Job Discussion Forums

samhouston · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 418 Location: LA

I saw this on Shanghaiist.com

Z Visa Update: The Bigger Picture
http://www.allroadsleadtochina.com/index.php/2008/06/08/z-visa-update-the-bigger-picture/

6 months after I started reporting on the clampdown on visas, it is now a full blown party with major newspapers and blogs all reporting pretty thoroughly on the issue.

A new piece of information that I have to add at what I have already seen at the other sites, that no one else has covered, is that I recently was sitting in a clients office when their HR person gave us some bad news

Anyone born after 1983 can no longer get a Z visa.

What struck me about this was that if true this would represent the first real change in policy. After all, working on an F visa was always outside the rules, and even extending a Z visa to rep office employees was a poorly enforced rule� but but restricting Z visas to those older than 25� THAT IS NEW

Surely, if true, we are going to see a bunc of China bashing, but where I would like to frame this is that when there were economic downturns in Asia circa 1997 and the US circa 2000, there was almost an immediate visa restriction that came along with it. Leadership looked to save jobs for citizens, and those firms who wanted to import labor had to jump a lot of hurdles to prove that doing so was a last report� .that they could not find someone locally.

I myself was caught up in this as I had a bank in Singapore tell me they would like to have me join the team, but could get no visa for me as I was a recent graduate and they would not be able to defend the hire�. and that sucked for me.

Right now, there are a lot of rumors circulating about people having visas canceled, about new hires finding it difficult to get a visa, and others who are having their visas checked� and there is some truth to all these rumors. And people should be aware that the situation will only tighten as we get closer to the Olympics.

but, I would like to put forward another possibility.

China doesn�t need foreign talent in the same way it did before, and China is going to start asking companies to begin proving that a Fudan student is not as good as a University of Ohio graduate with 1 year of experience before hiring the University of Ohio student.

That, China is more worried about graduate placement rates, and that part of the issues with visas get down tot the fact that there is a large population of foreigners who are in China working in restaurants, bars, in entry level sales positions, and who in the eyes of some are taking good jobs away from local talent.

In the end, proving one�s value is something that China will ask more and more. this is something we have seen at a business level, and it is something that is now occuring at the individual level. .. and I am not sure that is suck a bad thing.

Sure it sucks for some right now, but policies like this actually have a way of separating those who rally will bring value to China vs. those who are simply here riding the wave into the beach.

kungfucowboy83 · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 479

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

..and Africans,Indians,Pakistanis,Russians and most folks from developing countries.

SnoopBot · Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 740 Location: USA

We have had a few resumes/cv's coming into my university from potential FT's that run DJ and dance clubs looking for FT positions.

Most are from the native speaking countries, maybe this is what they are now complaining about.

I expect China to become very nationalist, it's history is full of incidents of nationalist uprisings with foreigners being executed in mass numbers.

When they do not need our "services" or investment anymore, expect to see a very large rise in violent incidents against foreigners. You can bet on this especially from those countries with pending "anti-dumping" legislation.

The Olympics will be the trigger and the upcoming world-recession will be the bullet to make life miserable for anyone that "doesn't look Chinese" living here.

The government will NOT accept any blame for what problems might erupt from the fall-out of the economic recession/depression. It will be blamed on FOREIGNERS. Problems from corruption or poor banking/loans will not be from CCP error but from some Western factor.

Mark my words, have an airline ticket and cash ready if things get bad here and the price inflation rates reset to true levels without the price controls.

Study the Boxer Rebellion period to get a good idea on the possibilities.

(I see more ugly examples of anti-foreigner and feverish Nationalist passion growing each month here)

amphivera · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 27 Location: China

Interesting. Although what's the source on this? Reading the original article leads me to believe that the only source for this information seems to be this mysterious "HR person."

