Anyone can tell me how to apply for a Z-visa?

Thanks!

Julian. If you want to find the answer to that question, look at the other threads in this section, and you will find other people that have already asked that same question. Just to let you know.

Basically you need a job here or a company willing to say you have a job. They need to apply for the appropriate permit at which point you can apply for a Z visa but this will be a single entry, 0 day duration visa. This Z visa is worth nothing as you now have to go throught a medical to get a resident permit and then an employment permit. At this point you can apply for a new multi-entry Z visa.

If I am working for a company w/ less than $3M USD capital and am less than a GM, do I need to fly to HK? Have spent hours going through these threads, and talking with people. I know, I know- nothing is certain in China, but, can anyone offer any suggestions?

Do these visa service companies that you pay for, just make the process go smoother, but you still have to fly to HK? How long do I have to be there for, if I in fact, have to fly there? People have asked similiar questions, but it seems that the rules have just changed a few months ago.

can anyone shed some light on this?

Thanks!

shanghai8 - No need to fly to HK anymore. There are several agencies in Shanghai that can extend your visa. They will come to your office and pick up your passport and return it to you a few days later.

Thanks for your reply. I have a an L visa now, and will get a Z visa (with my new job here). I don't need to extend per se. Can I still use one of these agencies? Are they safe for changing an L visa to a Z visa?

I am not sure how qualified my comment is, but the regulations changed definitly in September:
Since then it is also in Shanghai (before Shanghai has been an exemption for some time) not possible to change a L to a Z-visa locally.

Advised by the German Chamber - who have usually very good relationships and are usueful advisers - I left for HKG yesterday to get my Z-visa there. You can get it at the airport within 6 hours. So it is just a daytrip.

Ask your employer what they require. You may have to provide a copy of your diploma (the government does not require this but your employer might). You need to do your health examination and take all the appropriate documents to the Labor & Social Security Bureau at 865 South Zhongshan Road. Your employer should take care of most of this though. It's rather simple.

Yes, those things I needed to get the invitation for a Z-visa.
With this invitation I applied for the Z-visa itself in HKG.

By the way, the invitation letter already determines the place where you apply for the visa.

Does the invitation for a Z visa come along with the work permit?

also- what exactly might i have to do in HK? i mean, what am i actually picking up? my Z visa?

I ask b/c if i have an L visa w/ no entries, what happens when I get to HK? Do I need to get another L visa w/ a multiple entry, just to go China-HK-China?

OR, would I be picking up my Z visa. and in that case, would not need to worry about my L visa status anymore...?

thanks

you don't have to go to hk to get the Z Visa!

Shanghai8: Check out one of those agencies. Maybe lancesidecar can give you some contact info.
If it does not work out I'll explain in detail how I did it via HK.

Lancesidecar-

I appreciate your response, but the rules have changed just a few months ago. Are you speaking from first hand experience? Have you recently changed an L visa to a Z visa since August 2005? Also, there is this rule where, if your company has under $3M USD capital or you are less than a GM status.

A lot of people keep saying you don't have to go to HK- but are these people who have been working in SH for 2 years? etc.


The procedures have recently changed. Hence, why I have been asking all these questions.

Thanks to anyone who had recently gone through the Z visa process since August 2005.

Yip, I think your assumption is right: Not too many have gone trhough the new regulations since they are just in place since september 2005.

As mentioned before I have just finished the same procedure this week.
I'll explain it in detail after lunch

Domm- thanks!

i will check these threads often, so don't foget! hehehe

Shanghai8- The best thing to do would be to call the Shanghai Labor and Security Beareau at 63650095. It just doesn't make sense to me that a person would have to go to HK to get a Z visa to work on the Mainland.

If the reason is that you can't go from an L to a Z directly, change your L to an F first in Shanghai and then proceed. No need to spend the money to go to HK.

We have just obtained our Z visa in the US. The following information are printed on the "Alien Employment License." These rules should apply to applicants who are inside and outside of China. Rule #1 says that one needs to go to an embassy or Consulate. I presume that it's outside China.

Here are the info:

Aliens seeking employment in China should follow an employment permit system. Those who have been awarded Alien Employment License of the People’s Republic of China (Hereinafter referred to as “Employment License”) should go through relevant formalities according to the following procedures:

1. Present the Employment License and Visa Notice to the embassy or consulate of the People’s Republic of China when applying for the Employment Visa.

2. The bearer of the Employment Visa should sign a labour contract with the employer within 15 days after entering China by presenting the Employment License.

3. Present the Employment License, labour contract, valid passport and other relevant documents to the labour and social security administrative authorities of the area where the employer is located to apply for Alien Employment Permit (hereinafter referred to as “Employment Permit”).

4. The aliens who have obtained the Employment Permit should present the Employment Permit to the local public security authorities to apply for Alien Residence Permit within 30 days after entering China. Aliens who hold the Employment Permit and the Alien Residence Permit can be legally employed in China under the Protection of Chinese laws.

5. The Employment License will come into effect on the date of issuance and remain effective for a period of six months.

Regards,
Linda

As I said before I have done the whole process with the German chamber, but principally it should work out by yourself, too:

1.) Applied for an Invitation for a Z-visa, which was issued together with a Work Licence at the Local and Social security Bureau. For the invitation I already needed to tell them WHERE I want to apply for the visa itself and this was documented on the invitation. Needed the following documents:
- Passport (Copy)
- Health Check Certificate
- CV
- Diploma (copy)
- Official request by the employer for that application
2.) One week later I received the two documents, with which I went to HK.
At the CTS counter in the airport I apllied for the Z-Visa. Fee was 800 HKD and took 6 hours.
Following documents were required:
- Invitation for a Z-visa
- Work Licence
- Passport
- Photo
Concerning the time frame: They told me US passport holders (& Others) would take more than 1 day.

