F visas are back!
This past week I received a number of emails from Hong Kong visa agencies saying in so many words, “We can do F visas again!”
Over the Olympics the Chinese government made it basically impossible to get your hands on any kind of business “F” visa. Before the Olympics, an F visa was the visa of choice for expats living in China who where either working on their own or otherwise freelancing. So it seems that all the rumors of being able to get an F visa again after the Olympics end are true.
If you’re in China, not working for a big company or teaching at a big school, and looking to stay then an F visa might be the way to go.
Freelance teaching and F visas
If you’re freelance teaching then an F visa is the most ideal. The reason is because many schools and institutions can get in a lot of trouble if they hire a teacher who has a tourist “L” visa. For this reason it may be difficult to find part-time work at a school or training center if you have an L visa. However, if the teacher has an F visa then the school can claim the teacher is working for them as an educational consultant. An F visa will open doors to more opportunities as a freelance teacher in China.
F visas are also more convenient because they usually last longer and you can extend them for one year compared to a tourist visa that you can only extend for 2 months.