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ariannef
Newbie
Joined: Sep 12, 2007
Posts: 7
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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  Posted:
Sep 12, 2007 - 09:09 PM |
 
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| Post subject: Questions about relocating... and residency |
Hello,
I am planning to relocate to Shanghai between december 07 and february 08.
I have a few questions: How hard is it to get a residency permit? I am moving with my dog and as such will be applying for a residen't visa... but then I only have 30 days to get the permit from the day I land in China!
Reading through the posts, I've come to realize that jobs for foreigners aren't all that well paid, at least for those not being relocated by the company they already work for - however, most of the websites I've visited proposed astronomical rents on albeit pretty apartments, but still pretty high in the stratosphere, and I should know, I've lived a short time in China before! Does anyone know an online resource for less highly-priced apartments (under 300 USD/month) that are furnished and offer all the amenities (I need Internet access - I'm a freelancer) and are still in a relatively "foreigner-heavy" neighbourhood? Also, are there any general rules about pets in apartments?
Does going through a housing agency just rip you off or is their service valuable? How do you go about finding a daily housekeeper?
I know this is a ton of questions and hopefully someone will be kind enough to answer one or a few of them. Any other unsolicited tidbits of information are completely welcome too!
Ciao |
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CoffeeHawk_0
Board Buddha
Joined: July 14, 2005
Posts: 14444
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Sep 12, 2007 - 10:16 PM |
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-a residence permit comes with a work permit, not sure if a freelancer can qualify for that. (work permit and work visa are 2 different things)
-check with your embassy/consulate, the visa laws have been updated twice this year, and at the end of last year. Work visas and 6/12 month tourist visas are harder to get now |
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yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 18042
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
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Sep 13, 2007 - 11:12 AM |
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A residence permit comes with your work permit, which means youa re gainfully employed by a local based company (MNC's with local ops included) If youa re a Freelancer, youa re not employed here and thus are not eligible for a work permit.
But you can live here without a residence permit, you just need to deal with renewing visas and such on a regular basis.
As for the dog, you will need to import the dog and have it go thru quarantine and such, then license teh dog which requires you to get permission from your neighbors (good luck as many Chinese are scared of even the smallest dogs) and then shell out some ridiculous amount of money for the license itself. And oh, depending upon the size of the dog, you may not be allowed o keep him/her in town as new laws restricting the size of dogs kept in the city are being enforced more and more. |
_________________
Thoughts & updates about Shanghai On my Blog for more details:Random Thoughts about Living in Shanghai...and more |
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Michael
Moderator
Joined: Mar 22, 2002
Posts: 5291
Status: Offline
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Sep 13, 2007 - 11:45 AM |
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at 300 USD a month. you are talking about 2500RMB apartment. There are places, since most of the 20M chinese here pay this or less. However, it may or may not be the kind place you want to live in. A nice place at this price will go almost the day to goes up on the rental market. To find this kind of place, you need to have an agent who hears about this and works in this range of prices ( most agents oriented toward expats go for a much higher range ).
Moving here on a tourist visa with a no job and with your dog really complicates things for you. I know you love your dog. If you really want to come here and make a go of it, find a someone to take him for a year or so. Come here, get setup, and then bring your dog. I know how hard it that is. Without the dog, you could afford to share a nicer apartment with someone else and pay the price range you are looking for.
You can do some searches on http://cityspace.shanghaiexpat.com for cheaper places - there are some - , but like I said, most agents don't even bother putting the good deals up because they go so quickly. Everyone wants the 2500RMB-75sqm-ikea furntiture-satellite and internet-view of the PuDong river front-no bugs-and-happy-kind-landlord who loves foreigners. The agents could rent 1000 of em tomorrow. Best to come and find a neighborhood you want to be in, walk around with a chinese friend ( or someone who speaks good chinese ) and inquire with the little real estate shops that every neighborhood has directly. Agents are necessary.. they have the pulse on the good deals. All the good deal we have found have been through good agents.. that said.. there are good agents and no so good time wasting agents. You will have to find the ones that can find what you want.
Big chinese cities are not generally dog friendly. I love dogs, but for Chinese city apartment living, IMHO its just not feasible. Miserable for you and for your dog. Of course, the dog owners on the site will have other input. Good Luck.
On the visa, in order to get a work permit, you will have to ally yourself with a company and get them to sponsor you. Whether or not you work for them full time is a another question. Its not easy to find someone willing to take on this unless you have some connections, but it is possible.. I know of several who are doing this. |
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wingwing
Newbie
Joined: Feb 28, 2007
Posts: 5
Status: Offline
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Sep 13, 2007 - 10:51 PM |
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Yep, as Michael suggested, local aents are the way to go to find low budget places but bear in mind the following. Local agents get a much bigger commisison on sales rather than rentals so they won't be falling over you to get your business. Many aren't that proactive and if there isn't something on their books, they won't make much of an effort to go looking for you. If you do find a pro-active one, keep in touch with them. Lastly, most local agents haven't seen the apartments on their books so they may show you places that are totally different to what you have explained. All they know is it is xx beds, xx squares and rental is xxrmb. You can talk about your requirements until you are blue in the face but you will often only be shown what is on their books. They secretly hope you will throw your needs to wind and fall in love with the place they show you. It can be time consuming and frustrating but you will eventually get there. If you find something close to what you want, put in an offer on it. It show's the landlord you MAY want to ret it and holds the place a little in case there's another offer. Like Michael said, good cheap places go quickly!!
Please have a look at our Advice on Leasing for some tips.
Adrienne
http://www.shanghaiprops.com |
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