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z-visa in 2007

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maximus1

Reacher

Joined: June 18, 2007
Posts: 245
Location: Jing'An
Status: Offline

Posted: July 25, 2007 - 05:38 PM
Post subject: z-visa in 2007

I'm looking for people that have gotten their z-visa/work permit/residence permit in late 2006 or in 2007

How did you find the process? Did your company do most of the legwork? If not, what's a quick rundown of the steps you took? (PM me if you don't feel like writing it all out.) Did you use an agency? If you had to go to HK, were you able to get it processed within a few hours? Did your company cover all the related fees and the trip to HK? Did anyone make the trip to hear the chinese embassy say you forgot something? if so, what?

Thanks

mrpango

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Joined: Jan 26, 2007
Posts: 3276

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Posted: July 25, 2007 - 07:00 PM

I just finally sorted the last part of it all (collected my passport with residence permit today).

It was a piece of cake, though very time consuming - I had to do everything myself as my employers are a bunch of tits. Usually, if you join a 'big' company with enough invested capital, you don't have to leave the country to do the first two parts: but i was going back to the UK anyway for a short break, so it was ok for me (and the company is a little small).

Process was as follows:

1. Obtain Foreigner Employment License
I collected all these documents:
1. Resume or C.V. Written by yourself (needs to be translated to Chinese if in a different language) - I got this stamped with the company seal.
2. Photocopy of the Passport (also got this stamped to be safe)
3. Photocopy of degree certificate (needs to be translated as well)
4. Copy of the company business license
5. The copy of the organization machinery code certificate
6. The copy of the permit for foreign investment enterprise (if your company is a WOFE) - 4,5,6, also all stamped
7. http://www.12333.com.cn/english/forms/a03.doc - you need to fill in 2 of these, in Chinese - need company seal/stamp

Then you go to 258 Wusong road, 2F (I'm not completely sure if it is 258, totally forgotten - the website is incorrect with the address)

5 working days later, you should get the employment license - costs 10 RMB.

At the same time, I went online to fill in another form (actually the company should do this - not the individual) - this is to get the invitation for a Z visa.

To get the invitation you need:
1. Employment license (plus photocopies of both sides)
2. Photocopy of passport
3. Photocopy of business license (stamped by company)
4. If the company has applied for the invitation properly, you should get a printout after the procedure is complete - you take this to the Z-visa invitation getting place.

If the company applied for the invitation on the web, you should be able to collect it really quick - I applied for the invitation on the same day as I went to get the employment license, and picked up the z-visa invitation same day as when I went to the place - 55 Lou Shan Guan road.

When these things are all done - you take them back to wherever you want (my case was UK, but can also be done in HK). Chinese embassy is where you want to go - I also made a failed attempt in HK once to get an official business visa too (stupid company bodging up the business invitation letter)

Last edited by mrpango on July 25, 2007 - 07:22 PM; edited 1 time in total

mrpango

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Joined: Jan 26, 2007
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Posted: July 25, 2007 - 07:13 PM

So - that will get you the Z-visa that you can enter China on... These steps need to be taken within 30 days of entering.

Still more!

Now you NEED to register with the police station closest to where you are staying to get the temporary residence permit (all you need is your passport, and copy of your apartment rental contract - in my case it was a bit more complicated though, as I don't have a contract). If you stay in a hotel, you can also request the temporary residence permit from them. This needs to be done within 24 hours of arrival!!!

Next

Health test - you need to book an appointment, 021-62688851 or 62683088, its at 15 Jin Bang Road (near shanghai zoo)

Need:
1. Copy of company business license
2. Passport
3. Photocopy of passport
4. 3 passport photos
Costs a total of 742 RMB (if you choose to get it delivered)

Next - Work Permit! (again at Wusong Road - same place where you get the employment license)

Need:
1. A copy of your health certificate (just take original for show)
2. Work license (I also made copies to be safe)
3. Passport with valid Z visa (plus copies of visa page, and main passport page)
4. A copy of your work contract (you can take an original contract, or photocopy, note - they don't return the contract)
5. Copy of the company business license
6. A copy of the organization machinery code certificate
7. A copy of the permit for foreign investment enterprise (if your company is a WOFE)
8. 3 Passport photos
9. Also fill in two of these (again in Chinese) - http://www.12333.com.cn/english/forms/a04.doc stamped by employer
Costs 10 RMB takes around 3 days or so.

Then... the final step: Residence permit!!!

