Changing tourist visa to work visa

[mandarinstudent]

I recently came to China with a tourist visa under the impression that it was relatively easy to change to a work visa with the help of a company, school, etc. I didnt know if I wanted to look for a job relating to my major or if I wanted to teach english, so I just decided to come and figure it out later. Now Im trying to get a job teaching english and it seems like nobody can change the visa and it is a huge hassle because I am already in the country on a tourist visa. I hear that there were new laws passed a couple of months ago making it harder to change your visa. Anyone have experience in this sort of thing recently? Ive heard of having to take a trip to Hong Kong or going with a dodgy company...What is the best way to take care of this without having to leave the country? I know I was stupid to come to China without a work visa, but I read stories of people just going with a tourist visa and changing it later...maybe things are different after this "law change" Im hearing about. Am I screwed, or is there a way around this? Thanks in advance.

[trevelyan]

If you are new to China, you should realize that whether or not things are technically possible is often less important than whether or not other people actually want to help you. Your school may simply not be eager to give out a working visa. Try asking co-workers about their visa situation. If other workers are on F-visas, that is probably your problem.

If your employer is prepared to provide you with the necessary documentation for you to get a Z-visa, that is the biggest administrative problem solved right there. Ask your employer how they are getting the documentation? Are they authorized to issue letters of invitation or are they working through an agent? If they are working through an agent you should talk to the agent. Don't trust whoever at the school is dealing with them to understand your situation or do anything about it. People are incompetent and lazy.

If you have the documentation to get a Z-visa though, you don't really have any problems. In a worst case scenario, just take those papers and get on the train for Kowloon. You can stay overnight in Hong Kong while your visa is processed and be back on the train for Beijing the very next day. The entire trip can cost as little as 2500 RMB, and you should be able to get your company to cover the costs of the trip if they can't handle the visa issues in-country.

[mandarinstudent]

Thanks for the reply. Well, pretty much it seems like I got here too late for the fall 06 school year. All the big schools have already recruited the teachers that they need. I found a smaller college that wants me, but the guy in charge says it will be "very difficult" to change the visa. Right now he is in the process of trying to find a way to get me my visa, but he also asked me to do some research too. He said that if I was in my home country it would be very easy to get the work visa, but since Im already here it will be much more difficult. I dont know how it works to get the proper documentation here. Maybe their college is too small and doesnt have the "pull" to do something like this. Anyway, I appreciate any input that I can get.

[roddy]

Where are you? The smaller the place, and the bigger the school, the better luck you'll have - guanxi matters.

One thing you might want to think about is asking the school to part-fund a trip out of China to get the visa - if they really need a teacher, they will be happy to pay a chunk of cash to make sure they get you - they'd only need to spend it on advertising / agencies otherwise. Can't imagine they'd want to pay it up front though.

[Senzhi]

你好,

I can confirm Visa regulations have indeed changed:

I'll start working for a renowned Britisch educational institution soon. To reduce time-consuming (and bureaucratic) issues, colleges and businesses used to invite their workforce to apply for an L-Visa in their current country, which they would change into a Z-Visa in China once the employee had arrived. Obviously, it also helps if they suddenly realise the potential employee seems not to be so fit for the job ...

As such, I was also asked to apply for an L-Visa initially. However, this same institution interrupted my application, and informed me they have no other choice than apply directly for a work-permit, send it to me by post, on which I have to apply in my home country for a Z-Visa through the Chinese Embassy.

China never encouraged changing an L-Visa into a Z-Visa once you're in China, although it was technically possible. Now it seems they abolished it completely.

Hope the above helps you some way.

森志