Okay so I know that I’m totally trying to sound more badass than I actually am. No, I didn’t sell drugs, shoplift or go to an illegal rave, sadly this story isn’t the result of anything particularly wild. I simply, and stupidly, overstayed my work visa in China. At the time I shed a hell of a lot of tears, and my anxiety inevitably reached its peak, but hey, it’s a good story. Never overstay your visas in China guys, they really do take that shit seriously.
Like the majority of ESL teachers working in Shenzhen, I entered at the border with Hong Kong, and got a Z visa there and then with all of my necessary paperwork. It all seemed pretty simple. I had to apply for various permits once I got in and found an apartment, and was on the straight and narrow to living the easy life in China.
Here comes the mistake that’d fuck up my next month in my new home, a spur of the moment Saturday trip to Hong Kong. I was naive, thinking hey, Hong Kong is still China, and didn’t really give it a second thought. After a sweet day exploring Central, I attempted to hop back across the border, only to be brushed away by immigration for not having a visa anymore.
First thought: lol what? Maybe they don’t know I have a work permit. I naively didn’t consider the fact that my original visa wasn’t single entry, another fatal mistake. After getting a 4 day port visa, I thought I was chillin’ again. I didn’t really tell anyone. I still had a work permit and just assumed that my Z visa was continuing. I continued living my life and threw my stressful evening at the border to the back of my mind.
Then, my company needed a photo of my Z visa for my residence permit application. Here comes the impending drama. FUCK. I have to go straight to the police and hand myself in.
It was scary as fuuuuuuuck! I felt like I’d done something way worse than just be too relaxed about my visa. They held me in an interrogation room and asked me a shit load of questions as to what I’d been doing in the week that I was an illegal. Uhhhhh watching netflix, going to the mall? Then I had to take some teary-eyed mugshots, give my fingerprints and sign a shit tonne of statements confessing to my horrific crime. I guess I kind of deserved this for being a fool in terms of reentering, but wow that was some stressful shit.
After a few hours of this drama, they let me go. I had to be a sitting duck for a week whilst I waited for, to quote them literally, my ‘punishment’. Could they make it sound any worse though?!?!? I proceeded to spend the next week with serious anxiety and shitting my pants in anticipation for jail time.
Don’t worry everyone, it was cool. They let me off with a ‘warning’ and a demand to get my ass out of the country before the new year. Of course though, I was still stressing. I had just settled in my new home and my new job, I didn’t want to leave! I had spent so much dolla settling and I wouldn’t start to get the returns on it for another couple of months. Regardless, my company were confident that I can get a new one and I head off for New Year’s celebrations in Hong Kong in an attempt to forget about the drama.
I was directed towards a company called Everbright, who organize visas for foreigners in China. They told me it was pretty unlikely that I’d get a new visa because I already faced legal issues there. They tried anyway, but of course I was rejected. I go directly to the consulate and apply myself. They took one look at the ticked box in regards to overstay, and send me to the door.
That was it, I started planning my new life in Hong Kong. There surely was no way of getting back to China. I started scrolling job boards and considering my finances. My one-time hurrah to Hong Kong had cost me my new life in China.
And then!! Woowoowoo, my company find a loophole. Granted, it was legally questionable but it was my only hope. I was desperate, and up for it regardless. I ended up meeting a random lady in Starbucks, handed over 2000 RMB and my passport, with instructions to return three hours later. This was a total leap of faith huh? In those three hours I went to as many temples as I could and prayed for my new visa. She could’ve easily just dashed with my money and passport never to be seen again. But it worked!!! She returned with a fresh piece of government paper that allowed me to get a business visa at the border. I was back in, and ready to resume my life teaching English to Chinese kinder gardeners that are wealthier than me.
So yeah, what a nightmare. Karma for being a total fool I guess. It was all worth it though, I got to stay and I ultimately had the best time living and working in Shenzhen. Lesson learned- don’t fuck around when it comes to visas in China!
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