Job Discussion Forums

robrodjr · Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 26 Location: Shanghai, China

Hello to all. I'm looking at working in Shanghai China. The potential employers want me to obtain a tourist L-Visa to enter China. I'm American but I'm currently living and working in Korea. How do I go about obtaining the tourist visa from a third country? Any good advice will be appreciated.

LanGuTou · Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Posts: 621 Location: Shandong

You could just print off a visa application form from any consulate website, complete it and take it to the nearest Chinese consulate in Korea. Alternatively, find a visa agent.

But, if it is good advice you are looking for, ask the school to send you a letter of invitation to get a 'z' visa. If they cannot supply you with that, give serious thought to whether this employer is a suitable one. All bonafide employers should be able to get you the correct visa. It is only a matter of sending an EMS package.

Mister Al · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 840 Location: In there

That's true and I can understand what your getting at, LanGuTou, but many legit employers that either have the necessary relationship to get the PSB to issue a Residency Permit from an L visa or don't mind covering the cost of a wee trip to HK are using this practice more and more. The rationale being they want to have a look at the FT in action before actually going through and paying for RP process which kind of makes sense. They also might have a restriction on the number of FTs they are allowed so don't want to waste an application.

LanGuTou · Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Posts: 621 Location: Shandong

Without knowing anything about the position or the information that the OP has at hand, the reason why the school want him/her to enter on a 'L' visa is maybe a question to ask. In that situation, I would be skeptical until receiving a worthwhile explanation.

Teatime of Soul · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 905

Might want to read this too.

http://middlekingdomlife.com/guide/china-english-teacher-visas.htm

askiptochina · Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 488 Location: Beijing

To make it simple to understand, you have to enter China with your work visa. So, if you get a tourist visa, you can change that to a student visa, but that's as far as you can go. If you want to work, you have to leave China and re-enter.

This doesn't mean a school wanting you to enter with a tourist visa is bad, but it's not legal to work on a tourist visa. What they want is a teacher to work immediately. This means the location is not good, so they aren't getting people interested.

I found a job while on a student visa, and the school paid for my visa run.

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

No you don't. In shanghai, I went from an l to a z without leaving the city.

Teatime of Soul · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 905

So when you are offed a job in Shanghai, and the employer SAYS he is licensed, how do you know you wont end up working illegally for an unlicensed school?

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

Mister Al · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 840 Location: In there

You can only work legally if you have a Residence Permit affiliated to your employer. Depending on the employers 'relationship' with the local PSB it is often possible to get a Residence Permit with only an L visa in your passport. Other employers send you to HK to get a Z visa after you have arrived in China on an L visa. When you return you start the application process to get the Residence Permit.

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai