Getting a Chinese Visa

This blog has been far too PC so far, so this entry will begin with an offcolor reference - getting a Chinese Visa feels a little bit like a Chinese fire drill! Actually, that's not true at all - I just thought it was an interesting Wikipedia entry. Although the Chinese consulate managed to spell my name wrong on the Visa, I was otherwise rather impressed by their efficiency, professionalism, and ability to win a staring contest. It was actually I who was running back and forth and getting little accomplished.

But I've gotten ahead of myself, let's backup...how does one go about getting a Chinese Work Visa (aka a "Z" visa)?

Step 1, like most visas is to find someone to sponsor you. In our case, this was the university that hired us. But just because you sign the contract doesn't mean you can run off to the nearest consulate. You need to have your papers. In the case of Liaoning province, where Dalian Maritime University is located, we needed two things - a local work permit from the provincial government, and a Foreign Expert Certificate from the central government in Beijing. Your Foreign Affairs Officer at the relevant institution is responsible for acquiring these things after you provide them with your passport information and proof of your credentials. Credentials in my case was a Software Engineering degree that allows me to teach English. Go Figure.

Step 2 involves biting your fingernails and anxiously wishing, waiting, hoping, and praying that the FAO actually follows through your request and that said request does not get lost in the mazes of Chinese bureaucracy. For us, we submitted our information to the FAO on June 20, 2006 and received a fax of our papers on July 20, 2006. All the while we were waiting to book our flights.

Step 3, you have to go to your nearest Chinese consulate IN PERSON - or pay a Visa agent to go on your behalf. Yes, for all your Idahoans out here this means you have to make your way to the Washington DC consulate. In my case I ran over to the New York Consulate which is on 42nd street and 12th avenue, right near the harbor. With my Visa applications filled out, our passports and papers from the FAO in hand I figured nothing could go wrong. And it was pretty painless overall. You take a number when you get in and go up to the deli, er visa counter when your number is displayed. My conversation with the sullen gentlemen behind window number 4 seemed to consist of grunts but he seemed to understand I wanted a work visa. He was rather upset I had faxed copies rather than originals, but relented when I made a copy of my work permit for 25 cents. That afternoon around 2PM, I returned (yes I splurged for same day service!) and picked up our passports. All was well...

Or so I thought!
It turns out that they spelled my name wrong in my Visa. They typed a M as a H. I was horrified given that I invested half my day riding the M42 bus from Lexington Ave to 12th Ave and enduring the silent rage of disgruntled bureaucrats. So I returned a few days later to get it fixed. The helpful but not particularly glib gentleman behind the information window informed that "it no matter". A few google searches also confirmed that Chinese customs officers don't actually care about the Western characters on the Visa - imagine that! Well whatever - it could say Jackie Chan for all I care, we just need to get into the country.

And that is my visa adventure.
Word to the wary - although the procedure for me required a certain set of papers and procedures you cannot count on it being the same. Different provinces have different rules and it changes regularly. Your mileage may vary!

CHINESE CONSULATE INFORMATION