What visa required?

[Crivens200]

Wonder if anyone is in a similar situation to myself?

My company in the UK buys all it's goods from China. I am based near Shanghai and visit the factory that we buy our goods from 2-3 times a week. I don't pay myself any regular salary - just expenses and cost of living really.

Does this mean I am technically working in China and need a Z visa or is it OK to use an F Visa? I think in the strict definition I would say I am doing business here but live here permanently. I presume if I was on regular business trips from UK I would just need an F visa each time . . . . I guess I am on a permanent business trip?

Any thoughts? F or Z?

Also, should I be able to get my co-operative factory to write an invite letter to renew visa instead of heading to HK once year?

Thanks

[roddy]

I would say F visa - you don't have an employer here, so a Z visa isn't appropriate. The company you work with should be able to write you the invitation letter, yes.

One potential issue is that a locally issued visa may (and it is only may, I have no idea what your local PSB would do) have entry requirement - ie a one year visa where you can only stay in country 30 / 60 / 90 days per visit - so it may be easier to just keep doing HK runs. Until you read this

[Crivens200]

Thanks for the advice Roddy.

Yeah, I saw that thread about the 6 month F visa - still, not really a problem as I know I can extend the 6 month F visa in Shanghai for 6 months without leaving the country.