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Q: Transferring work permit to another city
Okay then....I've read a lot on here about visas, work permit, etc and thought I knew the rules but today got stumped in Guangzhou so would appreciate some advice (but don;t suggest SAFEA icnif77!)
My situation:
First got a Z-visa in the UK mid-2012 for an engineering job in Guangzhou. Great! Got 1 year work permit and 3-year resident permit! Rare as rocking horse manure. After first year work permit got changed to 2 years to match the outstanding resident permit.
Mid-2014 got offered new job for shower enclosure in Shunde (Foshan). Got work permit cancelation receipt and release letter....and got new WP and RP in Shunde no problem. During the last year I've lived in Guangzhou and driven to work everyday.
Now.....got offered better job back in Guangzhou. Today I visited the labour bureau in Guangzhou to find out the process to transfer my employment from Shunde compnay to Guangzhou company. Stupidly assuming that the process of transferring back would be simply.
BUT...This is China!
Guangzhou labour bureau are telling me that to get a new work permit in Guangzhou I need to get a new Z-visa!
Why asked I? "Because we have our own rules that are different to Shunde"!
Can I get invitation letter stating pick-up Z-visa in Hong Kong? "Maybe", "could be difficult", "not sure if it would work" were the replies.
Is there any other way to avoid going back to the UK? "You could try an agent" (in a very quite under-the-table voice)!
So.....any suggestions for ways around this (don't suggest SAFEA....they can't get round city regulations!). Any "agents" you know that might be able to "deal" with this without me having to leave China?
To be blunt I think this is bloody stupid! But TIC!
8 years 43 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
I spoke to Henan SAFEA this morning. Fluent English speaker answering the phone, and she'll look into the matter, after I sent her an email. I'll open new thread about soon.
Agent in China? I've never heard about agent in China. I'm not sure, if Everbright HK would give you an answer.
I'm not sure, if Shunde can have different rules than Guangzhou.
Now, SAFEA's link here is Provincial Headquarters. It's not Shunde or Guan, but Guangdong SAFEA. I suggest, you dial Provincial SAFEA, and ask about it.
I'm sure two cities can't have different rules. That's BS.
Try Guangdong FEB, and just phone them with Q.
I want pint of Harp, if am right!
icnif77:
Guangdong Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs
Add: 305 Dongfeng Rd, Guangzhou city, Guangdong province
Tel: 83134790, 83134784
Dial them, and ask Q. I'm sure they BS you in Shunde.
If you don't come back with answer, I can dial them too.
Hotwater:
SAFEA can do nothing which is why I specifically asked YOU not to mention them! These are Guangzhou government rules as clearly stated on their alien employment licence regulations.
ironman510:
Labor departments are changing again, I'm also renewing my visa, I'll post it later this month, I suspect that Guangzhou has also got some new rules for new FECs
Hotwater:
My understanding today is that renewals aren't a problem. It's transfers from other cities. Hope yours goes easily
OK! Hotwater:
Icnif77, sorry for getting stroppy with you last night. I was pissed off with the situation & by the time I responded I was pissed after getting through a bottle of wine.
icnif77:
I guess, your matter is a bit different than FTs, and I just had chat yesterday with Henan SAFEA for the first time.
One thing I'm sure: 'local Gov. BS all the time. Once, you call Provincial Gov., thingy is entirely different'.
Now, I'm still saying you should give a shot to Guangdong SAFEA. Just seek an info.
'please, I need help and advice' is the best approach at Gov.
You'll be happier, when you'll buy return ticket to UK.
My example: 'I quit School in Yingkou, Liaoning for contract violation, and just moved to Dalian, and continued with work there. Got new FEC, RP unchanged. I quit Dalian school for the same as earlier, and moved to Xinjiang. Got new FEC, and PSB told us to return a week before RP expiration for extend.
I'm mostly writing here out of my own experiences.
ironman510:
Thanks Hotwater, hope you get everything worked out without having to leave. Yeah there was some new junk from the Labor department that I found out and maybe others wont like
Hotwater:
I tried SAFEA today. Explained the situation to the guy who said he'd look into it. He found me back a few hours later......and gave me the phone number of the Guangzhou labour bureau to ring!!!!
The same people who told me last week that I needed to get a new Z visa!
Waste of time.
icnif77:
@Hot: call him back, and tell him what did they tell you earlier at labor bureau. Try and reason with him: 'Why do I need new Z? That's not necessary, IMO!'
Keep saying; 'I need help and advice!'. Don't play smart, better play stupid, IMO.
You might get somewhere, if you ask guy at SAFEA: 'Can I talk to your leader, please?'. I've never did that, but I also had resolution of my problem right away.
I'd break their balls, if I have option to stay in China or fly home on my expense. Common, keep bother him.
Try Nancy ?
Or Fesco.
Go back to UK anf see your mum.
Its a filial piety thing. They know you have been here too long. They want you to go back to see your mum.
Hotwater:
Already emailed Nance.
Dont nut want the expense of going back to the UK. Bloody stupid rule!
First thing first. Try again! We all know that people say one thing and the co-worker will give you completely different info.
All i know is that I transferred from Shunde to Shenzhen and certainly didnt need a new visa. Transferring it was fine.
Understand your point Mike but we've tried 3 times already. HR lady has spoken to two departments and I was in there today though needed a translator (Hong Kong colleague)
Today was funny in a TIC way. Walked into office, got ticket and only had to wait 5 minutes as the place was empty. Got told to go to desk 7. I walked up and asked in Chinese if the lady spoke English. Wo Bu hui shou yingyu was the answer. So my HK mate translated back and forth in Cantonese. All the while the lady at desk 8 sat there seemingly doing nothing. At the end, when I'd run out of trying logic the lady at desk 8 replied to one of my comments in English! So for 30 minutes I'd needed a translator at my desk when all this time the lady at the next desk, who had nothing to do and could speak English, kept her mouth shut!!!
TIC!
icnif77:
You should ask English speaking employee for help. They're 'ben' sometimes, but I can always show them right way.
Hotwater:
I tried that and unfortunately she just repeated what the other lady said....though she did quietly suggest I tried to see if an agent could help.
