One local expat said he isn't sure what to do about his visa, which expires in less than a month.

"I want to stay in the city longer, but I risk contacting the deadly virus if I go to Hong Kong," said the American freelance editor who asked not to be named.

"In addition, I would have to be isolated for two weeks when I come back, which is inconvenient for my work," according to the editor.

Thousands of expats living in the city hold F visas for various purposes, including business, advanced studies, and internships.

Technically, foreigners with F visas aren't supposed to work on the mainland, instead they are expected to use them to travel into and out of the country. But the rule is frequently flaunted.

There is an alternative to making the biannual trip to Hong Kong to renew the visa, according to the Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration under the Shanghai Public Security Bureau. Foreigners can get a Chinese company to write them a letter stating why they need the visa holder to remain in the country.

If successful, the visa can be extended for up to an additional six months.

Those wishing to apply for visa extension must go to the visa center on Wusong Road with their passport and the letter from their Chinese partners, said the bureau.

Bureau officials warn, however, that foreigners with the F visa are banned from taking jobs in the city according to Chinese law.

"Those who are working under an F visa should urge their employers to apply for a working permit as soon as possible at the Shanghai Labor and Social Security Bureau," said Sun Hanyuan with the Shanghai Labor and Social Security Bureau.

While the government has no plans to change policies concerning F visas, the bureau did change the policy concerning Z visa, or working visas, following the outbreak of SARS.

Foreigners living in the city can now transfer from other visas to a Z visa without leaving the city, said Sun. Previously, foreigners had to go overseas to apply for a Z visa.

(eastday.com May 21, 2003)