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Hi there :)

I am having some confusion over Z Visa regulations. I think the more i look on forums the more confusing it gets! I'm not sure but i think to get a foreign experts permit you need to have a degree? To get a Z Visa you need to have the Permit..? So, if i get an invitation letter from a school, can i get a Z Visa without having a degree? If i can't, how do i work legally?

Thanks, anyone that can help me. :)

Hey Rin,

I've spoken to a couple of people here and we're pretty sure that you CAN get a Z visa without a degree, but obviously it is dependent on getting an invitation letter from your school, which you'll get once you've been offered a job. It's difficult to say exactly though as different schools in different areas have different rules (China's just like that...), so the schools interviewing you are the best people to help - you might want to ask them about the process when you have your interview. This is the official line http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/lsyw/chivisa/aa/t514397.htm

Hope that all helps!

Ok, I just got my Z visa back last week so here is what you WILL require:

1) Alien Employment Licence (School will apply for this and courier it to you)

2) Visa application confirmation thingy (School applies for it and it will come with the other document) Sorry can't be more specific as it is COMPLETELY in Chinese, the basis is though it tells the consulate you're ok to be given a Z visa

3) Full Medical - Health Certificate that the hospital will provide PLUS this form that the doctors must fill in and attach YOUR photograph: http://pandavisa.com/forms/medical.pdf

4) Application form, it is best to fill it in online and print it as to avoid delay or confusion with handwriting.

The whole process is very quick and shouldn't take more than 4 days from the day you take the documents to the consulate or visa centre. Getting documents from the school is also fairly quick, I got mine within 3 weeks and that was during Chinese new year when everywhere shuts down.

Good luck with the whole process and if you need to ask me anything please do! best to measure twice and cut once!

Thanks you two :)

Wow, how confusing. i to i, have you had a look at the information regarding Z Visas and degrees and such? It is not very clear at all! It says that you SHOULD have a degree, i think thats were i'm alright, it doesn't say MUST and as i'll get the invitation from the school, it should be fine...I hope. I am worrying a little about asking the school things, i spoke to her briefly before and we could hardly understand each other! She is good at comunicating via email but on the phone, it was very, shall we say, difficult!

Thanks Robert :) You don't have a degree either do you? You do have experience though so you may be a little better off than me!

Haha, have you read the form you linked me to? Development? Nourishment? Nose? Neck? i hope my doctor can understand this! i think it is going to be very expensive!! ECG, AIDs test, chest x-ray!! I think there is a way that you can do it in China, it would surely be a lot cheaper!! Though it would mean travelling to Hong Kong, i think.

Where are you working in China again Robert? We should keep in touch!!

Hi Rin, The degree issue is just down to the school, it is their preference if they want to employ someone with a degree or not. The medical would be cheaper in China...around $100, this will be done in China again regardless of if you take it in the UK....However you WILL need it if you apply for a Z visa, the only way around this is to enter China on a tourist visa and then the get the Z visa whilst in China which would involve a short visa run to HK or elsewhere outside the country, again this depends on what your school wants...remember to ask them about getting reimbursed for the medical as some schools will and some won't.

I am going to Dongguan which is about an hours drive from Hong Kong.

Good luck, and don't worry it will all work itself out, trust me!

Just relax a bit !   Yes, there's a lot of stuff out there about the Visa situation.  And much of it is not even close to accurate ! !    I've been in China for 3 years, and the rules have not changed, but the enforcement of existing Visa rules and regulations has increased.  During the Olympics, it was, very plainly, AWFUL!! for foreign teachers wanting to renew Residency Permits. Thousands of them just couldn't get the Province to do that even though they had been here for over a year and the same school wanted to renew their contract.   So, all that being said, if you follow the simple rule of getting it done where you are and coming with the right thing....a Z Visa....you should be just fine.

I would strongly urge you NOT to come with a tourist visa ! ! ! ! !    China has tightened the rules some in the last couple years, and do urge people who will be here for a while to actually come to China with the correct visa.  

