Job Discussion Forums

[macroidtoe]

I've got my Z visa, and I thought everything was good.

But now my employer in China is telling me that I need to bring the original invitation letter and work permit with me in order to apply for a residence permit.

The problem is that neither of these documents was returned to me with my passport and visa. I'm finding conflicting information: I've found sites which say that the embassy keeps the originals, and others which say the embassy should have returned them to me. I'm finding sites which say I need the documents for the residence permit, and others which make no mention of them in the requirements.

How bad of a situation am I in here?

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

i think one of the following is true:

1. what your employer told you got mistranslated along the way and they didnt really mean you need to get those original documents back, they meant something else or

2. your employer is out to lunch. if they think you need those original documents back they don't know what they're doing. you don't get them back, all you get is a Z visa in your passport.

getting the residence permit requires different documentation than what you used for getting the visa. if your employers insists you need these original documents back from the consulate, tell them to phone them up and get them.

[macroidtoe]

Thanks for the info, it's a big relief.

The funny thing is that I also just got an e-mail back from my employer, and the adamant "Oh god, we must have those documents" has suddenly become "No problem, don't worry about it." A sleepless panicky night for nothing.

[flyingscotsman]

They keep those documents. Hopefully you have copies but don't despair they are supposed to keep the originals.