Dear Ken:

I want to work for a Chinese university starting this August. I won't work in China before then, but meanwhile I would like to enter ASAP for tourism and to learn Mandarin.

I would like to enter under an L- or F-visa, obviously refrain from working, and once I have a job contract and requisite documents, exit and re-enter under a Z-visa.

Do you see any problem with this scenario? I mean, does prior entry under non-Z visas actually make them reluctant to issue me a Z visa? (Perhaps they would want to penalize me for obviously having used my time in-country under non-Z visa to GET the Z-visa.)

I may enter China overland from Thailand via Laos, if that makes any difference. Thailand is where I plan to get my CELTA, as soon as possible, so that I can apply in March for university employment in August.

Best regards,

Liam

Dear Liam,

There should be no problems. Your prior travel status has no influence.

You just need to make absolutely sure your FAO understands that your invitation letter must specify Hong Kong or whatever country's Chinese embassy you plan to take your paperwork to for Z-visa processing. You can only apply for your visa at the country specified, so they have to get it right.

Thailand, traditionally, is no problem insofar as obtaining a Z-visa.

Best of luck.