bill
Up And Coming
Posts: 38
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Post by bill on Jun 28, 2004 11:06:56 GMT 7
Hello. I'm happy to find this forum and apologise that my first post is a question.
I have worked at a university and my Z visa expires in late July. I will complete my contract on July 15 but do not want to continue at this particular school next year. I'd like to spend a year looking around, learning about different cities and different schools. I realise now that I didn't do enough research before.
I am planning on going to Hong Kong to seek to change my Z visa into another kind of visa, hopefully a multi-entry 1 year F or tourist visa. Has anyone done this before Do I need a letter or release? And does anyone have the email/phone# of a good Hong Kong travel agent (I'll make sure to tell them you recommended them if you want).
I posted this on a couple of other forums but I'm suspicious about whether the people who replied are actually being helpful or just being nasty. I'm happy to find this saloon where everyone's friendly.
Bill Ming
(Billming2004@yahoo.com)
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Post by burlives on Jun 28, 2004 13:21:58 GMT 7
BMing!
I went to Hong Kong July-June of 2003 to change an expiring Z into a tourist's L. At that time, I needed no release letter. There is some rumour to the effect that release letters are being required for some kinds of changes or transfers, like maybe Z to F, but I don't know if it's true. Your school should be happy enough to give you one, right? Maybe you can get it as a failsafe.
I used Japan Travel. Roger told me about it.
Rm 507-510, 5/F, East Ocean Centre
98 Granville Road,
Tsim Sha Tsui East
For visa stuff it was no-frills. Walk in with money and photos and your passport. I asked them for a tourist visa and they gave me a 3-month-er. Pay according to how fast you want it back. Next day was fine for me. I don't have the contact details, though -- ask Roger.
There's also Phoenix, which is mentioned in the Lonely Planet, 2002.
Room A, 7th floor, Milton Mansion,
96 Nathan Road,
Tsim Sha Tsui
phone: 2722 7378, or fax: 2369 8884,
or email: phoenix at netvigator.com
With either one you can stay at a guesthouse in Kowloon and be within walking distance. How you get there depends on how you're getting off the mainland.
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Post by Raoul Duke on Jun 28, 2004 21:23:11 GMT 7
Hey Bill, nice to see you made it! Unless it's a multi-entry, your Z visa ceases to be valid for anything when you cross over into Hong Kong (or anywhere else outside the mainland). You don't need a release letter to get an F or an L from outside. Release letters are only needed when you want to transfer your Z Visa/Residence Permit from one Chinese school to another. You will eventually want to get a Z from another school. In the past you haven't needed a release letter from your old school if you had dissolved the old Z and gotten an L or an F, but there are rumors that this is getting harder. Burl's advice to get it anyway certainly couldn't hurt. I've had good luck with China Travel Service myself. They have branches in both the airport and the Mongkok train station where trains from China arrive. I think both of these can do F and L visas easily; to get a Z you have to go their center in Kowloon. The branches can help you connect... The nice thing about the Saloon is that folks here can be nasty AND helpful.  Welcome aboard... |
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bill
Up And Coming
Posts: 38
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Post by bill on Jul 5, 2004 20:24:40 GMT 7
To Mr. Gable and Mr. Duke,
Thanks for that info.
I'll let everyone know how it goes.
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Ruth
SuperDuperMegaBarfly 
God's provisions are strategically placed along the path of your obedience.
Posts: 3,915
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Post by Ruth on Jul 6, 2004 8:07:36 GMT 7
Bill, we're friends here. If you call them Mr. Duke and Mr. Gable, it might go to their heads.
Welcome to the saloon.
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Post by con's fly is open on Jul 6, 2004 17:38:15 GMT 7
Just don't call me Mr. Fly, please.  |
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Lager
SuperBarfly!
Posts: 1,081
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Post by Lager on Jul 7, 2004 16:06:33 GMT 7
In HK in February and there were signs everywhere for visas---even people passing out flyers..Prices said a one year visa is 900 and 6 month around 600. They vary I guess..I don't know what this 1-year is but it seems to be fine and legal...
Might as well get a letter from the school---won't hurt and might help...
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proust
Upstanding Citizen
Posts: 84
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Post by proust on Jul 16, 2004 11:31:22 GMT 7
A coupla outfits in Shanghai say they can get a 1-year F visa for you without your traveling to H.K. for between RMB 2000 and 3000--which, if true, would mean considerable savings. But why do I feel a little uneasy about trusting my U.S. passport to their tender mercies?
