Ask Headmaster Ken

Hello,

I am in a bit of a predicament regarding my Z Visa. I have just found out that my contact in China has yet to finalise my visa documents even though he said they were sent weeks ago. And he has now told me that they will be ready for postage to the UK on Tuesday.

I am concerned because my contract starts on the 1st of September, I haven't booked a flight yet because I cannot risk booking one and then finding out my visa doesn't arrive in time to catch it.

Do you know roughly how long it would take for these documents to first arrive from China to the UK? Also does anybody know how long the Chinese embassy would take to process these documents and send me my actual Z-visa.

Many thanks,

Andy

It was wise of you to not book the flight.

I'd suggest you immediately and firmly request that your school send your documents by EMS and provide you a web tracking number.

Your documents should arrive in no more than a week or ten days at most.

You can process your visa in one day if you do it in person - arrive early. A visa service takes longer.

I would explain that if I was not sent a document tracking number by X date, I would assume the school is unable or unwilling to provide the necessary documents and I'd resume my job search.

Hi Ken,

Thanks for getting back to me, I have been told that they will send the visa documents via express delivery, so fingers crossed they will arrive in time!

Andy