Felt like hell in the process, but it’s done!
In Texas, I called my Uni, sent them $15, and they mailed me a notarized copy of my diploma in less than 2 weeks. I went downtown to the police station for a local background check, waited 30 minutes, paid $24, and they took my prints and info. Came back 2 days later for the notarized copy. I took both of these down to the Sec. of State (yes, I live in the capital city, so that did expedite this part of the process!), waited less than 5 minutes, and walked out with both my degree and background check apostilled for $15 each. Florida, oh Florida Idiocracy: a month of phone calls and money and paperwork. Can you believe that for this one sheet of paper (the apostille by FL on my teaching license), I had to get THREE NOTARY STAMPS!! 1) On the the license, 2) on a SEPARATE statement by the notary affirming that their stamp on the license was “true”, and finally, 3) on a letter from me which “describes” the document (apparently FL govt is too stupid to look at a teaching license and see: “oh, it’s a teaching license for so-and-so from the FLDOE”—so I had to write a letter *describing* “this is a teaching license issued by FLDOES for Gina...” (Spokes very, VERY slowly like you are talking to an ESL learner or a 3-year-old) Aargh! But it’s done! Felt like hell in the process, but it’s done! Blessings and some sort of special universe magic to ya’ll dealing from this abroad... yours is a special ring of hell. Can’t even imagine that, so I got two apostilled license copies so I don’t have to deal with the FL Idiocracy again for some years! Whoo Hoo! Going to China!!! Countdown 53 hours! Blessing and some sort of special universe magic to ya’ll dealing from this abroad... yours is a special ring of hell. Can’t even imagine that, so I got two apostilled license copies so I don’t have to deal with the FL Idiocracy again for some years! Whoo Hoo! Going to China!!! Countdown 53 hours!
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Well the stress of all this finally hit me over the weekend.
I woke up and realized I had little more than TWO weeks until I am supposed to board an aeroplane, and I had yet to start packing. It seems like this visa process consumes all days and partial nights! I have no time to exercise, for instance. Yesterday I didn't get to eat breakfast until 11:30 because I had to get the car detailed for the potential buyers coming that morning. The breakfast turned into breakfast/lunch, and then I was never able to get dinner because I was dealing with more car buyers and had to run out to another appointment as soon as the last person left. As much as I need to do and in the small amount of time, I am determined to self-care at least a little and prevent anxiety, which I differentiate from stress... so I went to AFS last night to watch the new David Byrne doc and thank goddess for their egg salad toasts and hot choco! I have been unsuccessful in finding a shipping company or even a method to get my belongings over to China! I'm hearing horror stories about Chinese customs charging 30% import tariffs on your own belongings, obviously worn clothing and such! Aaagh! It's already going to cost me tons to get my belongings over there, and I certainly don't want to pay imports on personal items I am NOT importing, that will "repatriate" with me if I depart China! I know they want very precise wording on customs forms...just like with everything having to do with the visa---PRC is very OCD!!! (I love China!) OMG! It does not seem like there is enough time to do everything that needs doing and for me to remain anxiety-free and still take care of my self physically and emotionally! I was hoping to be able to work out MORE not LESS once I stopped teaching, but my to-do list grows longer with each call I make, with each informational piece I receive, with each message of advice I receive from the expats in China... aaargh! I can manage the stress to a degree, but when I get to a certain point, I recognize something has to give, and I don't want it to be my sanity and health. I am approaching that line: I am going to bed exhausted and waking up feeling stressed. I want to work out, but it seems if I make time for that, something else is given up--or I just run out of time and then it's noon and I am immersed in a day of tasks! I am going to re-center myself and prioritize my yoga practice once again (a week off, ugh!). I can feel a direct correlation to rising stress levels and decreasing asana and pranayama practice--and being still and calm! Rather, this is directly proportional and possibly cause-and-effect! I have to reduce the social time I'm spending with friends; I just can't afford those few hours right now! I'm pretty sure I've already spent double what is allotted to me by my new school in reimbursement for the visa procedures. I KNOW I will be spending double what I am to receive for relocation expenses. Today, I have to go back to the Capitol to get the second copy of my degree authenticated. I will also get my car appraised at Carmax to see if I can get a higher price for it (thanks for the suggestion, DW!). I was supposed to travel to HTX tomorrow to get my visa, but I think it is wiser to wait until next week because of Lunar New Year; they will close Thursday and Friday and I can only imagine the work load they will have tomorrow. I do NOT want to rent a car and drive to HTX more than this one last time!! It's supposed to rain the night of my Bon Voyage party :-(( which is outdoors on a lovely patio... I'm considering whether I should postpone that as well. I'm due to drive to FTW to visit fam on Thursday or Friday, might postpone that 'til next week as well. If I can get my stuff packed, figure out how to clear customs, find a good flight over... much of this stress will be relieved. Part of my 50+ item To Do List:
