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Q: Z visa vs. Business visa
If anyone knows, Im curious to know what is costs an employer to hire someone on a z visa as compared to a business visa, regardless if it wrong to be hired on one type and said person is engaged in something not specific to the visa type. Im under the impression that Z visa are more expensive and/or more difficult to obtain for foriegn workers as compared to business visas. Anyone know any info about this ? Thanks.
7 years 51 weeks ago in Business & Jobs - China
That's Chinese matter, so I know few bits.
For Z visa, Co./School must hold an authorization of Gov. to hire foreigners. I think, that requirement is most important cause some Schools apply for F instead.
Co. must apply for FT Working permit and get Invitation letter stamped.
It is lengthy process (the fastest was in Fujian - some 3 weeks to get both docs).
With both originals, FT apply for Z visa at Chinese Embassy, who's passport with new Z stamp can be returned in a week (5 business days).
For F, I wasn't even required to be present at PSB. Rep did all by himself in a week (2009/10) inside China (L --->F).
There's no info on cost for Z visa or any other visa on Internet, but Z is sure more expensive than F.
Fujian School asked me for 2000 Rmb, when they terminated Contract in 2014, however after my call to FEB, I wasn't required to pay anything for Z visa, and I kept RP intact.
Z visa can be obtained only outside of China for diff. of F, which you can get at PSB (I think).
Shining_brow:
Do you know if...
a) Z to F is possible... and if so, without leaving China? And, also if so, how much??
And then...
b) F to Z.
(I'm transitioning to form my own company here, and G20 is going to slow things down... a LOT!)
icnif77:
As I know, you can't change Z to F or F to Z in China. By Chinese law, Z can be obtained only out of China (Chinese Embassy in HK or home country).
In other words, prepare yourself for exit, if you want to convert present visa to Z. Your employer can get Z HK pick-up, if Invitation letter with HK pick-up is approved by SAFEA. Tell employer to state 'HK Z pick-up' on Invitation letter. If that is approved, you can exit to HK and apply for Z there. Employer can ask about HK Z pick-up beforehand at SAFEA, while you're still in China. Fujian School got that in 2014, and I stayed in HK less than 3 weeks. Henan School got negative answer from SAFEA, or 'Z pick-up only in FT's home country'.
Z visa is valid 90 days after the issue at Chinese Embassy, and it must be converted to RP in 30-days, after arrival to China. Most of the times, Z validity is very short and it's replaced by RP.
I've never heard, one would get RP (Z) transferred to F. It might be possible to change Z after arrival to F, but it must be done in 30-days after arrival to China.
30-days RP extension or 30-days L is warranted at completion of the Contract, which purpose is to get new employer or prepare yourself for exit of China.
In Fujian (2014), I got 30-days S2 (after RP was cancelled), when employer terminated Contract without valid cause (grave Contract violation). Contract stated, either party can terminate Contract without cause with 30-days Termination notice.
When I showed-up at new employer in Kaifeng, School didn't have 'laowai hire cert' yet, so I had to exit China and apply for new Z.
But, as Fujian SAFEA told me, new employer will be able to extend/get new RP in 30-days S2 without China exit.
Exit China day or two before current visa expiration. Police at exit is beyond anal, if you exit China even few hours after the expiration. You'll have a record at PSB, if you'll exit China after the expiration. First time, you'll get strict warning 'DON'T DO IT AGAIN!'. I don't know, what happened 2nd time 'after the expiration exit....'.
I can tell you that a 1 year (or less) Resident's Work Permit costs about 400RMB. Anything over 1 year up to 2 years (and that includes just 1 DAY over ... 366 days) costs about 800RMB.
This, obviously, doesn't include the legal rights to hire, etc... just for the getting the little thing pasted in your passport.
ironman510:
And to add to that, it cost 12,000 to 8,000 from within China to get a 10 year business visa these days. If you are an American.
Shining_brow:
Iron - that's mostly agent's fees - yes? Not actual PSB visa fees??
Simple, business visas cost the school nothing. Teachers pay the cost and the frequent trips leaving the country. Hiring a teacher legally can cost about 10k upfront and about 13k in insurance. Possibly more depending on taxes. Fines for hiring teachers illegally are small maybe a few hundred.
This what I found on Internet on 'Z conversion in China':
http://www.visainchina.com/visa3.htm
Chief Representative in the representative office, legal representative or investor of the WFOE which has their name appeared on their business licenses are allowed to change their L or M visas into Z visa/residence permit in China without leaving. Above information only based on Shanghai visa rules. For the Z working residence permit/visa, we have following services:
....more on web link, buTT .... I 'no ming bai'. what 'Chief WFOE' stands for.
Shining_brow:
That's after the Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise has already been established in China. And, the 'chief representative' etc are those who have their names on the incorporation papers as the owners.
My question is basically - when Apple was looking to come into China to set up shop, did they need to get a letter of invite from someone? Or did they come as a tourist? Or was there some other way to acquire a business visa without an invitation letter?
Shining_brow:
Oh, and Representative Office - a legal entity which is subordinate to the main business which is located outside of China. It has less functionality than a WFOE.
