Joint venture....which visa?

David hi

If you are working in Beijing then you need a work visa. Does not matter if you are the boss or the shoe-shine boy re the necessity for having a work visa.

If you are the company's Legal Rep. you will be able to get a 2 year multiple entry work visa. Normal work visas are one year multiple entry visas.

Thanks.

How does this process work? Normally a company issues an invitation letter that is used along with the other Z visa application documents....that's my understanding of it. Do I issue this letter to myself ?

It seems that few know this process, only how to obtain a Z visa the dodgy way !

Apologies for my ignorance on this matter, but I am very serious about setting up this business in Beijing.

Thanks

Dave hi

I have my own company and I have a two year visa as the company's official rep.

The process is not complicated but depends a little on your existing visa status.

I had an existing z visa and all I had to was to transfer my employer from my previous company (I needed a letter to say that I no longer worked there)to the new company. I needed to show them a copy of my company's business licence which has me listed as the official rep.

As I think you know I am not a visa agent but know many people. If you want contact me privately and I can put you in contact with a couple of agents who can help with the registration and visa processes. Compare prices, decide which best suits your needs and take it from there.

As a side note - you said that this will be a JV - make sure you have a "pre-nuptial" agreement (ie a cya in place in case things go sour.  There are too many stories on how JV collapsed leaving the foreign partner up the proverbial creek without a paddle. I hope your venture is an amazing success but, to be on the safe side, please make sure that you are protected.