In general you have to LEAVE and RE-ENTER a country to get a new VISA, since VISA are a document issued to foreigners in foreign countries to allow them ENTERING. (in opposite to a residential permit, that you get WITHIN one country)

China is oone of the few countries, were you can extend some kinds of visa locally, but just because it is a good business: Maintain short visa --> need to extend them more frequently --> more fees

Bah! This is bad news for me.

I am going through the residence permit process right now; and stupid me, I decided to do it alone.

My process went something like this:

1. Get my health exam over at Hami Rd.
2. Registered with local police.
3. Applied for an F-visa.
4. Got F-visa.
5. Got my paperwork together.
6. Went to the Shanghai Labor Bureau and applied for my work permit.
7. Went to Hong Kong.
8. Went to pick up the work permit.
9. Went to Minsheng Rd to apply for residence permit. Found out that my work "permit" was actually a license.
10. Went to the Labor Bureau to apply for my work permit. Found out I need to get a Z-visa. To get a Z-visa, I need to leave the country.
11. Pulled my hair out.

So, there is some truth to what the people at the labor bureau said then, huh. I need to get my "notice to work" and leave China to go to Hong Kong for a day and get my Z-visa. Arg. What a serious pain in the ass. And now that I see the regulations have indeed changed since September, I guess I have to do this. How asinine. Luckily (or maybe not?) my F-visa is multiple entry and doesn't expire until Feburary 2006, and my work license is valid for six months, so I have some time. As I plan to go back to the States in December, I guess I can handle this then. It's just a serious pain in the ass.

Aww, you cant change your visa status anymore...

I have gone through the Z-visa application phase in Holland. Had to wait for the Alien Employment License and Visa Notice letter to come from China. Had to do a health check here in Holland (HIV 1 and 2, ECG, X-Ray of lungs and answer some yes/no questions). Need the health certificate and the other 2 documents to apply for Z-visa. This is not a permanent Z-visa.

In China:
Present Employment license, labour contract, valid passport to apply for Alien Employment Permit.
Present this permit to local authorities to apply for Alien Residence Permit within 30 days after entering China.
If you hold the Employment Permit and Alien Residence Permit, you can legally work in China.

Great. Just got the Z-Visa stamped on my passport and the passports of all my dependents. The stamping says the visa expires "000" days after entry into China.

I am assuming now that when we enter China, the immigration authorities at the airport will let us in --- can anyone post/point to a post on experience/what to say or not say at the immigration line in the Pudong Airport?

Further, after I report to work, I am told, I will have to sign a contract, then submit my passport to an agency that is contracted by my firm, and they'll return my passport with a valid visa in a couple of weeks.

Is this correct?
PSX

Domm wrote:1.) Applied for an Invitation for a Z-visa, which was issued together with a Work Licence at the Local and Social security Bureau. For the invitation I already needed to tell them WHERE I want to apply for the visa itself and this was documented on the invitation. Needed the following documents:
- Passport (Copy)
- Health Check Certificate
- CV
- Diploma (copy)
- Official request by the employer for that application
2.) One week later I received the two documents, with which I went to HK.
At the CTS counter in the airport I apllied for the Z-Visa. Fee was 800 HKD and took 6 hours.
Following documents were required:
- Invitation for a Z-visa
- Work Licence
- Passport
- Photo

Am thinking of applying for Z visa at airport like you have, but would like to get more info on the hours of operation, etc. (Is there a website?)

Also, anyone have a link for the Chinese Embassy/Consulate in HK? Can't seem to locae a website...

thanks!

Also, anyone have a link for the Chinese Embassy/Consulate in HK? Can't seem to locae a website...

Because they don't exist. -
Embassy and Consulates are representing a country in foreign countries.
But HKG is part of THE ONE AND ONLY China.
But you have authorities that are sometimes comparable.
I have also tried to find the one in charge vor visa, but without any results.

The one in Kowloon is:
The address is at 1/F.,Alpha House,27-33 Nathan Rd., Kowloon, Hong Kong. (in Tsimshatsui, face Sheraton Hotel)
Tel : 852-2315 7188 Fax : 852-2315 7292

At the airport:
Airport Service Counter Counter A04,A05,B08,Meeters and Greeters Hall,Passenger Terminal Building,HK International Airport, Lantau,Hong Kong Tel:2261 2472
2261 2473
Fax:2261 0378

Nice advertisement ShanghaiAccomadation...
So nice, that you have to post it even twice...

But can you really help on those Z visa, so people don't need to go to HK anymore?
I doubt that...
Maybe you're just putting your #$*!@-advertisement on any topic, related to your bizz?

How long will it take after recieving the '000" days, 01 entry Z visa to get the Work Permit and Residence License?

Is there any way I can make it home in time for christmas in this current situation???

cathy you have been warned many times. I hope people know who you are and that you do not follow rules so there fore you might not serve people to the best that they need
An agency that uses personal hotmail would make me worry

Any foreigner can get a Z visa or living permit for employment in China Mail land. You do not need go to Hongkong to apply for a Z visa. I have applied for Z visa for 3 foreigners last month.If you need,please contact me.icandovisa@yahoo.com.cn

well, they were either of a particular passport (not from the US, Europe, or other major countries), or carrying an F visa- or it was illegal, and they will probably encounter problems in the future.

The regulations have officially changed for foreigners with an L visa (and come to think of it, a F visa as well) if they are less then GMs or the company has less than 3millon USD capital.

Clever sign on name btw.

I think after re-entering the mainland it took another 2 week for my work permit.

Thanks Domm. Am fresh on your heels with these steps!