A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall... (THE VISA NIGHTMARE!)

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Re: A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall... (THE VISA NIGHTMARE!)
« Reply #315 on: August 08, 2008, 02:08:16 PM »
I'm a bit surprised by your situation Cheeky. I got my new passport at the UK embassy in Hong Kong (twice) and i've had no problems using my old passport with the visa in it along with my new one, for them to stamp. It's just a bit of a pain in the arse to carry to passports.

Maybe this is another new situation for tightening of restrictions.
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AMonk

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Re: A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall... (THE VISA NIGHTMARE!)
« Reply #316 on: August 08, 2008, 08:58:18 PM »
But Cheeks is also changing her visa status.  She will no longer be on a working visa. She will become a "dependent" for a while, so this is not a simple renewal.
Moderation....in most things...

Re: A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall... (THE VISA NIGHTMARE!)
« Reply #317 on: August 08, 2008, 09:35:54 PM »
We sorted it out  afafafafaf

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Pashley

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Re: A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall... (THE VISA NIGHTMARE!)
« Reply #318 on: August 09, 2008, 02:52:49 PM »
Passport in Canada is $87 CAD. Exact change only.

Yes, but our passports are only good for 5 years, versus 10 for many other countries. Then when you need a new one, you have to go through the whole dance -- guarantor, birth certificate, the lot -- just like the last time. There is no simple renewal procedure, as there is for US citizens and presumably others.

I think their system is broken and they should fix it. I have told them so via their feedback page https://www.pptc.gc.ca/service/contact/opinion.aspx?lang=eng and would encourage all other Canadians to do the same.
Who put a stop payment on my reality check?

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Stil

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Re: A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall... (THE VISA NIGHTMARE!)
« Reply #319 on: August 09, 2008, 03:18:31 PM »
Well there is a Simplified Passport Renewal Process but only if you are in Canada. They are processing things much faster now. I had to get a new passport6 months ago in Guangzhou but could only get it for 1 year because i didn't have my citizenship with me.

In Canada now, they extended it to 5 years and it only took 7 days and 12CAD. It now takes 2 weeks to get a new passport (less if you pay extra)

There's a rush because starting June 1st 2009, Canadians need a passport to enter Amerika

Ooops  offtopic

Re: A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall... (THE VISA NIGHTMARE!)
« Reply #320 on: August 19, 2008, 01:34:18 AM »
So, as of next Monday I will have a shiny new visa in my shiny new passport. Boy, oh, boy, how much stress I lived through with the whole situation!
The immigration officer was very nice. He thoroughly checked all documents. Then asked what was the company I worked for in Beijing and compared with his computer records. Then got all papers submitted stamped and whole thing took about 15 mins. Here you pay with a bank card (they don't accept cash). And you pay as you receive the passport.
I am grateful to hubby's liaison - she is a Malaysian lady who does her job promptly. And to the assistant of the kindy's owner - she drove us there, made sure all documents were in order. There was no procrastination nor empty promises. Everything was done on time.
Oh and now in Zhuhai one has to take a photo with a code bar (just as in Shenzhen) when applying for visa.

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Raoul F. Duke

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Re: A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall... (THE VISA NIGHTMARE!)
« Reply #321 on: August 19, 2008, 07:22:48 AM »
Hey, this topic has long ago gone to the dogs anyway. So I can tell you:

Canadians need a passport to enter Amerika

Hey, sorry. We don't need no more French-tinged Maple Niggers comin' down here, takin' away our jobs with their cheap frostback labor, staring luridly at our women, and trying to extend their insidious Socialist influences to our medical care. Go back to Saskatoon! asasasasas
"Vicodin and dumplings...it's a great combination!" (Anthony Bourdain, in Harbin)

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we're building the corrupt, incompetent, baijiu-swilling buttheads of tomorrow!" (Raoul F. Duke)

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Shroomy

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Re: A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall... (THE VISA NIGHTMARE!)
« Reply #322 on: August 19, 2008, 11:10:30 AM »
Canadians need a passport to enter Amerika

And, Americans now, or soon will, need a passport to get back into America if they go to Canada or Mexico.  There's quite the rush going on now as millions of old farts have to get passports to buy their arthritis medicine at Canada's socialist prices.
Back home and still confused about what the locals are saying.

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Stil

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Re: A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall... (THE VISA NIGHTMARE!)
« Reply #323 on: August 20, 2008, 03:20:37 AM »
Hey, this topic has long ago gone to the dogs anyway. So I can tell you:

Canadians need a passport to enter Amerika

Hey, sorry. We don't need no more French-tinged Maple Niggers comin' down here, takin' away our jobs with their cheap frostback labor, staring luridly at our women, and trying to extend their insidious Socialist influences to our medical care. Go back to Saskatoon! asasasasas

Don't worry big guy, I do everything I can not to enter the US. I will pay extra not have a stop-over when flying. I'm not blonde and blue eyed and passing through American customs has been difficult and sometimes humiliating in recent years. The stereotyping i can understand, the rudeness i could do without.

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Rajin

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Re: A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall... (THE VISA NIGHTMARE!)
« Reply #324 on: August 20, 2008, 04:05:32 AM »
Don't worry! They were rude to me, too, and I'm American ^.^

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Stil

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Re: A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall... (THE VISA NIGHTMARE!)
« Reply #325 on: August 20, 2008, 04:46:21 AM »
The backrooms are cold without clothes eh?

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Raoul F. Duke

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Re: A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall... (THE VISA NIGHTMARE!)
« Reply #326 on: August 20, 2008, 06:38:56 AM »
Hmmm. I don't understand this. Their specific orders are to be rude ONLY to Stil. I don't know how Rajin got pulled into this.

Is it possible that you look...well, you know...Canadian? mmmmmmmmmm
"Vicodin and dumplings...it's a great combination!" (Anthony Bourdain, in Harbin)

"Here in China we aren't just teaching...
we're building the corrupt, incompetent, baijiu-swilling buttheads of tomorrow!" (Raoul F. Duke)

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Rajin

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Re: A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall... (THE VISA NIGHTMARE!)
« Reply #327 on: August 21, 2008, 03:35:48 PM »
I haven't been told that before but it's entirely possible.

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Pashley

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Re: A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall... (THE VISA NIGHTMARE!)
« Reply #328 on: August 21, 2008, 10:42:22 PM »
My recent visa experiences follow.

I turned 60 last year which, at least in some provinces, creates problems with residence permits. In particular, Fujian is reportedly reluctant to issue them for older folk. I've been told this is policy brought down from Beijing, just not enforced everywhere. I've also been told that there is no age limit in policy, it's just that employers are required by SAFEA to provide medical insurance for all employees and do not want to pay the higher premiums for older staff. No idea if either tale is true.

I had an offer from Hua Qiao University, Quanzhou, Fujian. Then email saying me being 60 was a problem, but nothing they couldn't deal with. Then withdrawal of offer with the explanation that the PSB had already made exceptions for two of their returning staff over 60, was not willing to do it for a new hire.

So I got back to former employer Yang En, in the same region. They say it is not a problem, and the limit is 65 anyway. Should see in a week or so if they actually produce a visa.

In 2006, I moved from Zhuhai to Yang En and had a tourist visa when I arrived. They said they could not get a residence permit from that; I had to go to Hong Kong and re-enter on a Z visa. No problem; I actually went to Macau (much easier) and they paid for the trip.

This time, I'm on the last days of my Nanjing residence permit. No trip to HK/Macau needed, but both Hua Qiao and Yang En asked for a release letter from the previous employer, said this was a gov't requirement for residence permit. OK for me, but might
be a real problem for someone leaving a screwed-up job under tense circumstances. If old employer can hold that over your head, they have a lot of leverage.
Who put a stop payment on my reality check?

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Pashley

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Re: A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall... (THE VISA NIGHTMARE!)
« Reply #329 on: August 22, 2008, 09:35:59 PM »
I turned 60 last year which, at least in some provinces, creates problems with residence permits. In particular, Fujian is reportedly reluctant to issue them for older folk.
Just saw a post on one of the TEFL China lists, from someone in Zhuhai, Guangdong saying her school had just had 15 visas refused for older staff. Good place, I think, and they are now fairly desperate. Anyone who needs details, PM me or check teflchina.org archives.
Who put a stop payment on my reality check?