Go to 1500 Minsheng Road (closest metro - Line 2, Shanghai Technology Museum)

1. Work Permit
2. Health Certificate (original)
3. Temporary residence registration (original - but you just show it to them, I also took a photocopy)
4. Copy of the business license (also need to take original for show)
5. The copy of the organization machinery code certificate (ditto 4)
6. The copy of the permit for foreign investment enterprise (if your company is a WOFE) - (ditto 4 and 5)
7. Employment registration form (this was one of the two you filled in for the work permit - when you get the work permit back, you also get a employment registration form stamped by the labour bureau)
8. Passport (original, duh)
9. 1 Passport photo
10. Fill in the visa/residence permit form - grab it and fill it while you wait for your number to be called.
Costs RMB 400(less than 1 year) - 800(1 year or more) and takes 5 working days.

There! PHEW... its a tiring process - I recommend you getting your company to do it all for you!!! Although I wouldn't get an agent to do it, if you are legally employed.

mrpango

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Posted: July 25, 2007 - 07:16 PM

Of course, if your company has enough invested capital, you don't have to leave the country first (as I already said) - and also if you are Vice GM level you can do everything inside Shanghai.

Anyway, this has been my own experience - I went through these exact steps...

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CoffeeHawk_0
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Joined: July 14, 2005
Posts: 17952

Posted: July 25, 2007 - 07:36 PM

Great Description Mr. Pango!

horsemandk

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Joined: Mar 23, 2006
Posts: 2274
Location: Shanghai
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Posted: July 26, 2007 - 12:03 AM

They've changed the company business license to be the original now, a copy wont do anymore, besides that, just beautiful description Smile

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maximus1

Reacher

Joined: June 18, 2007
Posts: 245
Location: Jing'An
Status: Offline

Posted: July 26, 2007 - 12:16 AM

Mr. Pango - I owe you a drink! Great info, and congrats!

mrpango

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Posted: July 26, 2007 - 09:37 AM

horsemandk wrote:

They've changed the company business license to be the original now, a copy wont do anymore, besides that, just beautiful description Smile

- In my description I did say you need to take the company business license for show Smile

- the original is only needed for when you go and do the residence permit

They take the photocopies off you, and just have a quick look to see if you have the originals to prove they are legit.

Lordlunchalot

SuperStar

Joined: Apr 23, 2007
Posts: 1558

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Posted: July 26, 2007 - 12:10 PM

I just finished the process today.
Bit similar to Mr. Pango in that my company left it up to me to organise, but totally different in way I went about it.

Step One: Spend hours on Internet researching what is needed, gather at least 4 copies of every related document I can think of. (Health Check was done previously)

Step Two: Go to Alien Entry Exit Office in Pudong. Wait 2.5 hours, find out don't have right documents and I will have to leave China to get them all.

Step Three: Go to Foreigner Employment Liscense place on Wusong Rd. Find out don't have right documents. Getting frustrated.

Step Four: Call Visa Agency. Their response:
Yes, everything can be done here in shanghai without leaving. the paperwork you have to prepare are:

1. Passport with valid visa
2. Resume or C.V. Written by yourself
3. Your living address
4. Qualification Document ( Diploma of bachelor's or Reference letters from your former company )
5. Labor Contract
6. Business License and Organization Code License of the company who employ you
7. 5 Passport Photographs (2 inches size)

The cost for the service is 1200RMB(service fee)+government fee(pay according to the government receipt, around 410RMB)

Step 5: They pick up documents from work and drop off Permits & Passport 2 weeks later.

NB: Business Liscence used was only a photocopy not the original.

I had to pay this myself, the company will pay me back once I finish my contract - this I think is totally crap, not happy with the arrangement at all.

Using agency saved me a lot of time and money - without them I would have had to fly to HK and spent more than 1610 on flights alone.

Bravo to Mr. Pango for toughing it out, you get a gold star!

mrpango

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Posted: July 26, 2007 - 01:45 PM

It was indeed a tough journey - but I will gladly help out if anyone needs assistance! (No agent fees - that was the main thing, I didn't want to pay extra to have someone else do what I could do myself).

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maximus1

Reacher

Joined: June 18, 2007
Posts: 245
Location: Jing'An
Status: Offline

Posted: July 26, 2007 - 08:41 PM

If caught working on the F while waiting for the z to get processed, are there any circumstances where someone wouldn't get in trouble?? would it be legal if it was uncompensated? any other ways?

