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Q: How long does it take for a China work permit application to expire?
How long does it take for a China work permit application to expire? I signed a contract and the school filed for a work permit, but it was rejected because they filled out the application wrong and didn't properly have documents done. Their visa person had never done a visa before. Then four weeks went by where they didn’t fix it and kept complaining that it was too difficult. I told them to cancel it and they refused. The recruiter who connected me to them said they won’t cancel it unless I go to another one of their schools because he deserves to make money by placing me himself. The school said they can’t cancel it and I will just have to wait and eventually go there. I’m trapped it seems. I was told by friends that I can wait for it to expire but I don’t know how long that takes. Does anyone know? Thanks
6 days 12 min ago in Visa & Legalities - China
That is a typical Chinese style blackmail!
I wouldn't worry for the WP application expiration at all!
WP application doesn't expire. It is either approved or rejected and that is known fairly fast, 2-weeks time the longest.
I'd find another employer, Z visa sponsor ASAP, sign new contract and start with WP application all over again.
You might also try and find out at which office your employer applied for WP and speak to them (.gov) in person. They have at least one person there, who understands and speaks English.
I'd say, your employer most likely never applied for anything.
Employers in China must hold an authorization certificate to hire foreigners. If an employer doesn't have such an authorization, it cannot sponsor foreigner for a Working permit and Z visa.
Most language schools in China don't have such an authorization, because it's a costly thing to obtain for one ...
You could also ask your employer to show you a foreign hire authorization certificate. It's an A4 format paper with text in Mandarin and several red-ish ink stamps.
I've always wanted to see an employer's foreign hire authorization before I've inked the new contract. That prevented many shady deals employers in China were/are playing.
See this:
https://english.www.gov.cn/services/liveandworkinchina
There are two web links on the bottom. Send them a message and find out, if that Chinese state org. can advise and help you.
Good luck!
That is a typical Chinese style blackmail!
I wouldn't worry for the WP application expiration at all!
WP application doesn't expire. It is either approved or rejected and that is known fairly fast, 2-weeks time the longest.
I'd find another employer, Z visa sponsor ASAP, sign new contract and start with WP application all over again.
You might also try and find out at which office your employer applied for WP and speak to them (.gov) in person. They have at least one person there, who understands and speaks English.
I'd say, your employer most likely never applied for anything.
Employers in China must hold an authorization certificate to hire foreigners. If an employer doesn't have such an authorization, it cannot sponsor foreigner for a Working permit and Z visa.
Most language schools in China don't have such an authorization, because it's a costly thing to obtain for one ...
You could also ask your employer to show you a foreign hire authorization certificate. It's an A4 format paper with text in Mandarin and several red-ish ink stamps.
I've always wanted to see an employer's foreign hire authorization before I've inked the new contract. That prevented many shady deals employers in China were/are playing.
See this:
https://english.www.gov.cn/services/liveandworkinchina
There are two web links on the bottom. Send them a message and find out, if that Chinese state org. can advise and help you.
Good luck!
welcome to China,
prepare to be lied to by your employer, and recruiters are not your friend.
due diligance is required before accepting any job offer and before handing over sensitive personal information like your passport details.
your best option is to discontinue communication with this company as they have most likely not got a licence to hire a foreigner.
do not under any circumstance accept the excuse of arriving on a Tourist Visa which is then to be changed into the appropriate work visa.
this is illegal.
look on this as a learning expereince.
icnif77:
I am imagining ... just ...
You have a native English passport (which I don't ..), you came to China to teach English and you encounter such a BS ... right out off Chinese employer.
I thought, Chinese would be happy somebody came to teach them new language ... Not somebody. native English somebody ...
No, let's pull the skin off the gal/guy's back ..., Traditional Chinese scumbaggery had never stopped ...
Oh, well ... lucky some of us, who exited China and never look back ...
Just a follow-up on this question. The same thing happened to my friend who took a job with ZBTI in Ningbo. They lied about what they offered and refused to cancel the work permit. I still can't get an answer on the work permit application but neither can he. I think I will just try somewhere else. Thanks guys
icnif77:
I am telling you, WP application doesn't expire!
Now, once WP is issued as with yer friend-o, that is a different story, i.e. WP must be cancelled or it can be transferred (with minor changes) to a new employer, and issuer (Foreign Expert Bureau) take care of that.
If you don't/didn't receive other documents for Z visa from your employer, WP application is null and void.
... or in other words, you can apply for the position elsewhere.
Send a message to the link I gave you on the top, and you will get reply about WP and more.
At my time in China, I contacted .gov, i.e. SAFEA at any misunderstandings considering work in China. However, SAFEA or Foreign Expert Bureau was dismantled at 2017 Labour law changes and I ain't sure, who replaced them. SAFEA was issuing Working permits for laowai.
Returning to your reply .... "I think I will just try somewhere else."
You have to ...! There's no other choice.
You are currently working illegally by the Chinese law. What will you do if PSB (police) raid your place of work?
I'm not sure, how is today with that (illegal work) in China, but pre-2017, cops were raiding the language schools and all wrong visa foreigners were expelled per short notice.
I don't want to sound alarming 'cause if you're in a smaller city, raid most likely won't happened, but still, you never know, do you?
Don't ever think, there will be any blame upon your employer at the police raid. It will be all on you!
At my time in China, I was rather looking for a new, right employer out of Hong Kong than working on mainland with wrong, F visa.
While I was in Kaifeng, Henan, in 2015 or so, with the valid Residence permit, I was randomly stopped by cops during a stroll and they've checked my passport and FEC ...
... and in Xinjiang, checking of documents by cops was a daily occurrence.
Only legal English teaching in China can be under Z visa turned into Residence permit after your return to mainland and working under any other visa put you in cahoots with Chinese law.
I am not in China yet. I won't go without a work permit. I thought I could go back after covid then this happened.
