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Q: In trouble. Need an emergency visa change... what are my options?
Long story short, the consulate said they'd get us out very quickly, now they're saying it'll be months. I can't leave my wife and baby here alone. My student visa will be canceled soon, and I can't get a Z visa without going back to my country, according to a few recruiters. That means waiting months for a Z visa...
The consulate said to go to the police, who are now demanding that my wife return home to face her parents, even after all that shit happened. So that option is out... We need to leave Hunan, but have nowhere to go without a visa. I'm not asking for any handouts here, i only need a visa and I can go from there.
11 years 23 weeks ago in Health & Safety - China
Do you actually have the marriage certificate, if not can you get it ? That would enable you to apply for a residence permit for a year, to buy time to get your wifes visa for US sorted out.
You likely need to apply at the PSB where you are registered, so you cannot do this after leaving Hunan.
From Changsha you could go to Hong Kong and get a visa there, you can probably go and stay one night and be back with your visa the next day. (Train to Gaungzhou -> Shenzhen -> then subway to downtown HK or whereever the visa agents are( Before doing that make sure to ask a visa agent in Hong Kong if they can provide you a visa in a short time.
Scandinavian:
the marriage visa took 1 week to complete in Zhuhai. I now recall that I had to undergo a health check as well, that did add about a week from check to results could be picked up.
Hulk:
We have the red marriage booklets, yes.
Would I be able to leave Hunan after getting that residence permit?
Hulk:
I also have a health certificate that's valid until February 5th... but it seems like the Spring Festival is coming, so I may need to do that again.
Scandinavian:
Yes. I plan to go to Hunan with my residence permit during spring festival. Getting that should take care of the Hulk side of your problems, to give you time to take care of Mrs. Hulks side of your problems.
As local rules always apply in China, I would start by getting on the phone with PSB and ask them what is needed, if it can be done before spring festival.
Scandinavian:
I do not know if it matters what visa you have in your passport when you apply for the spousal visa. My passport had a couple of multi-entry one year business visas in it, so not excactly the same.
Scandinavian:
I would guess your health certificate (is it a small booklet?) is usable as long as you hand in the residence permit application before it expires, and if you have all the paperwork you could go to the PSB today.
Hugh.G.Rection:
It doesn't matter what visa you have when you apply for marriage related residency permit, I only had a tourist visa and they didn't care. Also so long as you get all the required paperwork in by the expiry date of your last legal visa you are covered. However, we all know some PSB's can be less than helpful (although I must say Nanning's on my last visit were wonderful), so give yourself a full week in case of unforeseen circumstances etc.
Well, I think your easiest option is to go for another X visa. This is what I think you can do.
Go to another city, find a university that offers Chinese language courses, apply for one semester Chinese language course, it usually costs around 5K RMB. They will offer you a new X visa for six months or even for a year.
Your problem will be to explain why you are leaving the university you are at now. I hate lies, but in your case it is "OF THE TWO EVILS CHOOSE THE LESSER". So here is what you have to say: You wanted to study your major at your former university, but you found out that it was difficult to study in China without being able to understand Chinese language very well, so you want to improve your language skills, then go back and continue studying your major. Avoid to expose your issues with in-laws and police until at least you get a visa. Good luck!
wildcat77:
I think Scandinavian offered a better option, go for that. and take mine as a plan B if you want. My option would work better in the north. The universities are less strict, and since there are less foreigners up here in the north, it is less troublesome to deal with PSB offices.
There is also a new law in China (this month) that adult children must visit their parents "often." Not sure if that's going to affect your situation any, if you have told the police she doesn't intend to visit them.
Scandinavian's advice sounded sensible, an emergency Hong Trip might be in order.
Is happy still around? These questions were always his forte.
When I was in a bind I used a visa service in Shanghai that got me a tourist visa in about 10 days, sent it with EMS and they got it in one day. Just mail the passport to them and they can get it quickly. It's almost Spring Festival though so you might want to jump on it soon.
We're going the marriage visa route. Thanks guys. Then we're out of dodge.
