special photos for visa?

I've never heard of "special" passport photos. I just renewed my and my wife's RP about 3 weeks ago. All I provided were a half dozen "regular" passport photos that were about 1 year old. I had them left over from last year.

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"I can't get no respect.............. no respect at all!"

Perhaps Doc has some more detailed info about this?

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"I can't get no respect.............. no respect at all!"

Ok, i will just send in 4 regular pics and see what happens. Any comeback and i will blame it on Orrin ;-)

Why not? Everyone else does. ;P

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"I can't get no respect.............. no respect at all!"

It seems that I've inherited the title of "resident lightning rod" from canrun.

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"I can't get no respect.............. no respect at all!"

Oh, i just reread your post. The photos you used were from last year. I was told to bring two the same as i used last year and two 'normal' ones. I think this might be a Chinglish issue rather than a new requirement. I will post the results in a few days.

Special Passport photos?

There are certain photo shops that take "official" passport pics and give you a receipted piece of paper. Had to do this a while back.

The photos are just normal pics, but the paperwork is something new to do with their tracking process. I got my photos done a the shop next to the bakery, just out side Yingdo Hotel.

It should look something like this:

regards,
T. Tempest. DCA

____________________

"I'd love a thousand words in a foreign language." Tang Yuchuan

Tsc Tempest Photography at http://www.kong-xi.com/doc.html

Sounds about right, any different i will chuck a quick post up.
Oh btw DOC, loved your photos of the sea front, especially the Ye Li Dao one with the reflection of the light in the sea.

@Spencer

Thanks.

regards,
T. Tempest. DCA

____________________

"I'd love a thousand words in a foreign language." Tang Yuchuan

Tsc Tempest Photography at http://www.kong-xi.com/doc.html

I gather you guys are talking about actual residency permits (how the hell do you get one of those). I have seen information suggesting it's fairly easy for teachers, but not so easy for some one working here (as a consultant).

Today I renewed my "registration of temporary residence for visitors", which I guess is not what you are talking about. I just strolled in with my old copy, a copy of my new apartment agreement (plus passport of course), and no photos, told them of the changes and was away within the hour. That's almost like breaking the speed of sound around here.

@Roy:

I know that the situation with visas, residence permits, and work permits is a very dynamic entity that seems to periodically change with the whims of the local PSB, temperature, wind direction, and sun spot cycle. Here is how it has worked for me for the past two years, which is a bit different from the way my documentation was done in years past.

First of all, I am a teacher, and I am aware that the documentation process for us is somewhat different than it is for other professionals here. First of all, a school, whether it is public or private, must have government authorization to employ foreign nationals as teachers. I don’t know if this authorization comes from the central government, the provincial government, or the local PSB. I do know, however, that any school cannot obtain working visas, residence permits or work permits without this authorization. There are many schools, however, who do not have this authorization that arrange 1-year business visas for their teachers. They have been doing this for years with no apparent difficulty. Most schools have a knowledgeable, local administrative employee who handles all of this stuff for the teachers.

On Jan. 14th of this year, both my wife (who is a Thai national) and I were issued “RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR FOREIGNER IN THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA”. These permits are stickers, very similar in appearance to a tourist visa, which take up a whole page in our passports, and are good for one year. The permits act as both our one-year, multiple entry visas and our residence permits. They are not, however, authorization to work in China.

I addition to my residence permit, I was issued a “brown book”. This is my alien work permit and, so I’m told, my “Foreign Expert Certification” (FEC). This document remains in the custody of my employer.

In order to obtain my permits, I had to provide: my passport, a copy of my employment contract, my CV, and copies of my diploma(s) and teaching certifications. For my wife’s permit (she was not issued the work permit), I had to provide her passport and official Chinese translations of our Thai marriage documents. This step was a bit expensive, about 650RMB.

The first time these documents were issued to us, we had to take a physical examination, and make a visit to the Zhuhai PSB office. For the renewal, however, we only had to take the physical exam. All of the other interaction with the PSB was handled by the school.

