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Q: Why in 2015 invitation letters are not issued to apply for Z visa in HK?
My HR are telling me we can't get the invitation letter for you to apply in HK to change visa to Z, WHY? this makes things so costly and complicated, foreigners have to go back their home countries!
9 years 19 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
The Z visa is an entry visa. You cant enter if you are already here. Seems simple to me. HK is part of China. If you cant afford to go home, get a visa, and come back, how the hell can the Chinese Government know you can support yourself without having to work illegaly?
Seems a sensible law to me.
Englteachted:
"The Z visa is an entry visa. You cant enter if you are already here. Seems simple to me" Agreed
You are responsible for entering the country on the right visa.
ScotsAlan:
Yes engl. I wonder how it would work out if a tourist to the US decided to get a job there instead of being a tourist, then complained they cant change their visa type in the USA. Different visas have different requirements. And visas, as a general rule are issued before travel, not after.
icnif77:
But, HK was/is considered legally 'out of China' in that matter and under condition of SAFEA's blessing for Z pick-up. Why would China have an Embassy in HK, if HK is China (equal to any other Chinese Province)?
It's most likely, HK Embassy can't handle visa applications anymore.
As I know, by HK Law only HK's permanent residents are entitled to apply for (long term) visas, same as in any other country in the world.
'One's home country has a lot more data on applicant than close-by Embassies' might be another reason. I'm sure, Chinese Embassy is looking for data on applicant from home country Gov., before visa is granted.
The Z visa is an entry visa. You cant enter if you are already here. Seems simple to me. HK is part of China. If you cant afford to go home, get a visa, and come back, how the hell can the Chinese Government know you can support yourself without having to work illegaly?
Seems a sensible law to me.
Englteachted:
"The Z visa is an entry visa. You cant enter if you are already here. Seems simple to me" Agreed
You are responsible for entering the country on the right visa.
ScotsAlan:
Yes engl. I wonder how it would work out if a tourist to the US decided to get a job there instead of being a tourist, then complained they cant change their visa type in the USA. Different visas have different requirements. And visas, as a general rule are issued before travel, not after.
icnif77:
But, HK was/is considered legally 'out of China' in that matter and under condition of SAFEA's blessing for Z pick-up. Why would China have an Embassy in HK, if HK is China (equal to any other Chinese Province)?
It's most likely, HK Embassy can't handle visa applications anymore.
As I know, by HK Law only HK's permanent residents are entitled to apply for (long term) visas, same as in any other country in the world.
'One's home country has a lot more data on applicant than close-by Embassies' might be another reason. I'm sure, Chinese Embassy is looking for data on applicant from home country Gov., before visa is granted.
We have phone no. here to ask the same Q directly at the Government.
Enter 'SAFEA' in search above........'straight from the horse's mouth'
It was privilege to get an Invitation letter with HK Z pick-up, and rep. in Fujian was just hoping on the good outcome in May last year. I was able to get it in HK, however when I saw new Z application form, I knew rules will change soon.
Last Sep. in Henan, rep. told me 'no HK' right away.
expatlife26:
Do you work in marketing for SAFEA??
hahaha your solution to every problem is to contact SAFEA.
I imagine you have them in your speed dial, call them for everything.
They probably see your number calling think "Oh, god it's Icnif77 again" then they make the lowest ranking guy pick up.
"Hello, SAFEA. This is icnif77...I had a bad dream again. Let me tell you guys about it, maybe you can help..."
icnif77:
It's my personal experience. I dialed them in Zheijiang, Liaoning, Xinjiang, Jiangsu, Fujian and last week in Henan.
Always, when I see Contract is getting violated from the School's side, I warn first.
Here in Henan, I had offer of two Chinese teachers, passable English for help anytime I need, both holding their mobiles in hand. I just finished first Contract two weeks ago. They've never offered any help before the warning ''I'll dial SAFEA, if not....''. The thingy in Chinese mind is 'no English speaker at local SAFEA'.
However at our web link here, anybody can call and talk to Gov. in English.
Henan School's rep. was looking for new FT a month or so ago. I introduced him to eChina Jobs website. He also knows my handle at Answers. I'm looking forward, he'll acknowledge 'he knows, we're at war, because of disrespect of Contract', and I love it!
It would be handy, if we would have 'sticky-es' here, because Provincial SAFEA web link belongs to 'sticky notes'.
I know, you are all tired of my c&p sentence: 'enter SAFEA in search above for address and contact numbers in your Province.....'
'Add-it': I'm still looking for somebody's confirmation and impressions after dialling Provincial Gov. No takers for now, so you can all post possibilities on my connections to Gov.
No such a thing, just a web link here, and prompt SAFEA's protection of my rights!'
They do in Guangzhou, a friend of mine just got his Z in HK.
Hotwater:
What I'd like to know, by PM if need be, is how this was done.
Main in the process of changing my work permit from Shunde to Guangzhou and they are telling me I need a new Z visa. I asked the GZ about bureau if we could state HK for Z visa issue and they said "maybe, not sure. Taking a chance"!
It depends where you'll be working, not the company but are you in Guangdong, we still get Z visa's for new comers in Hong Kong, just did yesterday with a new guy from Canada. The trick and secret is the invitation letter has to be addressed to the HK Government. They won't accept applicants from anywhere outside of Guangdong province, why? we've asked many times, because Hong Kong was or once apart of Guangdong province.
There is also one other fact, if your passport is load with 3 or more F, M or L visa's you can't get a Z visa unless you go home, the policy was changed in 2012.
icnif77:
I got Z in HK from Fujian last year, and a month later I had to exchange my book, because it was full. Few Fs, 2Ls and RP stamps.
Hotwater:
I'd love to have a copy of one of those invitation letters, blank for my new HR to fill in, so I can go to HK. I've now had 3 years of work permits, first in GZ, now in Shunde, and GZ are telling me I need to go back to the UK for a new Z visa to transfer back to GZ.
