing about this is you dont have to leave the mainland........... hhhmmm is that a good thing?

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

Thanks, Roger.
Maybe I've just been lucky...CTS has always been quick and easy for me so far, anyway.

I wasn't aware of the 6-month L. But I completely concur that if you are here one anything less than a Z you are putting yourself at risk, and your employer may well not inform you of this fact.

MT

senor boogie woogie · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2003 6:06 am Post subject:

Hola!

A Z visa mill? Is there a place where I can buy a black market Z visa? Senor wants to know!

SENOR

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

The biggest cities have places that will take your passport and a formidable pile of your RMB and bring you back a Z visa. Check the ads in the expat papers. No experience with how reliable/legal/safe they are. Caveat emptor.

MT