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

Google search:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=born+after+1983+can+no+longer+get+a+Z+visa.+&btnG=Google+Search

1 - 10 of about 88,600 for born after 1983 can no longer get a Z visa.. (0.35 seconds)

Z Visa Update: The Bigger Picture | All Roads Lead To ChinaAnyone born after 1983 can no longer get a Z visa. What struck me about this was that if true this would represent the first real change in policy. ...
www.allroadsleadtochina.com/index.php/2008/06/08/z-visa-update-the-bigger-picture/ - 42k - 20 hours ago - Cached - Similar pages

Z Visa Update: The Bigger Picture | Spend In China6 months after I started reporting on the clampdown on visas, ... their HR person gave us some bad newsAnyone born after 1983 can no longer get a Z visa. ...
www.spendinchina.com/z-visa-update-bigger-picture.html - 22k - 16 hours ago - Cached - Similar pages

office - Justia Blawg Search - Law Blogs, Lawyer Blogs, Legal ...If you suspect the answer is yes, please call a lawyer to get the help and the ... gave us some bad news Anyone born after 1983 can no longer get a Z visa. ...
blawgsearch.justia.com/search.aspx?q=office - 37k - Cached - Similar pages

ChinaChina Public Holiday: Get some Wufangzhai Zongzi for Duanwu Festival ..... person gave us some bad news Anyone born after 1983 can no longer get a Z visa. ...
china.alltop.com/ - 344k - Cached - Similar pages

Twitterchristinelu: reading All Roads Lead To China blog on how anyone born after 1983 can no longer get a Z visa. weird. http://snurl.com/2emzx ...
twitter.alltop.com/ - 274k - Cached - Similar pages

Dan Washburn's Shanghai Diaries: Manhattan Bar: No longer �hookers ...And if you can�t stand places like that, you better rethink that big move to .... Lead to China: Anyone born after 1983 will no longer be offered a Z visa. ...
www.shanghaidiaries.com/archives/2004/12/17/manhattan_bar_no_longer_hookers_drinks_and_dvds/ - 42k - Cached - Similar pages

Shanghaiist: News, Music, Nightlife, Restaurants, Events and More ...Latest visa rumour from Richard Brubaker of All Roads Lead to China: Anyone born after 1983 will no longer be offered a Z visa.The Opposite End of China ...
shanghaiist.com/ - 92k - Cached - Similar pages

amphivera · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 27 Location: China

Anda, I appreciate you taking the time to run a google search for me (which I had done anyway). It still doesn't solve my question about multiple sources though. All those hits lead to the same blog post!

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

http://www.chinalawblog.com/2008/04/china_visa_certainty_z_visas_a.html

The new regulations are making it extremely difficult for young people, like myself, who have been hired by Chinese companies. Six months ago they changed the regulations on Z visas to have an "age limit." Since I am too young--I graduated very early--I have been rejected twice already. Since my company wants to do everything legally, I have been working under an F visa. With the Olympics just ahead, it seems that I will have to leave the country or work illegally under a tourist visa. Chinese Bureaucracy isn't a good environment for us young minds.

Moon Over Parma · Joined: 20 May 2007 Posts: 819

I welcome this age regulation if it is indeed implemented. Maturity is important, as is life and work experience. I'd also add that it works as a nice, regional counterbalance to the rampant, repugnant ageism embraced in Japan, Taiwan and South Korea's ESL circles. Once the green get a little brown they can hop over to China. 25 is reasonable.

DistantRelative · Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Posts: 367 Location: Shaanxi/Xian

If what you say were only true MOP. The reality could wind up being something quite different. I see the possibility of schools turning to even younger "student's" (Here studying Chinese, etc) to fulfill their needs. Far fetched? Considering I've already witnessed it firsthand, I think not!

Zhuhao,

Shawn

Moon Over Parma · Joined: 20 May 2007 Posts: 819

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

I'd guess in all probability (85%) that this is a mere rumour. Though the way ESL China is, I could see them going the other way with the visa age limitation.

Lorean · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 476 Location: Beijing

Slim D · Joined: 02 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

Anyone know if the rules regarding z-visa/foreign expert certificate are available online somewhere? One school I applied to, which had previously responded favorably, is now telling me they can't get me the foreign expert status because I was born after '83. I'm trying to figure out now if I need to scrap my plans to spend a year in China or if this is just a rumor or whatever...

killian · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:08 am Post subject:

don't sweat it. make better money and learn the same language. go to taiwan. it is part of china.