Job Discussion Forums

edbuch · Joined: 16 Nov 2010 Posts: 34 Location: Gansu

Does anyone know what this is?

I need to put it on my Visa application (coming from Scotland). But the university says it does not know anything about it.

I am getting the idea that they always say that at first anyway or they make something up and my role is to spend ages trying to find out the right answer but then act as though I don't know as much as them even although I sometimes do.

It seems strange because they must do this all the time but it is the first time for me. Also, things going wrong seems to part of the process whereas I am used to it being the exception rather than the rule.

Anyway this number is either something they have but don't know it or something I will get when I am over there. I could try phoning the consulate but they are on holiday till Monday and I am not even sure if they will have the answer. If it is a number which the university has, would it be the number they put at the top of the invitation letter where it say "No." followed by a number? Or is that too obvious?

Many thanks

Kysorb · Joined: 30 Jul 2010 Posts: 253 Location: Beijing

do they mean the number at the top of your work permit ?

Good luck phoning or emailing the consulate.. They may have a phone and a computer but no one will answer.

edbuch · Joined: 16 Nov 2010 Posts: 34 Location: Gansu

That is the problem. I don't know. The form I have to fill in for a visa asks for it, but the university say they dont know. This is a copy of their exact reply:

"As for your Alien Employment License Number,i do not know. when you arrive at Lanzhou, i will apply foreign expert certificate for you.i think that will be ok."

I believe the key phrase is "i think that will be ok"

I am kind of enjoying this. It is all new to me and charming in a surreal way.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

'Charming and surreal'
That'll pass!
I do know that Chinese employers are required to be licensed to employ foreigners and the fact that the Consulate are asking for the reg. number upfront is good.
Means less threads on Dave's about teachers being asked to work on tourist visas or perpetual delays and excuses about Z visas and FECs. Which translated means 'we are not actually legally able to employ foreigners'.
I would suggest a look on your employers website to check if their reg is mentioned. If not put the number you have on the application and forward it.
Bear in mind that in Western countries we have a huge sense of entitlement to information. Freedom of information acts and all that. The Chinese do not have that approach and sharing information even within organisations is not the norm, even if someone needs the info to do their job ie respond to requests from job applicants like OP.
If your school is public and regularly employs FTs they likely are registered but only one person knows about it.

TexasHighway · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 779

If coming to China for work in business, for a company or paid internships, than an Alien Employment License (AEL) is required. This is not to be confused with the SAFEA invitation. SAFEA is the type of invitation that is usually required for teachers. Assuming you will coming to China as a teacher, the alien employment license shoudn't be required. You just need the SAEFE invitation letter.

edbuch · Joined: 16 Nov 2010 Posts: 34 Location: Gansu

Kysorb · Joined: 30 Jul 2010 Posts: 253 Location: Beijing

I would just put the Invitation or work permit number and with the docs in hand hope they don't ask any questions.

TexasHighway · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 779

You should have received two documents from your university, one is the visa notification letter and the other is the work permit issued by SAEFA. On the work permit should be a number (on mine it is an 11 digit number following the letters WP). That should be your work permit number. On the visa notification letter is another number (on mine it is four digits). It follows the name of the issuing authority, which on mine is the provincial education bureau. My best guess is THAT is the Alien Employment License number. I would go with that.

ymmv · Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Posts: 387

If you can read Chinese, start on this page:
http://www.safea.gov.cn/catalog.php?id=laws&subcata=%CE%C4%BD%CC%C0%E0
Locate your school by province. The school will have a 7 digit number following an A1 or A2. That's probably the number your consulate is asking for.

TexasHighway · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 779

Obviously, we are just guesing. I found the number of a China visa agency in Edinburg that should be able to help you:

Able Travel
22 Palmerston Place,
EDINBURGH,
EH12 5AL
www.alba-eu.co.uk
Tel : 01314 665311

I find here in Texas that the visa agencies are much more helpful than the consulate in Houston. They should be able to tell you the current requirements and where to get that number.