You arrive at your school, they take your Passport and obtain an Expert Certifcate (a little Red Book) from the Provincial Foreign Expert Board, then you and the Foreign Affairs Person at your school go together to the local Police Bureau, and get your Residency Permit which is good for a year.   All of this should take no more than 2 weeks. IF it does take longer, start asking hard questions of your Foreign Affairs Director.   Where I am now took less than a week because everything was carried by hand.

The other confusion sometimes comes in understanding the difference between the Z Visa and a Residencey Permit.   When you have a Z Visa, it remains valid as long as you have a local Residency Permit.   The Residency Permit....which is a new page in your Passport....is good for a year.  So, you actually have both.  BUT, the one which is most important if you are checked by the Police....is the Residency Permit.  And they are kinda picky about them.

Much of it sounds complicated, but please remember, In China there are rules for many things. Enforcement or carrying out those rules or regulations depends on how they interpret them TODAY, and that interpretation can change from one day or week to another.  Doesn't sound fair, but sometimes does work in our favor.  Most of the people are willing to help and be helpful.    The real Buzz Word here is PATIENCE.....the Chinese don't like to be pushed or hurried!

I would suggest that when you do get settled at your job, that you make a Zerox copy of the Information page of your Passport and the first page of your Expert Certificate and keep them with you when you at all times when you go out in your location.....and Keep Your Real Documents Safe At Home !   Everyone says to carry the real things all the time......and it is a real bitch to replace them if lost or stolen !!!!  When you travel out of town, take the real documents.

Sorry for the long post, but maybe this helps.

Thanks for the information :)

Yes, it seems like no-one really knows the truth about it all. I know of people without degrees that have visas, but also know of a person who went to renew their contract at a State school and got told they couldn't unless they had a degree! This guy had been teaching in China for 8 years as well! The school were very sorry also as they thought he was a good teacher and he had a good relationship with them. Sadly, this wasn't enough for the PSB to allow the work visa.

I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed i think!

I've summarized the thread to the best of my ability.  Can someone confirm these are the correct application steps?

http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/lsyw/chivisa/aa/t514397.htm

Do NOT come to China with a tourist visa and then attempt to change it to a Z visa.  Rather, actually come to China with the correct visa.  Requirements for a Chinese Z Visa:

1)      Invitation Letter provided by host school.

2)      Alien Employment License: (School will apply for this and courier to the TEFL Teacher)

3)      Visa application confirmation: document that is directed to the consulate that Applicant is ok to be given a Z visa.  This document is COMPLETELY in Chinese.  The School applies for it and it will come with the other documentation.  

4)      Full Medical - Health Certificate: Proof of medical insurance coverage plus a form that the Applicant’s doctor must fill in and attach with Applicant’s photograph: http://pandavisa.com/forms/medical.pdf.   A medical check-up will be conducted again, regardless of whether one has it done prior to reaching China.

5)      Z Visa Application form: Z Visa remains valid as long as one has a local Residency Permit.  Best to fill in Application online and print to avoid delay or confusion with handwriting.

6)      Expert Certifcate:  Once the TEFL Teacher arrives at school, the TEFL Teacher’s Passport is submitted to obtain an Expert Certifcate (a little Red Book) from the Provincial Foreign Expert Board

7)      Residency Permit:  a new page in one’s Passport, and is good for a year.  This document is required for police checks.  The school’s Foreign Affairs Person and the TEFL Teacher then go together to the local Police Bureau to obtain a one-year Residency Permit.  

8)      Photocopy Passport Information and the Expert Certificate first page and carry them at all times.  Keep the originals safe elsewhere.  Carry the originals when traveling out of town.  Have the documents scanned and email them to a personal email account.  Copies can then be produced in the event the originals are lost or stolen.

hey all, i am a new member here. i am planing to do my TEFL course very soon. my girlfriend is a chinese and i want to go to china with her, this why i am doing the course. i also have worries about the visa as i don't have a degree. we want to get married in china, if i want to live in china for long time is that mean i have to renew my visa every year. hope somebody knows something about it ,thank you

If you get married you will either get a spousal long term L, which you have to renew from time to time. Or what you would really be after, I imagine...A permanent residence permit.

