Job Discussion Forums

[fangxin]

I am looking for information on applying for a Z-visa to work in Shanghai. This will be my first time to work in China. Do I need a degree? Do I need to travel to Hong Kong to get my tourist visa converted? Do I need a medical check in China?

What is the general procedure?

Thanks.

[hot_water_hillbilly]

Please read the stickies, search the site, and web. It's all there.

[Lobster]

You don't apply for the Z Visa that will be converted into a Resident's Permit. The employer must get your Foreign Expert's Certificate and make the application.

Shanghai currently requires a degree. Although some places may have enough pull to bypass the requirement , this is getting much more difficult. You also require a TESL Certificate and 2 years' work experience.

Shanghai allows the conversion of tourist visas to Z visas without travel to HK.

If you have not done your medical check before and stayed in China for 10 months each year, the medical check is required.

In a nutshell, the employer must take care of these things and you cannot do it independently.

RED

[denzil_01224]

Lobster,

So if i come over to Shanghai on a tourist visa and then find a job i can change my visa to a Z visa without having to leave the country?

I thought the Z visa had to be applied for in the persons home country?

[LanGuTou]

[Mister Al]

Spot on, LanGuTou

[Lobster]

Well, I've never had a problem with my visa/RP issued in Shanghai. Mind you, this is the first time that my original lapsed and I was forced to get a temp Tourist visa which was later converted to the RP in Shanghai.
I have not tried to use this document to obtain an RP outside Shanghai, so I don't know what the ramifications would be.

Still, I find it hard to understand how a document duly issued by the proper authorities in the immigration offices of the PRC Shanghai would not be considered valid. What you are stating is that, in essence, the immigration officials are breaking the law. Of course, in my case my original Z still resides in my passport, but I suspect it would be superceded by the L.

Now LanGuTou, I would like to know where you encountered or heard of an instance where this occurred. You state an applicant "may" encounter problems but the local PSB "will" require re-processing. Not that I'm currently considering a move to another jurisdiction, but it's always good to have more info about these possibilities.

Actually my research on the topic indicates that different conditions apply to first-time applicants like the OP and renewed applicants such as me. The difference being that the OP's would be an application, whereas mine would be seen as a renewal. Therefore, you are correct to assert that the in-Shanghai conversion of an L directly to RP without the Z would not be legal.

Thanks.

RED

[LanGuTou]

It has never happened to me personally as I entered on a Z Visa and annually renewed on the same visa but I have met two FT's that have encountered problems.

One was in Heilongjiang when a FT with a L visa and Shanghai RP was refused and the other incidence occurred in Inner Mongolia when a FT from Shenzhen arrived with a RP but only a L visa. Both had to quickly do visa runs to HK.

The FT from Shenzhen was the most peeved because he was on the door step of HK, traveled all the way to Inner Mongolia then had to go all the way back. But it could be argued that he should have done things correctly in the first place and it could have been avoided.

Very recently, a FT started a thread on this very subject. You may be able to find it by doing a search. That FT was well peeved off too with the very same situation.

In each case, these FT's had the impression that they were fully street legit. because they had previously received RP's and renewed in these cities then encountered problems in provincial cities.

On the topic of PSB and/or immigration officers breaking the law:

If you are an experienced China hand you will know that there is the law stated in black and white and then there is the law that is left in the hands of local interpretation. In fact it doesn't just apply to immigration issues. It is a subject of deep frustration (or alternatively to the advantage) to many people in all walks of life. Nothing more need be said!

[Teatime of Soul]

Good advice from LGT.

Previously, our local PSB called and said they wanted all FT's Passports sent to them pronto, with the China entry stamp bookmarked.

Everybody was legal, so no idea what would happen if not, or why they even targeted that in the first place.