Job Discussion Forums

[peas4luck]

Hi,

I was recently hired by a University who has submitted the paperwork for my z visa. It's all a bit of a rush because the new term starts on March 1st. Unfortunately, they submitted the paperwork using my incorrect last name - there is a name change in my passport that they didn't see.

They want me to travel on my "old" passport and change my name when I arrive in China. They are afraid it will be too difficult to change since the paperwork has already been submitted.

I'm afraid I will have trouble on this end when I apply for the work visa at the Consulate. Has anyone else had this kind of experience? Were you able to change your name on the z visa application in China? How long did it take? I'm afraid any kind of delay may cause them to hire someone else.

I appreciate your feedback!


Thanks,
Christy

[dog backwards]

I've had my last name left off the visa, and I've had my name grossly misspelled. I sent the passport back to the consulate via a visa service and requested overnight service from FedEx.

In the case when it was the school's fault, I told them to look at the scan of my passport and then get moving on fixing the problem. I got a new letter of invitation via overnight Express Service (which took four days. Go figure)

If the consulate received all of the proper paperwork and it is truly the consulate's fault, the consulate will PROBABLY rush to fix the problem, and the visa service will do its part to rush as well if it is the visa service's error in not checking the name.

If it is the school's fault, make it wait until the problem is solved.

If you have booked your flight and you don't think there's time for the paperwork to be straightened out, call the airline/travel agent/ ticket broker and explain the problem. You'll probably have to pay a fee for changing your flight, but it is much better than finding yourself at the airport trying to explain the problem--- or worse--- somehow getting to China and trying to straighten out the problem there.

If it's the school's fault and/or the consulate's fault, make them get it right. I did that and I arrived ten days late for class once. I don't think that someone else's error should be my problem.

There will be those who will advise you to arrive on your old passport. That could be worked out as long as you have your old supporting documentation (current driver's license, etc.) and the name on your ticket matches the name in your passport AND your old passport is current.

My advice: if it's somebody else's scr*w-up, you shouldn't have to jump through hoops. Make the guilty parties fix the problem. The school can fix the problem faster than it can find another teacher.

[peas4luck]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience!

I'm not really sure who is at fault. When you have a name change in the US, you don't get a new passport and the name change isn't noted where it should be - on the front page. Instead, the passport people type your new name on the very last page, very useful.

The school got my passport from the recruiter when I initially applied - part of the basic documents I sent to all of the schools I applied to. After I received the job, the recruiter seemed a bit confused and asked me what my name was. I explained the whole name change thing to him, not even thinking about the passport situation. Obviously, the information didn't get communicated from the recruiter to the school and I didn't think about it until the situation arose today.

I guess there is a chance the Consulate also wouldn't look at the name change - and the airline - and the nice officials when I enter the country. I am using a frequent flyer ticket and have one reserved but the flights are jam packed and it will be difficult for me to change the reservation.

I am just going to press the school to change the name on my Letter of Invitation and pray it happens fast. Thanks again for your comments!

[ooragnakkangaroo]

When I first came to China, they inserted the wrong passport number. The authorities simply put a line through it, corrected it, and put their inked-finger print to show the change.

[choudoufu]

when you contacted the embassy/consulate for advice, what
was their recommended course of action?

[askiptochina]

[peas4luck]

Well, more bad news. Of a different nature now. I received an email from the school this morning saying that the person who prepares the Letters of Invitation in China is in the hospital and unable to process paperwork. They have no idea when they will receive my paperwork and my trip will most likely be delayed at least 10 days.

So, back to the drawing board for me. I'm starting my search over while I wait for this guy to get well.

To answer your questions: I had another discussion with the school and we both felt confident the name problem would be a non-issue with the Consulate.

And yes, I would have LOVED to "lose" this passport and submit for a new one but the State Department does not look kindly on people who have lost passports. I have already lost one so I don't need to add another one to my record. And it takes a long time to receive a new passport. I am trying to leave in a week.

Thanks again for your help!

[askiptochina]

I don't buy that. They even let you change your name. No fooling no one.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/correcting/ChangeName/ChangeName_851.html

[peas4luck]

Hmmmmmm, not sure exactly what you aren't buying but I did have my name changed. I'm sure if you read further in the link you provided you will see that the State Dept doesn't issue a new passport when you change your name - they put the name change in the back cover.

I was joking I wanted to "lose" my passport because noone looks in the back cover and I still have to carry around a passport with my old name in it.

[askiptochina]

[peas4luck]

Where are you from?

My post wasn't about the name in my passport, my post was about the incorrect name on my Letter of Invitation!