Clarification on the Z Visa / Residency Permit

[subaculture]

Hi,

I am an Irish (Republic of Ireland) Citizen, but have lived in the United Kingdom for the past five years for my Doctoral Studies. I have been offered and have accepted a job at a Chinese University. While initially I was to start in August 2011, they now wish me to start in May 2011.

Trying to get clarification on the medical is near impossible... the employer wants the exam before applying/sending the license/permit (since they want a scanned copy) but the embassy in London doesn't require a medical for a Z Visa.

Does the employer require it to get the permit/ license in the first place? They mention that if do it in the UK, I wont have to do it in China when I apply for a residency permit. Is this correct?

It is also difficult to ascertain whether I must get the medical in a notorised and approved hospital or will any NHS approved medical centre in the UK OK?

Would be easier to travel to HK with the permit/license there, do a medical there and apply for a Z visa in Hong Kong or is is better to do it here in the UK?

I suppose the main question is at what part of the process is the medical required and do I have the procedure right! I dont want to do a £300 medical in the UK if its not required and do another once I arrive in China! And I wanted to clarify if the UK medical has standing in China once I convert the Z visa to a residency permit.

Best regards

SC

[fanglu]

Does the employer require it to get the permit/ license in the first place?

Yes, this is my understanding.

They mention that if do it in the UK, I wont have to do it in China when I apply for a residency permit. Is this correct?

I think you will have to do a medical in China to get the residency permit as well.

It is also difficult to ascertain whether I must get the medical in a notorised and approved hospital or will any NHS approved medical centre in the UK OK?

I'm pretty sure any doctor will do.

Would be easier to travel to HK with the permit/license there, do a medical there and apply for a Z visa in Hong Kong or is is better to do it here in the UK?

Why would that be easier? I suspect it will be easier doing it in the UK. At the very least you're familiar with the hospital system and the language.

[lordnikon]

I remember that my employer needed the health exam in order to get the employment permit but i just did it when i was in china then went to hong kong to get the visa. If you are in UK just do the health exam there and if they require you to do it again just ask your company to pay for it, you will need the health exam results when you apply for residence permit so this would be the point were you would need to do it again in china if it is needed, I have heard that you almost always have to get the health exam done in china and even in the same city as you apply for your residence permit as they have different standard and dont trust others results. There is long discussion here about getting visa in HK http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/17489-getting-a-z-working-visa-in-hong-kong/

[subaculture]

The exam now contains lab exams (HIV etc), ECG, X ray etc, which can run into a few hundred pounds in the UK, since the NHS doesn't cover physical exams. Rather a large waste of money if its merely to satisfy the employer. Will ask them to forgo this requirement until I convert the Z visa into a residency permit once in China.

SC