Job Discussion Forums

dgrove · Joined: 15 Nov 2008 Posts: 4

Hi, I'm not so sure this requires a new thread. But here goes...

I signed a peliminary contract with a university in Henan, they have sent me the SAFEA contracts and medical to have completed here in Australia. Now, I am on a New Zealand passport (have Aus citizenship and been living here for 8 years) and my school tells me that I can ONLY get my Z Visa from Hong Kong or New Zealand. Has anyone else had the experience that they can only obtain a Z visa in the contry their passport is from or HK?

I got an L visa from the Melbourne consulate last year no worries. I can't understand why I could not get my Z visa here in Australia. Is my prospective employer telling me the truth or do they have some other motive? It seems like a fairly reputable institution.

I was planning to enter at Shanghai and go straight to the campus in Henan, now I'm told I will need to spend the best part of a week in HK and then travel quite some way to Henan...

It seems pretty odd to me. I have been trying to get an answer from the Melbourne consulate but no luck so far.

Regards

Hansen · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 737 Location: central China

Contact the Chinese consulate where you are and ask them. If they say NO, then go to HK or Australia. You can stay in Chunking Mansions in HK on the cheap. I had a good experience there with the Paris Guesthouse.

A lot of Al Qaeda types hanging about, but I had no problems. Overnight visa service in HK, possibly even same day, allow you to limit your stay there.

eddy-cool · Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 1008

It's quite common for government to require visa applicants to get their visas in the country of their origin. You would do well by first asking the Chinese embassy in AUS, of course, but you should have a Plan B such as flying to Hong Kong rather than Shanghai.

It doesn't take that long - I hear it's 24 hours from the minute you hand in your application to the moment you receive your visaed passport back.

The Chinese Visa Office is in Wanchai, Hong Kong Island; it's a commercial district with posh hotels. Affordable accommodation is tobe found either in Tsimshatsui (though I don't quite recommend the Chungking Mansions - seedy and often tense, with drug dealers and other unsavoury temporary residents). You can, of course, ignore that scene and be comfortable; you can opt for a different location. Many praise the dorms at the YMCA in Salisbury Rd., next to the Peninsula. There also are hostels in Hart St.. My favourite is the Youth Hostel on HK Island.

Kibbs · Joined: 20 Nov 2008 Posts: 64

Well, you would not be able to get it in the USA either unless you had a green card, or a visa status such as H1B for work or F1 for study.

Visa Information for Non-Citizens

GoPies · Joined: 19 Sep 2004 Posts: 589 Location: Melbourne

My first Z visa was obtained in Oz 4 years ago. I was in Melbourne but had to post my passport to Canberra with all my documents. It was returned in a couple of days, just before I was due to fly out.
After one year I changed jobs. This necessitated going to Hong Kong for a new Z visa. After that it has been extended yearly by the PSB in Beijing.

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

If you have to go to HK, it should be quick as posted above. Have your documents from the school, passport photos and whatever else and get to the Mainland visa section queue before 9am. You can download the visa form from the internet ahead of time and be all set. Get super express or whatever it's called and pick up that afternoon. Or arrive in the afternoon and pick up next day around 10 am I think.

Once you have your visa, cross into Shenzhen and fly from Bao'an Airport in Shenzhen to Xinzheng Airport outside of Zhengzhou, Henan for probably a lot less than you would pay to fly out of HK. Both airports often have deeply discounted flights. Check elong.com or 9588.com for flight deals in English that you can charge on your credit card. Otherwise there will be English speaking travel agents at the border after you clear customs.

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

During the summer, during the "olympic" period, which lasted until summer, it appears this rule was strictly enforced. Now it looks like things are going back to "normal" which in the past meant that you could probably get a z-visa in Oz, if you had the proper documents, even if you were american. Check with the consulate, or even better, with a visa agent in the city if you can find one

dgrove · Joined: 15 Nov 2008 Posts: 4

Hey, thankyou all for your comments and advice! I think everything will go smoothly. Thanks! Smile

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

RoadW

ayahyaha · Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 4:31 pm Post subject:

I would love to know what happened with this situation. Some places I read that you must be in your country of residence (or have a residence permit in another county) to get a Z-visa.

I'm an American in Poland, without a residency permit, and I need a Z-visa. I am having an awful time figuring out if I will be able to get one here.

If not, it looks like I can just fly to HK?

Itsme · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 624 Location: Houston, TX

Peter Wales · Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 63

Sonnibarger · Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 320 Location: Wuhan

the guys selling suits on the corner are funny as he!!.. "sir, excuse me sir, can i interest you in a sharp pant suit? how about a fine rolex watch, a fine replica indeed sir" mmm i guess you have to hear the guys accent for it to be funny

Hansen · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 737 Location: central China

I found the Paris Guesthouse to be outstanding. The guy slept right outside my door. Assuming they were Muslim, I thought they might frown on the beautiful Japanese woman that came to my room.

She had lived in HK for many years, definitely not the Chungking Mansions type. When I told her I was staying there, she really wanted to have a look at my room, which is what she did. She looked and left. Very lovely lady, and I do mean lady.

Never saw her again Sad

Itsme · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 624 Location: Houston, TX

The second time I went to the mansions to see what could get on the cheap, I ended up on the top floor because I heard it had the best prices. I was told "only negros here" (literally).. I don't know if why they decided to use that language but it was true. The place on the upper floor was reserved for the Nigerians and other people from Africa that did whatever they do in Hong Kong.

Then on my way down in the elevator (which are so weird in that place I swear) this guy told me that he was leaving because there were too many bugs in his bed that were biting him.

It was at this point in time that I said "screw it" and took the ferry to Macau.

I found a nice place to stay but was woken up in the middle night by moans and groans. Apparently I ended up in a brothel of sorts and the divisions between the "rooms" only consisted of a paper thin wall with no ceilings. So you could hear EVERYTHING. like a person putting their toothbrush down.
Way too distracting for me so I left the next day.