Comments on: We Need an Update on the Chinese Visa Situation

By: Robert Vance

Robert Vance — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:52:49 +0000

@Bjorn,

Thanks for the update. That is good news! Did your wife have anything to do with the process or was it just you…?

By: Bjorn

Bjorn — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:56:04 +0000

Obtained a 2-years F visa (multi entrance - 90 days each) in 1 (one) day. Applied yesterday (18th. Nov) and picked i up this lunch time.
You have the option to pay an extra fee for “urgent” issue, doing so, it is more likely that they do not go into to many details.
However, I am an European married to a Chinese and have had issued quite a few visa’s before, the last one was a 1-year multi “L”.

By: Robert Vance

Robert Vance — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:56:26 +0000

@Jerri,

That is certainly bad news. I have always been aware of this law but I never thought that it was enforced very much. So what can you do? What did you do? Go home? Or can you get another type of Visa???

By: Jerri

Jerri — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 08:47:03 +0000

I am a 63 year old American woman and I have had a work permit and residence visa for 6 years. I am a business woman with many years of experience in major multi-nationals. A year ago I started working for a small WFOE which sponsored by visa. This year, the PSB is refusing to renew my work permit and residence visa, citing my age and saying that they are being to enforce the legal requirement that foreigner comply with Chinese retirement regulations which require that women retire at 55 years of age and men at 60 years of age!

So this is more than a rumor! It is absolutely TRUE.

By: Kaibo

Kaibo — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:51:26 +0000

It is possibly a move from your school to get rid of older foreigners.
The easiest way is to ask a Chinese friend to contact the Labour Bureau.
I personally don’t recall seeing any old age restrictions in the government policy but that is not to say that there is not one. There is a minimum age restriction of 18yrs old but that is for a work permit not for teaching.
That will be sad for the older generation as at least they have the chance to earn an income here and contribute to society in a meaningful manner.

By: Kai Charlton

Kai Charlton — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 05:19:47 +0000

I am trying to find information about the latest visa “rumor”. Around my school, I’ve learned of several professors and English lecturers who are 60 and older receiving an official letter stating that their visas can not be renewed because of an age restriction now in place.

Any truth to this and what are the specifics?

By: Robert Vance

Robert Vance — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 08:31:41 +0000

@kaibo,

Thanks! That is great news. I have also been hearing that the restrictions have eased up on Visas. Hopefully things will get completely back to normal soon and teachers won’t have to worry so much about all of this…it’s been a headache for many…

By: Kaibo

Kaibo — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:57:07 +0000

Hi Ryan
I know people, actually close colleagues and associates, who have just been to HKSAR and changed from L to Z visa, so yes, it certainly is possible and is business as usual.
There are generally no problems for next day processing but I am not sure about the 33 nations that were restricted prior to the Olympics.
They were not mainstream western nations but mainly African and middle eastern nations and some Asian nations as well.

I must clarify a point I made previously; that an F Visa was not permissable to teach on.

SAFEA
GUIDE FOR FOREIGN EXPERTS WORKING IN CHINA AS CONSULTANTS

1. Foreign educational, scientific, cultural and medical experts.
These refer to those experts who are employed by the Chinese schools and other educational establishments in such fields as publication, medicine, scientific research, culture and art, and sports. They should hold bachelor’s degrees and have more than two years of experience.

4. Visa F is issued to those who come to China to visit, teach, do business, or for cultural, scientific or technological exchanges for less than six months.

I think that problems might arise when some foreigners use this 2002 guideline as a license to freely conduct a business that is not permissable longer term but once again that may depend on local tolerances of the authorities or relationships with local authorities.
Some orgs hiring foreigners definitely take advantage of this loophole and even encourage this practice longer term. I think in the long term it is definitely not advisable, especially when the cyclic cleansing occurs with periodic visits of the national authorities.

L to Z - mei guanxi. I know a guy who even did the changeover during the Olympics.

By: Ryan Bradeen

Ryan Bradeen — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:36:39 +0000

Sorry, I should say, is the transfer from L-visa to Z-visa still a valid path?

By: Ryan Bradeen

Ryan Bradeen — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:12:40 +0000

Can anyone confirm that going to Hong Kong to transfer from an F-visa to a Z-visa is still a valid method of securing a Z-visa? The Chinese Foreign Ministry website in Hong Kong has a big notice on their visa page that if you do not live permanently in Hong Kong than you must apply for a visa in your home country. http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/bgfwxx/
The notice is dated 4/13/08. Many thanks!