Shanghai Daily has reported that thanks to SARS-related travel restrictions it is now possible to change to a Z visa without leaving Shanghai (in the past you had to leave China and get the Z at a Chinese embassy/consulate unless you were in a GM-type position here). Sweet.

Hi

While searching for info on how to get mutiple visa to stay in China, i came upon this web

I would like to compliment on your vast knowledge relating to visa etc.


I would like to seek your professional advise on the following:

1. I will be posted to work in Shanghai.I plan to bring my son and my singapore miad along
-the china embassy in Singapore give my maid tourist visa-3 month only despite I convinced the officer that all her expense I wll pay
Please advise how to get 12 month stay visa or how to rechange

2.Please advise a few method as I do not want to go to hK to change.

3.Recently, you mentioned the government change to z visa.Please advise what is that mean and does it apply to Tourist visa

Your advise is greatly appreciated

Thanks
Dorothy

Great! Can you tell me the date of that article, where I might be able to grab a hold if it? I\'m trying to get a Z visa now but the company insists that I must go out of the country. Any other information is greatly appriciated.

Hendor,

Foreign maids aren\'t really supposed to be working in the mainland (although some are). I would have your company attempt to either get her a work permit or that she goes to HK, gets the standard 6-month multi-entry without any hassles and then your company writes a letter that extends that from 6-months to 12 when that visa expires.

Mr. MDMA, I\'d imagine the article appeared in the paper Shanghai Daily on 5/22 or 5/21. You can see some online archives at [url]english.eastday.com[/url], but you have to mess with the URL to get back isssues (change the number that is around 900 and something to lower numbers and you\'ll be looking at the back issues).

Does anyone have any more information regarding this piece of info. I found the article, but am looking for official verification.

Annik

BELOW IS THE ARTICLE ... (source: http://english.eastday.com/epublish/gb/ ... 136605.htm)

HK visa runs complicated 21/5/2003

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The outbreak of SARS in parts of Asia is creating a dilemma for many foreigners in Shanghai who have to leave the mainland - usually heading to Hong Kong - to renew their business visas every six months.

One local expat said he isn\'t sure what to do about his visa, which expires in less than a month.

\"I want to stay in the city longer, but I risk contacting the deadly virus if I go to Hong Kong,\" said the American freelance editor who asked not to be named.

\"In addition, I would have to be isolated for two weeks when I come back, which is inconvenient for my work,\" according to the editor.

Thousands of expats living in the city hold F visas for various purposes, including business, advanced studies, and internships.

Technically, foreigners with F visas aren\'t supposed to work on the mainland, instead they are expected to use them to travel into and out of the country. But the rule is frequently flaunted.

There is an alternative to making the bi-annual trip to Hong Kong to renew the visa, according to the Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration under the Shanghai Public Security Bureau. Foreigners can get a Chinese company to write them a letter stating why they need the visa holder to remain in the country.

If successful, the visa can be extended for up to an additional six months.

Those wishing to apply for visa extension must go to the visa center on Wusong Road with their passport and the letter from their Chinese partners, said the bureau.

Bureau officials warn, however, that foreigners with the F visa are banned from taking jobs in the city according to Chinese law.

\"Those who are working under an F visa should urge their employers to apply for a working permit as soon as possible at the Shanghai Labor and Social Security Bureau,\" said Sun Hanyuan with the Shanghai Labor and Social Security Bureau.

While the government has no plans to change policies concerning F visas, the bureau did change the policy concerning Z visa, or working visas, following the outbreak of SARS.

Foreigners living in the city can now transfer from other visas to a Z visa without leav-ing the city, said Sun. Prev-iously, foreigners had to go overseas to apply for a Z visa.

Annik,

It\'s true. You can get Z visa issued at the visa center on Wu Song Lu. I went with my company\'s HR assistant today and they have accepted my application. They also acknowleged that it\'s due to SARS, otherwise i\'d have to go back to my home country to get it done. I am changing my F visa to the Z visa.

i just received an employment license and was told that I need to go to Hong Kong to apply for my Z Visa. Can I apply for my Z Visa without leaving the country?

Any help would be greatly appreciatd. Thanks.

No. You will have to designate where you will go (usually HK) and receive the form from the government stating where you will apply for the Z visa, along with the other paperwork. You must be issued the "0" day stay, initial Z visa at a Chinese consulate outside of mainland China. Once you have that, you will return to Shanghai, have a health screen and then apply in Shanghai for the more permanant version. You won't have to do this process each time the visa is renewed... it can be renewed in Shanghai in subsequent years without leaving Shanghai.

Crap, I need to renew my Z visa in October, it runs till November, but I lost my yellow slip...

i don't think i've ever given a yellow slip for z visa renewals... but they laws change all the time. you leaving china anytime between now and then, rio? just get a new slip within 24 hours (i thought the law used to be 72 hours but there were these signs that appeared in all the buildings in xjh that said it was 24 now) of your return and use that if it is needed.

Yes! I am going to Dubai next week! Excellent idea Magnolia. I wanted to get another anyway, but I guess this is a good reason to get it. Xie xie ni!!!

Enjoy!