Visa Application
So it turns out the Visa application process is pretty simple when you know, so for anyone that finds this when searching for the steps, I hope this helps...
This said with a caveat that, in my experience, the experience of my Chinese friends in the UK and my Chinese future boss in China, the Chinese government just seem to make it up as they go along.
Get some documents together
This lot need to get sent to China where they promptly start to work on your temp work permit, you need this rather than a travel Visa so you can sort accommodation when you arrive.
This will take at about a month, ask your agent when it should arrive, add 4 days to sort the visa and plan on flying then.
My agent, didn't bother to mention silly little details like that and just told me to book my flights - so I did - then she said the paperwork will arrive on the 17th - my flight was booked for the 20th, zero chance I was making that flight. After a small argument over Skype (not my first or last I'll wager) she said maybe it will be there on the 12th, I still don't fancy my chances or trust her so have changed the booking (she owes me big for that).
The medical stuff
You need to get your jabs, free at you doctors (result), you need to have a doctor fill in a form you agent will send you and you need, for some reason, a chest x-ray, which you will pay for (about £150 at a private doctor's), whilst I was sorting this out I ended up in a doctor's in Salford ("You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy"), who pointed out I was in the wrong place, this was the second time I'd been there (closed the previous day - my bad), so I wasn't happy about hearing this, I asked where I should be and when the answer came back, I said where's that, the kind lady said "Do you know where Salford Hospital is?", "No" I said, "Well it's right next to that" she replied, happy that she was doing her job to the best of her ability.
This said with a caveat that, in my experience, the experience of my Chinese friends in the UK and my Chinese future boss in China, the Chinese government just seem to make it up as they go along.
Get some documents together
- Non-criminal record issued by the relevant government dept. and authenticated by the Chinese Embassy in your home country (http://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx)
- 10 pieces of 2-inch photos in white background
- Medical check record (Go to your GP with this)
- Original education certificate (above bachelor)
- Original work certificate provided by the former company (It should show that you worked at least 2 years after you got your degree that you will provide us. It should be with a signature of HR manager or above management staff, and printed out with a logo of the company.)
- A clear scan version of the first page in your passport
This lot need to get sent to China where they promptly start to work on your temp work permit, you need this rather than a travel Visa so you can sort accommodation when you arrive.
This will take at about a month, ask your agent when it should arrive, add 4 days to sort the visa and plan on flying then.
My agent, didn't bother to mention silly little details like that and just told me to book my flights - so I did - then she said the paperwork will arrive on the 17th - my flight was booked for the 20th, zero chance I was making that flight. After a small argument over Skype (not my first or last I'll wager) she said maybe it will be there on the 12th, I still don't fancy my chances or trust her so have changed the booking (she owes me big for that).
The medical stuff
You need to get your jabs, free at you doctors (result), you need to have a doctor fill in a form you agent will send you and you need, for some reason, a chest x-ray, which you will pay for (about £150 at a private doctor's), whilst I was sorting this out I ended up in a doctor's in Salford ("You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy"), who pointed out I was in the wrong place, this was the second time I'd been there (closed the previous day - my bad), so I wasn't happy about hearing this, I asked where I should be and when the answer came back, I said where's that, the kind lady said "Do you know where Salford Hospital is?", "No" I said, "Well it's right next to that" she replied, happy that she was doing her job to the best of her ability.