Questions about Z and X visas

[zhouhana]

Hi everyone!

My family is very interested in spending a year in China. I'd like to spend my time there studying (distance/online learning through a college in my home country), taking Mandarin lessons, and also working about one day a week. My boyfriend would like to work part-time and study Mandarin part-time. We'd also be bringing his son to go to an international school.

As I understand it we'll need Z or maybe X visas. Is it enough to only work or study part time to get these visas?

Is it possible to get a job as an English teacher for, like, one or two days a week, and still get a work permit and invitation to get a Z visa?

If we (adults) would enroll at a Chinese university to study Chinese and get student visas, what would happen if we dropped out?

Would it be possible for us to rent any type of apartment on a student visa, not only a room in a student dorm?

Thanks for your replies!

[jbradfor]

this thread and that thread should answer most of your questions.

In summary:

You (probably) can't get a Z-visa if you only want to teach English 1-2x a week.

You (probably) can't get a X-visa if you want to take "classes on the side", it's intended for full-time studies.

You probably need to get a L-visa; these typically allow you to stay 60-90 days each time, after that you'll need to leave China and re-enter.

We'd also be bringing his son to go to an international school.

Last time I checked, true "international schools" were about USD 25,000 / year tuition.

There are other options, private schools that have instruction in English that are much cheaper.

[zhouhana]

Thank you for pointing me in the right direction!

If our child is accepted at a school in China and thus gets a Residence Permit, do you have any idea if that will increase our chances as parents of getting a visa for a longer stay as well?

Oh, I know, international schools are expensive. We're looking into different alternatives. Thanks for the tip, though.

[fanglu]

If our child is accepted at a school in China and thus gets a Residence Permit, do you have any idea if that will increase our chances as parents of getting a visa for a longer stay as well?

Chinese student visas don't allow secondary applicants, so it won't allow you to accompany. However, consulates are usually open to giving long tourist visas to spouses of people on student visas. They might do the same for parents.

[jbradfor]

I assume (based on your description and your apparent age in your picture) that your boyfriend's son (your step-son-to-be?) is in grade school (or maybe high school). Do they give X visas to students in primary or secondary education? I thought it was only for post-secondary education? [but I checked the Chinese consulate web site, and they made no mention of age.]

[zhouhana]

Alright, thanks fanglu.

jbradfor, I had no idea about X visas being given only to older students. Yes, he's 13. (I can't count myself as an official parent, but both his parents will be on this trip.) Thank you for that info. Oh, well, from what I hear we could all go there on tourist visas and either have them upgraded one way or the other or have to go on visa runs. I feel confident that it'll work out somehow.