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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: What is the difference between Alien Employment License (Work Permit) and F.E.C
For Z visa requirement, the following has been mentioned on embassy website, but what is the difference between these:
Alien Employment License (Work Permit) issued by the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Security of the People's Republic of China,
Confirmation Letter for Foreign Experts (Foreign Experts Certificate) issued by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs of the People's Republic of China,
11 years 14 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
Maybe a good way to start would be to say that one of the requirements of the work permit is to have a Foreigner Expert Certificate.
The work permit allows a foreigner to legally hold employment while in China if he is hired by a company or business allowed to hire foreigners.
A Foreigner Expert Certificate is a document that states that you have proved to the proper authorities that you have a basic knowledge on your field of expertise.
In theory, the FEC should work, keeping those that really do not know out of the workforce. But in practice it does not futhfill that duty, because I can get one as an expert in teaching the English language with a college degree in ball room dancing, and having never set foot in a classroom.
An Alien Work etc., is a little green booklet that is issued to those in the so-called non-professional fields, conferring upon them the right to work in those fields. If you are a shoemaker for example for the States and if you were to work in China, you would be issued this little green booklet.
The FEC is a little dark blue booklet these days that is issued to persons in the so-called professional fields, etc.,etc., per above. It is issued to teachers, engineers, and the like.
Both are required to obtain a Z visa but the processes for both are quite different. If you are a teacher and if your employer gives you the little green teacher, then the employer has truly not hired you as a teacher but as something else.
The so called Alien Work Licence is a green sheet of paper that is issued by either the Labor Supervision Bureau or the SAFEA. It is a pre-requisite for getting the 'Z' visa invitation letter. Providing you meet the necessary statutory requirements (or supported by strong enough guanxi), the AWL is issued which is then presented to another government department for the invitation letter.
Once you have the invitation letter, both the AWL and the invitation letter are given to the appropriate consulate for the visa. On entering China,you then have thirty days to obtain a Residence Permit from the PSB.
The passport along with the applicable 'z' visa is returned to the Labor Supervision Bureau or SAFEA who then issue either a Work Permit (LSB) or Foreign Experts Certificate (SAFEA).
The WP or FEC are then a pre-requisite document for the final part of the process. They are given to the PSB along with numerous other documents to get the Residence Permit (RP).
mrmorito:
Hi Kaiwen, your answer is pretty much the information I was looking for. Nonetheless I wonder if you know about the time it takes once you return to mainland China with the working permit.
You see, I will be going to HK next monday with the 30 day visa (I already have the working permit, invitation letter, etc)... Short story: I will be giving my passport and the visa they will give me in HK next Friday 22nd.) aparently the passport will go to the PS and then to another place.. How long does it take for me to get my passport back? Thanks for the answer..
just some stupid procedure. work permit is needed , employment permit is not important but necessary. that's it