Z Visa & Passport Renewal question...

[evanc]

Hello, sorry if this has been covered in the past, but regulations seem to change often, and I'm hoping someone can give me some up-to-date information and advice.

I'm a US citizen, moving to Shanghai next month to start a job with a US-based architecture firm. They have experience hiring US citizens, so they will help me get the required documentation, but I have a few specific issues that still may cause problems.

1) I have heard rumors that you may need to provide proof of 2-years employment *after* receiving your degree (for a Foreign Experts Certificate). While I graduated with my Bachelors back in 2003, I only recently got my Masters in Architecture. So while I have over two years experience, and some letters to prove it, most of this was before my Masters, and some was in Engineering, not architecture. Should this be a problem? I have also seen some sites stating that I will need the original copy of my diploma. Is this true? Will an official transcript from the school suffice?

2) My passport will expire in June 2011. I have read that in some cases, you need 15 months of validity to get a Z-Visa, but I have also seen 6 months (which makes more sense since the Z-visa would only be valid for entry and 30 days stay, after which I'd get residence & work permits. Should I renew my passport first, before getting my Z visa, or should I wait?

I'm sure everything will work out, but I want to try to get everything right the first time. I'd appreciate any help you could provide - especially stories from anyone who's recently been through the process.

Thanks.

[leeovisa]

1) You can provide Bachelor degree certificate and 2-year work experience reference letter after Bachelor degree, instead of Master degree certificate.

2) You can use your current passport, since your passport only expires June 2011.

When you get the final 1-year residence permit, you can prepare to apply for a new passport.

The 1-year residence permit can be less than 1-year if you apply for it at the end of June 2010 or later. The visa can only be valid until the date of the passport expiration in that case.

When the new passport is ready, you can change the information on Alien Employment Permit (issued by Labor Bureau) and transfer the residence permit to the new passport.

http://www.cn-visa.com/zvisa_application.asp

[evanc]

thanks for your reply - that is a relief about passport renewal - i'll just leave that until later this year...

for the degree requirements - do they need my actual, physical, original diploma? Or will they accept an official transcript from the university? This could be a problem for me, since my original diploma is in storage back in the US, and I have no way of getting it.

[gerri]

Does anybody (leeovisa, you maybe?) know what you have to do if you have a valid residence permit, go out of China and have to get a new passport while outside of China... How can you enter the country (China, of course) again if the residence permit is in an old passport that is not valid anymore? Go to Chinese consulate to get a Z-Visa again, or what?

[leeovisa]

To evanc,

At least in Beijing original degree certificate is required. With the agent's help, you can have it done without the original one, though.

Not sure what the situation is in Shanghai.

To gerri,

You can use both passports to enter into China, with the valid residence permit on the old passport and the entry stamp on the new passport.

After entering, please change the information on your Alien employment permit (passport number) and transfer the residence permit to the new passport within 10 days. Again you are required to do so in Beijing.

[evanc]

Does anyone know if you can get a Foreign Experts Certificate in Shanghai without an original diploma certificate?

It seems ridiculous to me that you would need your original diploma - mine's been in storage for years...

[holland.jason]

Evanc

I am in a similar postition as you right now; going through the z-visa application process to work in an architecture office in Shanghai. When I submited my paperwork I included a photo of my diploma, which sufficed. Let me know if you would be interested in contacting me once I am in Shanghai. It would be great to have some new contacts while going through this process.

[evanc]

Evanc

I am in a similar postition as you right now; going through the z-visa application process to work in an architecture office in Shanghai. When I submited my paperwork I included a photo of my diploma, which sufficed. Let me know if you would be interested in contacting me once I am in Shanghai. It would be great to have some new contacts while going through this process.

jason,

have you completed the process yet? I've been here in shanghai for a month, and i just renewed my tourist visa for another 30 days. My employer is handling most of the paperwork, but I will still have to go to hong kong at the beginning of next month. Were you successful in getting a Z visa? I would hate to go and find that there are new restrictions.

[DudeJ]

@ evanc and holland.jason,

I'm going through the same situation and am running into some problems. Just wondering if you can help me out and share your experiences. Thanks.