Study Res.Permit to any other visa? not possible?

[Alex Whiteman]

Hey. . . somebody just told me she was refused a Z visa on the grounds that she had a student's residence permit - and that authorities are looking out for students cancelling their student's residence permits in order to pursue another activity, as this would prove they came here for a "hidden purpose" other than studying.   What????

 

This is crazy. . .

 

I understand the logic behind not wanting people to work on student's visas but. . . changing them? 

 

If one day I decide to start working, stick around looking for stuff to export back home or just backpack for a month or two, I cannot use the student's residence permit because the university policy would cancel it the moment I stopped showing up for class (fair enough. . . ).

So. . . I'd HAVE TO ditch the permit and get the right visa for whatever is that I was going to do. . . except that now this is also not possible - with authorities outright rejecting such changes???

 

Anyone heard of this?

 

I hope it was just one of those lies by an employer not qualified to hire foreigners. . .

 

I'm in Guangzhou this semester, by the way. . .

[roddy]

Get your job lined up, get the documentation you need, finish up with your uni, go to Hong Kong, get Z visa, come back, get residence permit. 

[Alex Whiteman]

In other words, your answer to my question is: "It's true; a student's residence permit cannot be cancelled in order to get a different kind of visa".

 

For example, my classes end the last day of June but my residence permit lasts until the last day of August.
According to this, I have to "hang out" two months (July, August) in China until I can begin working in September.

No way of doing it in, for example, April.

[roddy]

No, not at all - I have no idea what can be done. I also suspect you'd be treated more sympathetically if you're at the end of a course of study, rather than quitting after two months. But in your case - being in Guangzhou - a hop over to Hong Kong seems a viable option. You probably want to have something from your university showing that you're done there - all fees paid, library books returned, no further obligations.

[christineh]

I've been wondering if it's possible to get a work visa, but continue my studies and scholarship. My school doesn't seem to understand what I'm asking, and this thread doesn't make the likelihood promising. 

 

My studies are the priority, but after the summer, I'll primarily be working on my thesis, with no classes to attend regularly. My past experience working while in school suggests I could easily work 20-30 hours, and in fact, might actually help me, by enforcing a schedule. Has anyone done anything similar? 

[leeovisa]

To get a work visa, you need to be more than 24 years old, with 2 years work experience after you get your Bachelor degree. A non-criminal record certificate is required. 

A qualified company need to provide many other documents, too. 

 

To get an employment license and a Z visa notification in turn with all the documents mentioned above. Then go to HK to get a Z visa. After coming back to China, apply for an Alien Employment Permit and finally 1-year residence permit for work. 

 

In short, if your studies are the priority, you can just keep your student visa. 

 

Source:  http://www.cn-visa.com/beijing_work_visa_application.asp