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Post by con's fly is open on Jul 16, 2004 12:13:04 GMT 7
Remember, Proust, if it sounds too good to be true, it must be... a great idea!  |
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bill
Up And Coming
Posts: 38
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Post by bill on Jul 16, 2004 16:47:21 GMT 7
I swear I'm going to add something more interesting to this forum as soon as I get this situation fixed  Proust, I had my Shanghai gf investigate a couple of those places and they really can't do anything! I was told today that I have to wait until my Z visa expires before I can change it to a business or tourist visa. I'm going to look into this more on Monday...the HK travel companies keep telling me different things. So if that's the case, I should wait until the day of the expiring multi-entry Z before leaving to HK. As soon as I know more, I'll let everyone here know. I'm sure a lot of people will want to escape a school and start a business or something and not want another Z. Anyways, thanks to the friendly folks on this forum!! |
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Post by Raoul Duke on Jul 16, 2004 17:13:08 GMT 7
Yeah, definitely stay away from those "unofficial" visa agencies here.
The advice to wait until your old visa expires before getting a new one sounds pretty weird to me, but anything is possible.
Try asking a different way. Don't phrase it as "replacing" a current visa. Call China Travel Service or some such....tell them you want to visit HK for your vacation, Since this will end your Z, you just want to buy a tourist visa for re-entry. In China, sometimes exactly how you phrase a question can make all the difference in the world.
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bill
Up And Coming
Posts: 38
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Post by bill on Jul 18, 2004 15:50:11 GMT 7
Yeah, definitely stay away from those "unofficial" visa agencies here. The advice to wait until your old visa expires before getting a new one sounds pretty weird to me, but anything is possible. Try asking a different way. Don't phrase it as "replacing" a current visa. Call China Travel Service or some such....tell them you want to visit HK for your vacation, Since this will end your Z, you just want to buy a tourist visa for re-entry. In China, sometimes exactly how you phrase a question can make all the difference in the world. Raoul, Called them again. And then had my gf call them and speak in Mandarin. Seems that a multi entry Z visa needs to be finished before you can get a new visa. So I'm off to HK on the day it expires and we'll see what happens. Bill |
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Post by slim on Jul 18, 2004 17:27:00 GMT 7
Seems that a multi entry Z visa needs to be finished before you can get a new visa. So I'm off to HK on the day it expires and we'll see what happens. When are you going to HK Bill? I'm in a similar situation to you, I've a multi entry Z visa too - it expires at the end of August. I'd like to hear how you got on in HK. By the way, does anyone know if it's possible to leave Guangzhou in the morning, go to HK, get a 3 month tourist visa from one of the aforementioned agencies, and be back in Guangzhou before the end of the day? |
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Post by Raoul Duke on Jul 19, 2004 1:24:07 GMT 7
Wow, Bill, this is totally new territory. Please let us know how this develops. How many re-entries do you have left? I'm wondering if using those up will "finish" such a visa...
Slim, I seem to remember being told that the visa places tend to pick a time, and send their runner to the Chinese visa office at that time every day. If you can get in before they head to the Consulate, you can get one-day service for L and F visas. Might be worth a call to CTS or other visa center and confirm....
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bill
Up And Coming
Posts: 38
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Post by bill on Jul 19, 2004 10:08:32 GMT 7
Slim, why do you only want 3 months? You can get a lot longer now and you can get it down in one day. I have unlimited entries for my Z visa. So they stated (finally, after chatting with several people at the travel company...what happened to "Hong Kong service" that some people go on and on about on other forums  ) that the only way a Z finishes is when the you reach the expiry date. So I'm heading there on that date. |
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proust
Upstanding Citizen
Posts: 84
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Post by proust on Jul 19, 2004 13:35:39 GMT 7
(Sorry . . . I don't know how to extract quotes on this thing.)
This is to supplement my posting of July 16.
After further investigation. the picture of what these Shanghai visa services are offering has become marginally clearer for me.
What they say they can do is to take your expiring Z and get you another 1-year Z visa without your leaving Shanghai.
The gimmick is that they scrounge up a sponsoring employer for you.
The price is (gasp) RMB 6,600--US$800 by my calculations--but, taking a large leap of faith and assuming that this is legitimate, I could justify it economically. Not to mention the wear and tear I would save on my aging frame by not having to travel to Hong Kong this time of year.
