Work permission and driver's lisence in China

[Tinta]

I will go to Shanghai next month, maybe to start my own business.

I would like to have some advice regarding a visa.

I do want whatever work permission in China but it needs to enable me to

have a driver's lisence in China for my business.

My business model is something related to cars.

My friend has a company in Hong Kong, also my wife holds British oversea passport.

She is originally from Hong Kong.

I want to avoid establishing or registering a company in China till my business seems

to be going stably and well enough to invest.

Can anybody suggest me how I can get work permission in Shanghai as well as Driver's

lisence?

Thanks

[smalldog]

An F visa (business visa) is probably the best for you. Although not technically a work visa, it allows you to do "business" and other short-term activities, and many live and work on an F visa for years without running into any problems. 6 or 12 month F visas are very easy to obtain in Hong Kong and supporting documentation is not required.

According to http://www.visainchina.com/visa1.htm , drivers licences can now be obtained in Shanghai with any kind of visa. If you bring your home country licence (and you got it over 3 years ago) you won't have to take the road test.

[thebatman]

I have a similar question about visa. I am getting married soon ( I am American) to Chinese woman in Guangzhou. I want to be able to live with her for a while and have a freelance business there until we both eventually return to America. I don't know what type of visa would allow me to stay for a lengthy period.