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[Kabbalistic]

15 days after arriving in Shanghai on a work-visa(Z visa) I find myself facing a queer situation. Before I start let me make it clear that I am here on single-entry Z-visa. Now,the very next day after my arrival I went to the entry-exit medical center for a check- up in order to apply for the foreign expert certificate. The next day I got myself registered at the local police station using my proof of residence in the form of the apartment I'd rented on the first day. Upto here everything seemed to be going well. But a week later the medical center asked me to go for another test at a certain hospital & return with the results. Now, today the doctor tells me they need to do some more tests the results of which will take more than a month to arrive. 

As far as I know you need to apply for your residence permit within 30 days of your entry. How can I apply for it when I'm supposed to wait for more than a month to get the results. It seems like a paradoxical situation to me.Its been a fortnight since I got here & I honestly have no idea what course of action to take. Can I wait till the results of my test are out or do I have to leave China after a month?

I earnestly anticipate your guidance & help in advance. Thanks!

[Stil]

I don't anything about the Shanghai situation for medicals but all of my medicals have taken a couple of days to process. If I were in your situation I'd be more worried about my health than the visa.

[The Local Dialect]

Yeah, could you possibly have a health problem? I'd also ask that if the health problem doesn't prohibit employment, if they could issue you the certificate first and then you'll follow up and the big hospital. I've never heard of results taking a month though.

What does your employer say?

[Raoul F. Duke]

I'm with both answers so far.
The fact that you've applied should be enough to hold you legally for a while, but you should listen to your employer's advice.

As Stil indicated, health may be a bigger issue than some visa. But I sure hope not...

[Kabbalistic]

Apparently they are not so sure of me having the health problem. They just want to make sure I don't have it because if the tests come out positive it'll stop me from being employed in China. I don't have any symptoms though & my medical history validates my belief.

Raoul,I've been informed by my employer that without clearance from the medical certificate they can't get me the Foreign Expert Certificate & without the certificate I can't get a residence permit. So, I don't know if I can say that I've applied for anything.

I personally feel quite positive about not having the health problem. And its not life-threatening either. Its this situation that I'm in thats killing me. And there seems to be no solution in sight to my predicament.
Would it not be possible for me to stay in China after 30 days if the results of my medical exam are not out by then?
Otherwise will I have to leave China before the 30th day of my entry? Doesn't this sound illogical?

[Stil]

Perhaps you could try asking for an extension in Shanghai while your medical results are being processed. I don't know if it's feasible but armed with receipts and documentation of the tests and time needed to complete them, you could try that before your visa runs out and you have to leave.

[Raoul F. Duke]

You MUST have some kind of visa coverage or leave China.
Ask your employer if they can get you an extension or new visa as the 30 days on your Z visa expire. If they can't you may have to step back home...

I'm a little suspicious of this whole thing. What the hell kind of medical test takes 30 days to give a result, even in China?!?

[ericthered]

This is extremely sketchy. A medical should not take that long unless the doctor found an unusual abnormality and want to run some special tests, in which case he is supposed to tell you about the possibility that you have Venezuelan Donkey Fever or some such. The only other explanation for the delay is that someone, somewhere is in need of some fiscal lubrication...that is my experience in China, whenever there is any Govt related admin stuff involved, there is some wanna-be Audio driver itching to get a HongBao...and yes, you do not want to mess around with the VISA. The Chinese authorities are rather prickly when it comes to us FT's breaking the rules...unlike corruption on every level of the internal system, that is just business as usual.

[babala]

Be careful. I have seen a teacher be told that there was a problem with the medical and that the test results would be in a week (while mine were given that day) and customs showed up at his door and deported him.

I agree with Raoul, what test takes a month

[Escaped Lunatic]

I can only think of one test that takes that long.  It's to differentiate strains of a very slow growing bacteria.  If there's any suspicion of this, the patient should be in an isolation ward, both for treatment and to protect others.