Got Chinese legal questions? New site gives free answers

I just stumbled across a new Web site dishing out answers to all your China legal questions – for free!

The rather IM-ishly named 15minutes4u.com believes that most legal questions us foreigners have about China could be answered in under 15 minutes of a legal professional’s time and they are striving to deliver just such advice – and did I mention it’s free?

The questions are answered by “a group of experienced legal professionals practiced or law students studied in China, US or other jurisdictions.” [sic – because I can’t really make sense of it]. Questions seem to range from the expected trade/business law queries to advice for ESL teachers done wrong.

Like any good legally-minded site should, the service comes with a big bold disclaimer explaining that answers aren’t “actual legal advice”, but as a resource for those random legal conundrums that confound us laowai, I think it’s a fantastic idea.

Here’s an example Q&A:

QUESTION: What legal rights do i have in china, i have been married to a chinese national for over a year and am planning to stay and make china our home, also what visa should i apply for, tourist now, thanks.

ANSWER:
A foreigner living in China would be protected by the PRC laws in general. A foreigner may enjoy the same legal rights and assume the same legal obligations if such rights or obligations are not limited to PRC citizens only, (referring to labor rights, political rights, etc.)

A foreigner who marries to a Chinese national and wants to reside in China can apply for family visa from local Entry & Exit Administration Bureau by submitting marriage certificate, current visa and relevant materials. Such visa can be given with one-year term, renewable before expiration.

If a foreigner who marries to a Chinese national wants to permanently reside in China, must abide by Chinese laws, be in good health and without any criminal record, and must meet the following requirements:

(1) at least five years of marriage relation;
(2) at least five successive years of residence in China and at least nine months of residence in China each year; and
(3) having stable source of support and a dwelling place.

A foreigner who wants to reside permanently may apply for the Permanent Resident Card. A foreigner with the Permanent Residence Card can use such card and his/her identity card to enter into or exist China without additional visa requirement. The foreigner may also work in China.

To apply for the Permanent Resident Card, the applicant should submit following documents to his/her local Public Security Bureau at municipal level:

(1) application form;
(2) valid passport;
(3) health certificate;
(4) none-criminal-record certificate;
(5) photos; and
(6) other required documents.

The Public Security Bureau will make its decision within 6 months and will issue the Permanent Residence Card after approval.

Questions and answers are searchable, so you can find out if others have also been asking about the importation of hydroponic grow kits into China or if bestiality is a crime in the Middle Kingdom (we’re guessing you can love your panda, but you can’t LOVE your panda).

Questions seem to take from couple of days to a week or so to get answers (the 15 minutes in the URL is how much legal time they give you – not how quickly a response is given), but hell – it’s free legal advice, which is right up there with beer on my list of things I never thought I’d get for free.