Of course none of this seems quite legitimate . . . but what is around here?
Comments, queries, admonitions, and tongue-lashings all accepted with equal grace.
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proust
Upstanding Citizen
Posts: 84
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Post by proust on Jul 19, 2004 13:41:18 GMT 7
PS: I see that one of these visa services advertises on these pages. (Does this represent an endorsement of some kind?)
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Post by Raoul Duke on Jul 19, 2004 14:04:43 GMT 7
The ads on here come from Proboards...we don't sell ads ourselves and NONE of them should be seen as endorsements.
Even if we did take ads, I doubt we'd take them from these lowlifes. Please think twice before you buy anything from them.
Bill, I'm having a hard time assimilating what you're saying about Z visas. Maybe unlimited-reentry types are different. I have a straight Z with no reentries....if I visit HK before my visa expires, that visa is dead and gone. Am I now just stuck until the expiration date on the visa?
I'm definitely not doubting you....this maze of visa laws just becomes weirder with every turn.
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bill
Up And Coming
Posts: 38
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Post by bill on Jul 21, 2004 23:56:35 GMT 7
We've checked out those Shanghai visa companies. Seem like a bunch of scumbags.
Raoul...I have a multi-entry (damn, I do like typing that...but that's just me at this time of night)....
Will inform you all when I know what tf is up.
But this kind of "stuff" just makes me want to leave.
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Post by Raoul Duke on Jul 22, 2004 0:21:57 GMT 7
But this kind of "stuff" just makes me want to leave. The endless, mindless rules, or the scumbags? Living here takes a high tolerance for both...drinking will help.  |
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Post by slim on Aug 25, 2004 11:33:24 GMT 7
Wow, Bill, this is totally new territory. Please let us know how this develops. How many re-entries do you have left? I'm wondering if using those up will "finish" such a visa. Yesterday I travelled to Hong Kong, with a few days of my multiple entry visa remaining, and was told that I could only have a new visa after my current visa had expired. |
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Ruth
SuperDuperMegaBarfly
God's provisions are strategically placed along the path of your obedience.
Posts: 3,915
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Post by Ruth on Aug 26, 2004 6:47:25 GMT 7
Excuse me for thinking here. If one is in China AFTER the expiry date, it is illegal. If one travels to Hong Kong BEFORE the expiry date, one must wait UNTIL the expiry date to get a new visa. So, one must travel ON the expiry date if one doesn't want to spend several days in HK. Maybe it's a plot between the Chinese gov't and the HK tourist folks.
I have a single entry Z visa, which I had to get updated before I went home, so I could get back into China. They still gave me a single entry - had to be back before Aug. 31st or the visa was dead. I thought I WANTED a multiple entry visa, but maybe not, with the trouble they seem to cause on renewal.
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Post by Noodles on Aug 26, 2004 9:16:12 GMT 7
I'm guessing the deal with Slim is that he didn't have a release letter from his school. I could be wrong, but when i went to get a F visa after having a Z, i was told i needed to have a release letter. The same happened with a couple of other teachers i used to work with. I only had 2 days left on my Z(multiple entry, i also like saying that Bill) but they still needed that release letter.  new rules is what i was told. |
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Post by slim on Aug 26, 2004 11:25:59 GMT 7
I had a release letter, but wasn't asked to produce it at any point during my application. The problem, according to the manager of the China International Travel Service, is that my multiple entry Z visa still had a few days of life in it (it expires this Saturday) and a new visa couldn't be pasted in my passport until it had expired. I'll travel there again on Saturday, stay in a cheap hotel, and apply for a new visa on Sunday.
I'm just pleased that my new job is only a short train ride to the Shenzhen-Hong Kong border.
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Lager
SuperBarfly!
Posts: 1,081
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Post by Lager on Aug 26, 2004 12:17:13 GMT 7
This thread reminds me to get after the FAO...I'm one of the people with a Z that is expired but the date in the green book "carries the day." But that expires Aug 31...Problem is school can't-or wont-make a contract before Sept 1. I hope they know what they are doing..
For entries--a single entry means you cant leave and come back...But it's easy to get a doubly entry which lets you leave China on holiday...
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Welcome aboard...
) that the only way a Z finishes is when the you reach the expiry date. 
new rules is what i was told.