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Q: Z Visa question
I am currently looking for a new job, lots of jobs available, just being picky!
I have a Z visa and I was under the impression it was valid for 5 years, that is what I was told, I know that the residence permit supersedes it once you go through the PSB rigmarole, but I have had dozens of potential employers asking me about the Z visa and saying that I would need to renew my Z visa! Others are amazed it is valid for 5 years.
At first I thought they were just not up to date on Visas, but this has happened at least a dozen times, with questions being asked, even had a few say we don't want to go through getting a new visa or residents permit which seems odd, since any new employee would need a new residents permit!
Any Ideas on what is going on?
Is my Z visa valid for 5 years from date of issue?
I got it in 2012
9 years 47 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
The validity of a visa is written on it. Didn't you look at it at all?
5 years would be unheard of. For any visa in any part of the world for that matter.
ironman510:
Took the words right out of my mouth. How could he not see the expiration date? It's very unheard of just as much as it's unheard of that a person doesn't know when his visa ends.
It doesn't say!
Category Z
Issue date 09NOV12
Enter before 09FEB13
Entries 01
Duration of each stay 000
Thats it!
You must enter China (in between/from) 'issue date' and/till 'enter before'. In 30 days after your entry, Z must be replaced with Residence permit, and Z isn't valid anymore. Then, you just need to extend RP.
If you change your employer at the end of RP, old employer must take you to PSB, which will either extend your RP for 30 days, or issue 30 days L visa. You can get two 30 days L visas in China. You must exit China before the end of 2nd L.
ScotsAlan:
Yup.
And in the case of a work permit, you can change jobs but the new company has to apply to the local labour office to employ you.
Then, my understanding is, the brown book is updated and a new RP can be issued on the strength of that.
This is for work permits tho. I believe FECs may be different. Or maybe they are the same.
luzhouguy:
Yeah, that is exactly what I thought it was, I tried to explain this to the potential new employers and they seemed confused!
icnif77:
Instead 2 L visas, I got two RP extensions for a bit less than 30 days each time. 1st time Urumqi PSB extend RP till May 28th (original RP expired on May 3rd), and 2nd time Jiangsu PSB extend it till June 26th.
New School is telling me, I'm entitled for 2 L on the top of it. I'm not sure, I'll get 2 L.
I'm ready for HK exit before June 26th, but we'll see, what happened.
How does November 9th, 2012 to February 9th, 2013 equal 5 years? 
Duration of each stay: 000
This means you must go to the PSB to convert it to a Residence Permit within 30 days. The Resident Permit only lasts 1-4 years, depending on where you are. In most cases, this will only be 1 year.
EDIT: I'm so sleep deprived I missed the date... fixed it, lol.
My understanding is that a z visa is valid for a short time only and is tied to your employer, on the understanding that you'd be working for that employer. It allows you to enter the country where your school then has it converted to a residence permit and the z visa is canceled.
If you wanted to apply for a job with a different employer, presumably you would need to get a new z visa using the letter of invitation etc from the new school.
icnif77:
You can extend RP with new employer, if you present Release letter and FECertificate Cancellation doc. from your old employer. You can stay in China.
For new Z, you must return home (or Hong Kong), and reapply at Chinese Embassy.
Issue date 09NOV12
Enter before 09FEB13
It's now 1st June, 2014.
You are in SOOOO much shit right now!!! (well, ok... you'll cop a fine and get deported, and won't be allowed back in the country for 5 years.... probably. No big deal)
KimOnach:
From what I gather in his story, he didn't enter China. Or did he.
Shining_brow:
I'm reading the opposite... hence the ppl being astounded by his 5-years, and also his username - LuZhouguy....
This makes me wonder if he's been in China illegally the whole time and didn't even know it. That Z visa was just the entrance visa, and it should have a red canceled stamp on it.
Can't you see another visa with a title called Resident Permit?
I'm sorry, I don't want to say this is a wumao, but how can somebody not know that there is a canceled Z from 2012 and not know they have a grey and blueish Resident permit in their passport.
? Something smells.
ironman510:
All of us received a downvote again, my feelings are hurt. lol
A visa won't grant you a stay 5 years long. You must convert your Z visa within 30 days upon your arrival to a residence permit in local PSB or paichusuo. Expats I know usually have a permit one or two years long.
Ok, let me explain a bit more, I have been in China two years, came in on the Z visa, I know that I need a residents permit, and that it superseded the Z visa once I have it, I was told by various people at PSB's and by employers that the residents permit is the important one, but, how many years can I continue to get new residents permits?
The reason I am asking is because I was told that I can continue to do it for 5 years once I have a Z Visa, so 5 residents permits in a row, before I would need to get a new Z visa.
As I said, it was the potential new employers who said I need a new visa, something I was certain I did not need, I explained this to a number of Chinese people who seemed confused, I told them they would need to get me a new residents permit, something some of them said they would not do, and others said I would need to get it myself before they would offer me a job. This is why I asked the question, I just wanted to clarify
icnif77, this is what I have been told and what I understood. I was thrown by these Chinese recruiters who seemed to know nothing about the process, didn't understand that I would need a residents permit.
ScotsAlan:
Your RP duration depends on the contract you are given. I have a 3 year RP because my employer gave me a 3 year contract.
Most teaching jobs will give a 1 year contract, so you get a 1 year RP. If the school issue you with another 1 year contract, they need to arrange for you to get a new RP to go with it. In this case, you don't need to leave to get a Z.
If an agent tells you it's up to you to get a new RP, tell him to get stuffed. The employer needs to get the paperwork together for your RP.
There is a rumor that because you are a foreign expert, your expertese is not up to date after 5 years. So you are supposed to go home for a year to get up to date. But as I said, this was just a rumor. I have seen no evidence that this is true.
However, there is something to do with tax that has an effect if you are here working legally for 5 years. I think it's something to do with having to pay Chinese tax on worldwide income. But don't quote me on that. The general opinion amongst people I know, is that schools will try to get shot of you after 5 years because of this tax thing.
There are lots of threads on here about changing jobs if you are on a Z. Have a search, and good luck 
ironman510:
Ah, you're talking about the "5 year law" meaning after working 5 years at the same company you're forced to leave China and go out for 2 years.. We need to know which province and city you're working in? If you that's the case and you're in a province where the 5 year law is being used then you should leave your company on the 4 year and find a new job, thus everything starts over again. BTW, the PSB has nothing to do with this at this stage, it comes from your red book, the FEC(labor department), if that book has 5 stamps and you're in a province with the 5 year rule, yep you gotta switch companies after the 4th year.
ironman510:
Shandong and Sichuan province are the testing grounds for the 5 year rule. @Scot, after 5 years you'll have to start paying tax on worldwide income which means your Chinese salary and money being earned or coming from aboard will now be taxed together, 但是，70% of us don't have income coming from aboard. So it's nothing to worry about.
luzhouguy:
That's what I wanted know! Thanks
I am in Chongqing, may stay one more year. Well, it seems some employers are a bit confused as to how the system works!
My RP expires 31 August, so I will need to get a company or school that get its shit together promptly!
ironman510:
Chongqing is one of four municipalities in China, large cities that are not part of a province but report directly to the national government. I guess because it's next to Sichuan or use to be apart of it that it's being used as a testing ground as well.. Hard to say, but the more we hear about it seems the 5 year rule is very real in some areas of China.
Thanks everyone, just needed to clear it up!
ironman510:
You should ask the Labor department yourself, don't trust the company always.