Sometimes no degree is a problem, sometimes not. If you can show you are determined, bright, western looking enough....sorry but its true! have a neutral accent and have some experience, you will generally be fine although it varies from province to province, city to city!

Hi,

Traveling from the U.S. What type of Visa should I have before I go to China? The i to i contract says that I must pay RM1950 on the first day of class for some type of Visa extension. Is that true? And what is provided for that fee? Thanks

Hi Derek

Have you signed up for our China job placement service or for the China Internship? Because they require different visas.

So I'm actually more confused now than I was before I opened this thread.  My F visa from the internship is good till August 31st, at which point I will supposedly have to switch to a Z.  I also have no degree, and frankly I don't want to take the medical.  I will not be happy if I make a visa run to another country only to find out I actually can't come back, particularly given all of the stuff I've purchased for my apartment.

Someone said something about not needed a medical if you switch your visa in country?  Supposedly I can change my visa here in Xuzhou, it's the only place in Jiangsu province where that service is offered.

My school has also asked me for my degree, and I have no idea why they'd think I have one as I've never told them I do.

Help would be appreciated.

Hi Phillip

Are you extending your contract with TTC? If you could give me a little bit more information about what contract you have signed in China then I'll do my best to sort out any visa confusion

Cheers

Laura

From my understanding TTC is no longer extending contracts.  I have a contract direct with the school in Xuzhou at this point anyway, it's a long story but basically another company in Hangzhou that TTC sent me to, who then sent me here, did not uphold the contract in the slightest.

So, for all intents and purposes, I'm on my own at this point.

Hi Phillip

Normally your employers help you obtain the correct documents in order for you to get the correct visa to work there legally.

The flaming hoops and red tape involved in the process of obtaining a Z visa can be slightly daunting. You should always work directly with the school you are signing your new contract with if you have any questions regarding visas. The staff at your school will know the particulars regarding local regulations and issues.

If your new employers cannot help with your questions, I would suggest checking with the embassy regarding visa runs. A lot of schools require their teachers to have degrees. However, this is up to the individual school as to whether or not this is a requirement.

I've included a link to the Chinese embassy website. However, you may find the information differs if you are in country already

http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ce/ceuk/eng/lsyw/chivisa/aa/t514397.htm

I hope this helps

Laura

Hi Isummers86,

I've applied for the China Internship. It looks like after I receive my acceptance letter I must apply for a F Visa. Does sound about right?

Thanks.   

yes thats correct. It may sound a bit of a con (which most visas are) but you need to get an F visa before you go. I don't know how much that costs in the US but in the UK it was about 70 pounds. Then  when you get here itoi or TCC will extend it for you at a bargain price of about 2000RMB. that's your visa covered, it includes(usually , but not guarranteed) at least one exit permit that will allow you to visit Hong Kong or another country and return to China. It does not allow you to work however, on this internship(which I am on now) you are viewed as a cultural exchange student and as such you only get paid a subsistance allowance.

Laura, unfortunately I am the first foreign teacher this school has ever hired, and I don't think my boss really knows the ins and outs of what's required.  I have looked through the requirements on the Embassy website, but they are a bit vague, I will likely have to call someone.  Thank you for the help though.

Derek - yes that's absolutely right about the F visa. All the information about the visas for the China Internship can be found in the FAQ we sent out, but just to clarify I've pasted it all below

As the intern role is classed as a cultural exchange programme, interns should apply for an F visa which lasts for 60 days from date of entry into China, subject to interns arriving in China no more than 90 days from the date the visa is issued. The visa extension fee is RMB 1950 and must be paid in cash on day one upon arrival in China. Please take note only RMB are acceptable. Your visa will be valid for 6 months from the date of extension. TTC usually apply for two entries for the interns’ visa extension. However, as the visa process is out of TTC's control, they cannot guarantee interns will be granted more than one entry

Phillip - The culture of China is very different to the UK, and this can often lead to vague details about very important things, such as visas. I would always advise calling the embassy to confirm everything, and then ringing again to double check you're given the same information.

Good luck with everything both of you

Best wishes

Laura