How to get a Work (Z) Visa for China (if you’re a North Carolinian)
Okay so if you’ve been following along, you know I’ve been working on getting my visa since about April.
It was a real struggle with lots of road blocks and setbacks. So, I’ve decided to outline the process and linking all the documents I needed to get the work (Z) visa for China.
Now keep in mind, each state has different requirements and the documents I link will only work for residents of North Carolina. Some of the steps will be the same for everyone applying for a visa through the DC embassy. If you apply for your visa at a different consulate you may have different steps involved. I’ll try and highlight where I know the steps are different, but as I’m not a professional at this and my knowledge is only based on my experience, please don’t get mad if the process is different for you. I’ll also link to the websites that helped me figure out everything I needed.
This process takes about 4 months, so plan accordingly. It is also expensive, so be prepared. I used mychinavisa.com for my courier service, but feel free to research others and see if you can find a better price.
First Steps
Get hired in China for a position that tells you to apply for a Z visa.
Make sure your passport has at least 6 months past the day your contract would end before it expires. If not, renew your passport. Also, make sure you have blank visa pages.
You will need recent (taken in the last 6 months) 33mm x 48mm size photos of you, no glasses, no hair in face, no smiling, white background, and no jewelry. Get passport sized photos taken at your post office, Walgreens, rite aid, etc. Trim them down to the required size (if you use a courier service they’ll most likely trim them for you).
You will need three documents to confirm your eligibility to work in China. These are: a foreigner health exam, your diploma, and a background check.
For the background check, check with your contact at your job and make sure a State Background check is okay. For me it was. (NC Residents) Fill out this form called a Right to Review: and take it to the State Bureau of Investigations in Raleigh to get your finger prints done. Then you must mail the fingerprint card, a certified check or money order with the fee ($14), and the form. You can’t just drop these off even though it is the same office. Wait for your background check to come in the mail.
For your health exam, you will need this form. Take it to your doctor and have them fill it out. You will need blood work done make sure you get them all (two vials of blood taken, sorry guys). For things not normally covered by a yearly physical (like the chest x-ray/ECC), just write NA. For the “seal” or “stamp” just ask the doctors office to use the stamp they use for mail or something that looks legit, just tell them China likes stamps. You will need to add one of those photos to this form.
Notarization
Okay, so now you have these three documents. You now need them to be notarized.
If you got a state criminal background check as suggested above, congratulations it is already notarized. Check that off the list.
Alright. So in North Carolina, you need to get a COPY of your diploma notarized. For the love of all things holy, please do not send China your real diploma.
Make a high quality photocopy of your diploma.
Print out a true copy form. DO NOT FILL IT OUT YET.
Take the form and the photocopy to a notary. Fill out the form and sign it in the presence of the notary.
Notary does their thing. Pay them.
Staple this document to the front of your diploma copy.
For your completed health form.
Print out an affidavit form. DO NOT FILL IT OUT YET.
take the affidavit form and the health form to a notary. Put the county you’re in, your full name, and in the 1. space write “ Physical Examination Record for Foreigner”. Draw a line from the edge of the page to cross out the 2. space, continue this line to the other side of the page. (This way nothing else can be added to this line). Sign your name.
Notary does their thing. Pay them.
Staple this document to the front of the health form.
North Carolina Secretary of State Authentications
Now you need to get your notarized documents authenticated by the NC Secretary of State.
Fill out the cover letter form and print it.
Acquire a prepaid envelope for return.
Decide how you’re going to pay.
I took mine in person to the Secretary of State in Raleigh. Take the cover letter, the three documents, and your return envelope, pay at the desk. OR Mail all these items to the Secretary of State in Raleigh.
Your documents will come back to you with the authentication attached to the forms. DO NOT dismantle or detach in anyway or they’re no longer valid.
US Secretary of State Authentications
Ok, so because we live in NC we get an extra step here. Our documents have to be further authenticated. (If you’re not from NC but your consulate is DC for applying to the visa, you will have to do this step too.)
Fill out this form accordingly and print.
Write a check for the fees ($8 per document)
Get a prepaid return envelope (not Fedex)
Mail these the envelope, check, forms, and previously notarized and nc authenticated documents.
your documents will come back to you with another authentication document attached to the front. DO NOT dismantle, detach in anyway or they’re no longer valid.
Chinese Embassy Legalization
The Chinese embassy does not allow mail-in orders for document legalization. You will either need to go in person or use a courier service. I used mychinavisa.com
fill out this form in all caps and single sided
make a photo copy of your passport information/photo page
fill out this order form for mychinavisa.com
follow the instructions on the order form and choose how you will pay and how you want your documents returned to you. I paid the 29$ return shipping fee and then it is $99 for first document and $59 for second and $59 for third.
mail the three documents, the photo copy of your passport, and the order form to the correct office indicated on the order form.
the documents will come back with a blue sticker in Chinese attached to the back of the US Secretary of state authentications page.
Work permit
Alright, now you need the work permit. Scan all these documents and send them to your contact in China along with any other information they need. They will apply for a work permit for you. Make sure you do not detach any of the pages while you’re scanning the documents. Don’t worry if its awkward or not perfect. The way the pages are attached is annoying as hell. You’ll bring these documents with you to China. My university also needed a recommendation letter, a photo, location of where I was born, my birthdate and a few other things.
When you get your work permit, make sure everything is filled out and no blanks are empty.
Applying for Z Visa
Okay you did it we got this far. Time to apply for the visa.
You need:
Your passport
a photocopy of your passport
those photos i mentioned way earlier
a filled out visa application (you’re applying for a single entry 30 visa, most likely. The dates on the work permit will help you choose the right one, and when in doubt ask your contact in China) (again all caps and single sided)
and the work permits (english/chinese version) that you received from your hiring institution.
Again you can go to DC and do this your self in person, or use a courier service. I used mychinavisa.com again. Fill out their order form and follow their instructions for payment and mailing.
If you aren’t from NC, and you’re following along and adapting this check list and your consulate is Chicago, you’re going to have to apply for the visa in person because they require fingerprinting.
Well hopefully by the end of this list you have a visa, or it has helped orient you to getting a visa. Again, this is for Z visas for work in China. Written for residents of NC because the process was super confusing. Many of the steps might be the same for other states but with the forms being for your state. Just google the secretary of state in state to look for the forms you need.
I’m sorry if this process has changed. This is up to date as of August 2018.
Good luck.
