which visa is good for my situation?

Shanghai Expat Forum Index » Hot Topics Forums » Visas, Taxes, and Legalities

Author

Message

kenkingdotcom

Reacher

Joined: Jan 08, 2006
Posts: 295
Location: No Longer Shanghai'd
Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 08, 2006 - 03:02 PM
Post subject: which visa is good for my situation?

Hi,

I was reseaching china visas and they are pretty confusing to me so I thought
I'd post here.

Background:

I am a US citizen with a US passport currently visiting family in Taiwan.
I am planning to move to Shanghai in a month to find a job. My dad has a
company in Shanghai and has a house there as well. He currently resides
in Hong Kong. I will visit Hong Kong for a week before I go to Shanghai.

Question:

1) Which type of visa will give me the option to stay in China WITHOUT having
to leave the country and re-enter every 30 days? I think the soonest I will
go out of the country again is probably 6 months to visit my sister in Hong
Kong.

I guess I have a few options but I'm not too familiar with the visa types so
that's the problem.

Resident - I will live at my dad's house
Business - Can I use my dad's company say I'm an employee there?

2) Which type of visa is multiple entry? I get confused about the validity of
the visa and the duration of stay. I know my Taiwan visa is good for 5 years from
the date of issue, and the duration of stay is 60days. However, I can go to the
police station to extend the duration of stay TWICE, which means they will allow
me to extend it for 30days, then I have to go back and extend another 30days.
But this is Taiwan, and I wonder if China has the same policy.

3) Should I get the China visa in Taiwan? or while I am in Hong Kong for a week?
Is a week enough time to get my visa?

Any help is appreciated...

Rio
Post Boaster

Joined: Dec 04, 2004
Posts: 4724

Posted: Jan 08, 2006 - 04:42 PM

hey kenking,
1. u cannot change ur visa status in China, so u better come in with a business visa, an F-visa.
2. This type of visa can be multiple entry and you should ask ur dad's company to send u an official invitation letter, or better, set up a contract to show you are an 'employee'. No problem to get the visa I would assume and then u can stay 6 months and if u find a job here, get a working visa. I dont know about Taiwan, but China changed the changing visa status last August.
3. Get ur F visa in HK, with the letter or employment contract. One week is enough, need 3 days.

Good luck!