For more information on this issue, log into www.eslcafe.com, and go to the “international jobs forum”. There are many informative threads on this matter there. Be advised, however, these threads are oriented toward teachers’ documentation regulations and procedures.
I hope this helps.

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"I can't get no respect.............. no respect at all!"

Just been to the immigration place, Doc was correct the receipt is the main point.
The photos should be around passport size (bigger is ok but not smaller) and have a blue or white (not red) background.
I went and got my photos taken, they gave me a receipt and said come back for the photos. When i went back i had to give them the receipt for the photos. Then i had my photos but no receipt it took a while but eventually i got the slip i needed.

Roy:
I agree with Orrin's post and i have the same Z visa, health certificate and alien work permit. Registration with your nearest police station is also required it costs around 10rmb a month and you get a pink sheet of paper with your details on.
You could try and apply for an FEC (Foreign Expert Certificate) i think you need at least a Masters degree in a field related to the FEC type you are applying for eg cultural or scientific. The FEC is similar looking to the work permit most employers dont like issuing them as it makes life for the holder much easier. If you work as a teacher and have an FEC by law you are supposed to be called a foreign expert and be paid more than regular teachers!

But like Orrin said the rules change frequently and requirements are different for citizens of different countries.

Thanks guys. Most helpful.

Whilst I am regarded as a drip under pressure (ex spurt) in my field, I am neither a teacher nor have any form of education credentials. I reckon that will make a FEC rather hard to get. All of the information I have read is written around teaching, so if I want it, it looks like I will have to blaze my own trail.

I do have one possible easier road on the horizon, I know of one section of higher officialdom interested in acquiring my services .... services that perhaps I would not be willing to provide unless I have some form of residency. Time will tell.

When I was in Shanghai. The process was similar, but not the same. CN BIZ, JV's, RO's or WOFE's etc. could apply to employ a "foreign expert" in any field relevant to their business practice, by providing passport copy, resume, and copy of certification and certain relevant business documentation, like licenses etc.

On approval, an invitational letter would be issued in the name of the so-called FE. This would be used to apply for a Z-Visa at an offshore Chinese Embassy or consulate, usually in the country of origin of the FE. The Z-Visa (and work permit as they are now rolled into one) would be pasted into the passport.

The FE sometimes may be required to undergo a 'recognized' health check prior to the issue of the visa, but more often this is ignored and done (re-done) on arrival in China. Health Certificate, Z-Visa/Work Permit and other company associated documents are submitted along with your resume, and relevant certification to SAFEA (State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs) where on further analysis a Foreign Expert's Certificate Is issued.

Ostensibly this is also the same process for teachers. The difference being the various Chinese requirements for what qualifies you as a "Foreign Expert".

Generally speaking, for professions, it's a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree. For Vocational- based skill sets, A-Grade licenses, Master Tradesman certificates, and 'other' industry recognized certification, directly related and extensive experience in the relevant field that qualifies you as an expert.

The point is, if your skill set and experience is not as simple as a Uni Degree, it takes longer for someone higher up to evaluate you on a case by case basis, but it's eminently doable.

A foreign expert is a foreigner who holds, and is recognized by the powers that be as having, sufficient skills, experience or knowledge in a particular field, especially if there is a shortage of local expertise.

regards,
T. Tempest. DCA

____________________

"I'd love a thousand words in a foreign language." Tang Yuchuan

Tsc Tempest Photography at http://www.kong-xi.com/doc.html

Thanks Doc, all is not lost then.

Chinajob.com FAQ's
http://www.chinajob.com/service/faq.php
(usually up to date on various regulations and provisions regarding Foreigners working in China, tends to be teacher oriented to some extent.)

SAFEA website:
http://www.safea.gov.cn/english/
(which doesn't tell you much, never has either.)
regards,
T. Tempest. DCA

____________________

"I'd love a thousand words in a foreign language." Tang Yuchuan

Tsc Tempest Photography at http://www.kong-xi.com/doc.html