Job Discussion Forums

davejw6 · Joined: 04 Jul 2009 Posts: 24

I was just told by 2 schools in Jiangsu that you now cannot change a tourist visa into a Z visa after you arrive in China (Yancheng & Nanjing). I was also told that I have to apply for a Z visa in my home country.....where I have returned to. Doesanyone else have any info' on this?

ryanwhistler · Joined: 26 Jul 2010 Posts: 29

This a long talked about issue. You cannot convert the visa in-country.

mdoor · Joined: 16 Jun 2010 Posts: 54

davejw6 · Joined: 04 Jul 2009 Posts: 24

I just finished a contract in Shanghai for 1 year and all the teachers there for the past 6 years have changed tourist visas into Z visas (Government university).

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

randyj · Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:55 am Post subject:

I apologize for being overly pedantic. (Can I say overly pedantic?) The Z visa is the correct visa for entering China for the purpose of working. It lasts for thirty days after entry. The holder then receives the Residence Permit, which normally lasts for one year. (I have a couple of friends who received one for five years, but they were privately tutoring one of the province's vice-governors.) No one would convert an L visa to a Z visa within China, but in Jiangsu there have been reports that teachers had their L visas converted directly into RPs. I believe it. It happened to me last year.

Niederbom · Joined: 13 Feb 2010 Posts: 66

It all depends on how much "connected" the school is with the local government and also the province. "Hub" cities are more difficult, and government universities have an easier time than private schools. I think you usually have to travel to either Hong Kong or Seoul to apply for a Z visa once you get the correct paperwork.

I supposedly live in one of the most difficult provinces to convert an L visa to a Z visa (and I'm American), but I signed a contract with a prep school that caters to the children of wealthy government elites in Shenyang, and I just got the invitation letter and documents to go to Hong Kong today. We'll see if the rest of the process works as planned.

Anyway, if it doesn't work out, I'm going to Taiwan. The "apply from your home country crap" isn't going to work with me.

I have no place to stay in my home country that is anywhere near a Chinese consulate (no place at all, really, since my parents are in a cult), and for me, it was more convenient to come over here directly from Korea after I finished my military service there.

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