Much to do, but as usual... wo nang sheen!!! I can do it! 我能行 Obtaining a Chinese "Z" (work) visa is not the easiest task in the world, thought it is definitely easier if you are in your country of origin. The steps enumerated below are specific to teaching at an International School; are specific to my school in Chengdu, Sichuan; and are designated to U.S. citizenry. From what I have heard through other teachers, requirements are different for each school, different in each province in China, and change frequently as well. For instance, my friend that moved to China years ago did not have to provide the same documentation that is now required. To be honest, it is not an unduly onerous process, just one that is time-consuming! Give yourself 3 months to complete all paperwork, if you have the time and wish to proceed sans anxiety. Many of us, it seems, have to complete all this on the fly, and so it is stressful! The long duration to get your visa is due to state, local, and federal government bureaucracies taking so damn long (especially the idiocracy in Florida, but that headache is in a previous post!) First, I will list the documents needed. Next, I will describe how to procure each. Third, I will list cost (to me). And lastly, I'll add the timeline and any other relevant details, and maybe even some griping about the entire confusing process. I'll save that for the end so you can skip it if you wish! As you wade through this time-leeching, money-devouring, patience-killing morass of document certification, please look toward the future to consider whether you plan to be overseas beyond your initial contract duration (stay at job, get new job, move to another province within China, move to another country). I strongly recommend that you go ahead and obtain two official copies of every required doc (document)! It is a nightmare to try to get this stuff done from abroad (I have friends who can testify to the thousands of dollars and months of waiting); a bad dream of bureaucratic-caused waiting and a sad, sucking sound caused by the black hole in your wallet! Get TWO official, apostilled copies of all required documents. Prepare to carry these to China (onboard, not checked luggage). Scan copies of these documents to keep in your phone for easy access, and print 2 copies as well (do this for all your IDs and credit cards, as if that needs to be said). Each province in China and each overseas (like USA) Chinese Consulate-General has unique requirements! Check the location-specific website and inform your employer as to which one you will use: www.china-embassy.org/eng/zmzlljs/t84229.htm. Since I'm in TX, I got lucky that there is a Consulate in Houston, only 3 1/2 hours away. All the links I supply below of from the Houston Consulate houston.china-consulate.org/eng/vp/zgqz/t1251843.htm; applicable only to those states that are linked to the Houston consulate. If you are in CO, for example, you are required to to apply through the Consulate in Chicago. Let's do this! Just say to yourself: "我能行!" (I can do it!) ******START WITH THE FLDOE FIRST IF YOU HAVE A FL TEACHING LICENSE BECAUSE IT TAKES THEM 4-6 WEEKS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PRINT A DOCUMENT!****** Notarized, Apostilled, and Authenticated) Documents - START THIS PROCESS ASAP!!! How certifications differ: https://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-bulletin/blog/2015/07/notary-basics-understanding-apostilles Notary - A state-authorized statement and/or stamp, stating the document is authentic (pictures below). Some notaries only offer a notary stamp, but China requires both the notary statement and stamp: "I certify this is a true and legal document... blah blah blah..." or similar wording, picture below). You must be present for a notary to verify your identity and the document; they ask for ID. Apostille - Validates the notary stamp/statement so that it will be accepted abroad; can be issued by state or federal Secretary of State; relevant to countries included in Hague Convention of 1961. Texas: www.sos.state.tx.us/authinfo.shtml Federal (US): travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/travel-legal-considerations/internl-judicial-asst/authentications-and-apostilles/apostille-requirements.html Consular Authentication - Additional certification made by a foreign government not part of Hague Convention (like China). houston.china-consulate.org/eng/vp/gzrz/t1253950.htm **GET 2 OF EVERYTHING SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS FROM OVERSEAS!! The following items require notarization, apostille, then authentication (in that order!):
Authentication by Chinese Consulate-General (Please remember the following is specific to the Consulate in Houston, TX - which covers several states. I do not claim any knowledge or experience with other Consulates. You should check the website of the Consulate attached to your state to note any differing requirements. This is the last step prior to your school applying online for a work permit. Once the above three docs are authenticated in-person at the Chinese Consulate, your school will apply online in China, get the go ahead (5 days), email you back the work permit; then and only then, you head back to the Consulate (in-person) for your Visa! A few important items to note:
Florida Apostille of your FL Teaching License (more coming soon, I'm tired of typing... :-)
Other required documents:
Costs (so far!)