Juan_Tamad

Board Royalty

Joined: Jan 29, 2007
Posts: 7093
Location: Smoky Mountain
Status: Offline

Posted: July 27, 2007 - 03:22 PM

Seems like a very tedious process.
As expats, I think this should be the responsibility of your employer.

Thank heavens my company handles this task every year.

maximus1

Reacher

Joined: June 18, 2007
Posts: 245
Location: Jing'An
Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 02, 2007 - 10:05 PM

don't know if this is another recent change, but people staying 1 year or more are required to bring the health certificate with them to HK when applying for the Z-visa

fakeacid

Newbie

Joined: Aug 22, 2007
Posts: 3

Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 22, 2007 - 03:44 PM

Excellent topic and thank you so much for all the info. mrpango!

I am at the stage now where I have the business license and invitation letter and I need to leave the country to get my Z visa. If I go to the Chinese embassy in HK to do this, how long will it take? How long do I have to stay in HK?

mrpango

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Posts: 3276

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Posted: Aug 22, 2007 - 05:53 PM

Get into the visa place before 11:30am, and they can process it and get it back to you by the afternoon (express).

Its all in the timing.

You sure you have the business license and not the employment license? Wink

Just make sure you take the right things, or it could go loopy!

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fakeacid

Newbie

Joined: Aug 22, 2007
Posts: 3

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Posted: Aug 22, 2007 - 06:58 PM

Ah thanks mrpango Smile

Business license is the green document in the plastic, right? By visa place, do you mean a service like Shoestring Travel on Nathan Rd. or the Chinese embassy? How much did it cost for you?

mrpango

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Posts: 3276

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Posted: Aug 23, 2007 - 10:26 AM

Visa place - I mean the official visa place (I guess you can call it the Chinese embassy for simplicity's sake) Smile

Business license is related to the company - the green document in the plastic is your employment license, and is the correct item to take along with your z-visa invitation Very Happy

For a z-visa you'll go to the official place, not a service, as you are fully authorised to apply for the z-visa Smile

I went to Japan Travel because my company messed up the invitation for an F-visa - 6 month visa cost me 1050 HKD.

Consulate Department Office of
the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region
5/F Lower Block, China Resources Building
26 Harbour Road, Wan Chai

http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/blsjfy/default.htm

is the official place with price listings Smile

I did my z-visa back in the UK - that cost me 50 GBP Sad

fakeacid

Newbie

Joined: Aug 22, 2007
Posts: 3

Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 23, 2007 - 12:32 PM

Thanks again! A mod or somebody should sticky this thread - it's a fantastic resource and I'm sure can be of use to a lot of foreigners here. Cheers!

Macpod

Veejay

Joined: Apr 15, 2006
Posts: 2196

Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 29, 2007 - 05:27 PM

so the health exam is done in china? Can i do that in australia?

Rais

Reacher

Joined: Nov 17, 2006
Posts: 298

Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 29, 2007 - 05:47 PM

FESC arranged for my work permit/residence permit. Fluent English, quick and professional service at a very reasonable cost -- far less than some "visa agents".

CoffeeHawk_0
Board Deity

Joined: July 14, 2005
Posts: 17952

Posted: Sep 03, 2007 - 04:50 PM

http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/default.htm

nico3d

Lurker

Joined: June 19, 2007
Posts: 21

Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 06, 2007 - 11:19 AM

MrPango guru of the visas.

My company is telling me that i have to go to hong kong to get the Z visa because they just can't get it from here.
I have done my health check and passed it and they seem to have all of the paperwork

So what's exactly what i need to bring to the chinese embassy in Hong Kong to get my Z visa?

I ask this because the person in charge in the company to handle this for me is a pain in the ass and i don't want her
to mess it up.

thanks a lot!

mrpango

Low Seater

Joined: Jan 26, 2007
Posts: 3276

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Posted: Sep 06, 2007 - 11:51 AM

Work/Employment License (The green sheet - laminated)
Z-Visa Invitation letter
Health certificate

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ydnacj

Squeeker

Joined: Sep 07, 2007
Posts: 16

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Posted: Sep 07, 2007 - 12:20 PM

just wondering what if we didnt register the temp residence permit within 24 hours of arrival???

mrpango

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Posts: 3276

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Posted: Sep 08, 2007 - 05:10 PM

depends how late you are in registering - fine is 50 RMB per day (maximum 500 RMB)

Some people grovel and don't get a fine. I got fined 500 RMB as I was around 5 months late in registering lol.

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