In September, a friend and co-worker of mine came to China on an L-visa to work as an English teacher in our current company. The contract says that the company will sponsor and pay for a work visa. In November she went to Hong Kong to get her Z-visa, but she got a 30-day L-visa instead. When I asked her about the letters she needed, she told me that the company did not give them to her. So, she had to go to Hong Kong again in December. This time, she got another L-visa. The company still had not given her the letters she needed to get the Z-visa. The company told her that there was a quota for how many foreign teachers the company could hire. Now it's January, and it would be time to go to Hong Kong again, but someone from the company is saying that she can only get her Z-visa in America (where she's from). Needless to say, after so much hassle, her enthusiasm for working for this company has dampened.

What should my friend do so she can work in Shanghai?

Get a new job, first of all.

If she has the proper documentation, she would have been able to secure her "Z" visa in Hong Kong. Obviously the company has either no ability (i.e. authorization) to hire foreifn staff or they are indeed over their quota. If they were over their quota, though, they would not be able to obtain the "Alien Work Permit" or equivalent that she would need in order to even apply for the "Z" work visa.

I have never heard of them sending Americans home to apply for their "Z" visa, but I have seen where they routinely send Filipinos, Nigerians and those of many other nationalities home. Maybe the rules have changed. Many times they change the process because of reciprocity with changes in the subject's country immigration / visa law changes. I know that recently the US started enforcing provisions that force in-country applicants changing from tourist to work visas to return to their home country to apply. It'd not be surprising if China reciprocates.

well, first of all, i think she should change her job, for sure. from what u described, doesn't sound like a good company. and i don't think she need to go to HK, she can just change her L visa into F visa. u don't need any document from the hiring company for a F visa. u can leave me a msg here or PM me. and for more info u can visit www.emoo.net
and since it sounds very urgent, u can call me(Cherry) at 5103 5456 ext 803