Timeline Very, very loooooooonnnnnnnngggggggg! Fun, right! Sunday night.
This is the first day I’ve been stressed since this whole damn visa process started. It is difficult because the time zone in China is 14 hours ahead, so I have to communicate with them late at night. Certain requirements have not been clear, which I’m just now learning about! I have to rent a car and drive to Houston--possibly-- on Tuesday, to get two documents authenticated by the Chinese Consulate before the school can even apply for my work permit in China. With relief, I learned that because I have Letters of Employment with the minimum 2 years teaching experience, all the hell I’ve been going through with Florida Idiocracy is not even necessary! Turns out--which I just frickin' found out today--that those letters can substitute for my teaching license! AAARGH! Over $100 wasted on that project! And I still have to pay my sister for the notary services she obtained for me, as well as getting the license apostilled by FL. First, my school liaison tells me my letters don’t show enough experience. But I sent her 3 with cumulative 30 months... turns out she couldn’t open 2 of them because they were google.docs format, but she did not tell me until 2 week after I sent them... AARGH! Then, one is "not acceptable": although it states my start date and the fact I was still working there when the frickin' letter was written, it does not EXPLICITLY state my end date (which was last frickin' month!). Sooooooo I have to get my reference to change the wording, sign again, re-print, then scan and re-send to China. AAARGH (again!). It's not the liaison's fault really, but the document presented by the school is not clear nor does it provide enough detail in instructions. I really need to go to the consulate tomorrow to get this done but want to call them first to verify that I can get it done in one day, so that renting a damn car and driving 8 hours in one day is worthwhile! Ok, done venting! And yes, I know this will be the first of many, many misunderstandings due to language. It’s just that this damn visa process has taken every free minute the last 3 weeks (really, not hyperbole!) and I can’t get anything else done. It’s almost 11pm and I’m wired wide awake and my shoulders are tight!! The upside of this part of the process is that now I KNOW what needs to be done; therefore, I can get it done! Tomorrow I’ll get the reference letter corrected. If the Consulate gives the go-ahead, I’ll drive there first thing Tuesday... I do plan to help the school re-write their Visa Procedure document so that this process is clear and each step written in excruciating detail. I could have saved time and money if I had precise steps and more info. Oh well. Eeerrrk! Rant over! :-) Updates on dealing with the slowest, most **** idiocracy in the US.
Still weeks out from receiving my printed license. Although they miraculously emailed me the PDF within 24 hours...? Apparently their printers take 6 weeks to warm up? 1) Make sure your notary contains the official notary statement as well as stamp, or it will not be apostilled by FL. Example of TX notary statement below. FL will be similar, not same. MUST have stamp AND statement, not just stamp! all must be on back of your license, just like they do for your degree. 2) Have to go thru the Div. of Corporations for apostille: http://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/other-services/apostille-notarial-certification/ 3) I’m using this company to apostille my notarized license: http://capitalconnection.com/Apostille.htm Talked to a guy there who was very professional and helpful: $45 for apostille, $10 for FL, $35 to have it overnighted to me. If I get it to them by tomr (Fri) 1030 am, they walk it over, pick it up same day (or by Monday), then overnight it back to me, guaranteed arrival back to me is Tues. http://dos.myflorida.com/media/696473/apostille_and_notarial_certificate_request_form.pdf I’m getting two copies of my license and apostille so I don’t have to deal with this anymore. Thanks goodness my Sis lives in FL and has notary friend. |
Gina......is thrilled to be moving to Chengdu, Sichuan, China to teach and learn! Archives
July 2021
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