Yeah ...here's some info...there's a good thread on cqexpat.com about visas...

needless to say there are MANY Expats in CQ who have no idea what is going on with VISA's, I was one of them until last month.

1. Before 2009 residence permits were ALWAYS issued seperate from VISA's. After 2010, there are some VISA's that do not require RP's. such as the marriage VISA.

2. A residence Permit is not valid for working. Never was and never will be. It is a myth amongst Expats that a RP is enough to work and, what makes it worse is alot of schools assure the teacher it is enough when actually it is NOT. There are numerous reasons why schools tell this myth to Expat's. You have been here 5 years, I am sure you can ascertain what they are.

3. From 2010 There are rules regarding Z VISA's that many Expats do not know unless they go to the PSB where VISA's are done. The officer's can give you pamphlets detailing all the new rules. Many Expat's comment and state thing's based on their previous experience but it has no bearing on the current laws.

4. Starting 2010 different countires have different regulation on applying for Z VISA's. USA is one of the strictest. That is because of reg's that USA has starting putting on the Chinese.