Job Discussion Forums

bugsbunny · Joined: 30 Oct 2005 Posts: 5

I have just signed a one-year contract and I am getting my Z visa next week. In order to get my Z visa, the consulate in my home country told me I was supposed to do a physical check and then sent me a file with all the tests I was supposed to do. OK, I did all the tests in the list and had it signed by a physician and a biochemist.
Now I heard (and read) that I will "probably" have to do all the tests again after my arrival in China. The problem is that I have heard/read scary stories like "they reuse needles in China", "some teachers get contaminated" and other creepy stuff.
I PM'ed some experienced (at least they sound so) posters here and had many different answers. Some have never undergone any physical check IN CHINA, some told me I would have to.
I will do any physical test they ask me to do, as long as I don't have to have my arm perforated (again) with needles that might have already been used. Shocked

I would appreciate if those who have NOT undergone medical exams in China could give me some light here. I am boarding in about 2 weeks, so I don't have much time left. I had some PM's of some fellows who had never done the dreadful exam, but I would like to have more info from more teachers who haven't done it.

Cheers,
Bugsy

bukowski1234 · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 12:23 am Post subject:

If you're an American, did you have your exam authenticated by the U.S. State department?

HunanForeignGuy · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 989 Location: Shanghai, PRC

bugsbunny · Joined: 30 Oct 2005 Posts: 5

Thanks for your reply, bukowski1234.

I sent you a PM with more details.

THX! Very Happy

bugsbunny · Joined: 30 Oct 2005 Posts: 5

Thanks for your reply.

I have already received my working permit from the State Administration of Foreign Affairs so that I can have my "Z visa processed at the nearest Chinese Embassy or Consulate".
I had my form with the results of the physical check signed and stamped by a licenced physician and a biochemist. Maybe I should authenticate it at the Chinese embassy here. What do you say?
You said the chances of having to redo the tests are between 75 and 100%, depending on the province. Do you think Jilin province is more lenient than Hangzhou, Hunan and Chengdu? Who decides whether or not you have to redo the exams, the school or some chinese authority?

Thanks again, Hunan Foreign Guy.

klasies · Joined: 04 Mar 2003 Posts: 178 Location: China

Bugs

Been here a long time and have done many medicals in many cities, big cities and small villages. I have never seen them reuse needles. Whoever told you that is talking sh#t. If you are still not convinced then you can buy your own needle from a pharmacy. They cost 50 fen! That's not even 1 American cent.

A

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

Wow! I can't believe you guys go through this amount of rigamarole just to work in China.

In Thailand, for example, you just go to a general practioner who takes your pulse then issues you a letter and charges 30 - 40 baht (US$0.75 - 1).

ytange · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 4:08 am Post subject:

Whao! News Flash! Shocked

Nice one fellas - I could red this site for a week and still get new juice

Thanks guys

wot about if you are an Oz pasport?

I get all my doctor visits for free from Medicare so the cost is no deal Smile

Will get everything here before I hit the sky

Where's the form to fill?
goggle coming up Idea

Thank you

Nice view there Sigmond but I canna get a gig in Thailand Crying or Very sad

I only have the bare basic wally

oh needles.... seen a few friends Crying or Very sad

OH NO

Spiderman Too · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 4:54 am Post subject:

bugsbunny

You and I have already corresponded several times by PM on this issue. I�ve got to tell you, your protracted concern on this issue doesn�t bode well for you being able to cope in China, e.g. lack of hygiene in �local� restaurants and public toilets to name but two �health� concerns.

What are you going to do if you get sick here? When you go to a Chinese hospital the first thing they do is stick an I.V. drip in your arm!

As klasies wrote, you�re listening to sh1t!

Last year I had a surgery in a Chinese hospital and I�m still alive, and HIV-Aids-free!

As for your American medical report, aside from the information I have gleaned from this forum, I have directly spoken with one American who came here with medical reports and an x-ray report. Her reports were accepted by the authorities but she had to have another chest x-ray.

There was something about her chest x-ray report that the authorities did not like, but she wasn�t told full details. She was told, however, that had she brought the actual x-ray (she only brought the report) she wouldn�t have had to have another x-ray.

And Sigmoid, having worked in both countries I can tell you that, aside from the full-on medical report, getting a 'work permit' here in China is a whole lot quicker and easier than Thailand.

The first work permit I got in Thailand took 4 months (including the teacher's licence) and while it was underway I had to go to immigration in (or near) Sathorn / Silom every 2 weeks. Even with 2 stamps per page (Application for extension of stay is under consideration ....), which I insisted upon (the first couple were 1 stamp per page), the pr1cks filled up half of my passport!

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

I support Klasies post too; although hygiene conditions may sometimes border on the unsanitary you are relatively safe because your body is not going to be opened, and generally, they use throw-away syringes to take blood for the one and most important HIV status test.
Foreigners are usually herded towards the more modern clinics in China. And who knows? - maybe your tests done back home will be accepted!

Seoul Survivor · Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 1 Location: Ansan, South Korea

The hospitals in China can be a little scary- not the cleanest or most hygienic places (unless you're in a newer one). The old #1 Hospital in Taiyuan had broken windows, trash on the stairways, and looked like it hadn't been swept or mopped since the cultural revolution! But they had fresh needles, at least.

HunanForeignGuy · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 989 Location: Shanghai, PRC

sheeba · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 1123

As much as I agree that you don't need to worry about needles (especially in big cities) and I know from experience the machines matched western standards I would question the people using these machines .

Trust a Chinese doctor Shocked

- You lot are bonkers.

bukowski1234 · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 1:24 pm Post subject: When in the U.S....

http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/gzrz/t84255.htm

http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/yisq/default.htm

http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84245.htm

http://www.china-embassy.org/chn/hzqz/zgqz/Q1-1.pdf

http://www.state.gov/m/a/auth/

The info on the website is vague, but an email to the Chinese Embassy in your jurisdiction should clear things up for you. If you are not American, your situation may be different.

If you are crazy and incapable of reasoning, your situation may be really different. If you work for a private school rather than a government university your situation may be different. If you're working on the wrong papers, your situation may be different.

DON'T wait for the consulate to reject your application for a visa only to learn that you need authenticated documents. In America, one cannot mail one's visa applications to the consulate. One must either arrive in person or send his apps and documents with his passport via personal courier who hand delivers it to authentications and the visa department and then sends it back to you. That fee is about $100.00 plus the cost of sending it to the courier.

I don't know where you are, or what your exact situation is, but this is the procedure FOR ME. Call it bunk. Call it Henrietta. Call it whatever you want, but this is what i have been told by the local consulate.

I am sorry if some cannot accept this.

Ta Ta