Job Discussion Forums

wailing_imam · Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 580 Location: Malaya

Hi Folks.

I am in Hubei. I have been here for one week and am holding an L visa. I am teaching English here. I am working for an overseas company, who promised that their Chinese counterparts would get my working permit sorted out once I got here. I even had to sign a form promising to have a medical check done once in China. Now I am in China, they have said that I have to work on an L visa for the duration of my six month contract. This would involve going to Hong Kong every sixty days. What a pain in the Gary.

Here are the questions:

1) Is it possible to convert an L visa into a residence visa in Hubei, or does one have to be outside the country to do this?

2) Is it possible to convert an L visa into an F visa (90 or 180 days) in Hubei?

3) Is it possible to extend one's L visa by a month at PSB offices in Hubei?

4) There aren't an awful lot of foreign faces in this city. What would be the repercussions for getting caught working on an L visa, as I realise it is the teacher's responsibility in the eyes of the law to have the correct visa?

5) After how long inside the province of Hubei is a foreigner supposed to go an register at the PSB office?

6) I want to be transferred to Shandong. Are the regulations any different there?

Shocked

HUBEI

Cheers

Millerlong · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 147 Location: Shanghai, China

Wouldn't it just be better to get a 6 month or 1 year business VISA while in Hong Kong? Or you just get a company registered in China to give you a letter (stamped) saying that they need you in China for some business consulting for 3 months - no need to leave China at all, just take the form down to the local PSB and get your L changed into a 3 month F and you can repeat this for a total period up to 1 year.

Another way would be to use a visa agency in Shanghai to give you a 3, 6, or 12 month business visa. All is possible and there is no need to go to Hong Kong.

You are able to extend your tourist visa for 1 month but only once. After that you will need to follow the information above.

Chinese immigration laws are very smooth!

wailing_imam · Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 580 Location: Malaya

Thanks for your reply.

As far as I am aware, each province has slightly different immigration regualtions. Are the regulations in Hubei as straightforward as the laws that you mention (presumably those of Shanghai)?

Cheers

HUBEI Shocked

HUBEI

Millerlong · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 147 Location: Shanghai, China

Why don't you try it out? Take a letter with a stamp from a registered company and see how you go down at your local PSB. Otherwise take a trip to Shanghai to get a 3 months business VISA or to Hong Kong to get a 1 year business visa. All too easy!!!

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

andrew_gz · Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 502 Location: Reborn in the PRC

TW do you have a reference/source for this?
"China is really cracking down on illegal FT's."

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

wailing_imam · Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 580 Location: Malaya

Actually, the school I am working in has two foregn teachers already, but they are directly employed by the school, wheras I am not paid any salary or benefits from the school in China. They have given me an apartment and a helper to do my copies / scream at students when they are late, but my salary comes from overseas and is paid into an overseas bank account. However, the Chinese are taking a risk by having me living on their premises and teaching their students on an L visa.

You are quite right, teaching on a series of L visas is a daft idea, and one that I will point out to my employer.