Changing Of The Guard (Visa Questions)

[Arlis]

Looking for a bit of clarification with a possibly sticky VISA (yes - that dreaded word) situation.

I'm working at a university/college position where two of the teachers are leaving to find an apartment/work elsewhere in the city. First of all, no this is not for me ;D this is actually for 2 friends who ARE leaving the college and I am NOT one of them. Two, the college is legitimate and have organized proper Z visas before entry to China and red & green books after arrival.

They are both staying for about 6 months, their red/green book covers them for about 7. One is going to look for work, the other is going to study. They are both grabbing an apartment together.

Questions
* How will their visa status be affected when they quit work at the college?
* Will they need to change visas or will their red/green books hold them over for 6 months?
* How is this process completed?
* Does the school have the power to send them out of the country?

Of the information I've read, I gathered that staying until the red/green book holds them over should be fine - well that is one of them would be working out of visa & the other studying out of visa as well. But it's for 6 months, and I'm a little unclear on the short-term stays as I've read mixed results.

PS. On a sidenote, there's an additional Changing Of The Guard thread for yet another VISA question!

[Lager]

It should be safe but it's illegal I'm sure.

My docs are good until the summer but we will still need to change them. Actually I'm a little worried these lazy dodgy bastards won;t. In fact they should have started it by now ,

[Raoul Duke]

Arlis, the key document here is the Residence Permit...the Green Card. Once issued it supercedes the visa as permission to be in China. As long as it is valid, they can stay in China with no problems.

If they take new work, the new employer should transfer the green card and Foreign Exchange Certificate. In order to do this, your friends will have to supply a letter of release from the old employer. If they can't get such a letter, your friends will have to travel to HK, Macau, or other place outside the mainland, re-enter on new visas, and start the process over.

Technically, a school CANNOT force you out of China if you leave...unless they physically get their mitts on your Green Card. Keep your documents safely in your kung fu grip (ignoring any squealing from the old employer about returning them) and you should be fine. Many schools will threaten you with this...they're bluffing. Bear in mind, however, that TIFC (This Is F*cking China) and sometimes people with the right connections can pull, or try to pull, all kinds of stuff. In the unlikely event of this happening, contact your Consulate immediately.