A Brief Introduction to Chinese visa and how to apply for a Chinese visa

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A Brief Introduction to Chinese visa and how to apply for a Chinese visa
Dec 28, 2007 01:14 GMT-6
JIMMYB Points: 6322 Join Date: Feb 7, 2007 Status: offline	A Brief Introduction to Chinese visa and how to apply for a Chinese visa Source: http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk. Chinese visa is a permit issued to a foreigner by the Chinese visa authorities for entry into, exit from or transit through the Chinese territory. The Chinese visa authorities may issue a diplomatic, courtesy, service or ordinary visa to a foreigner according to his identity, purpose of visit to China and passport type. Hereunder is an introduction to the ordinary visa and its application procedure: The ordinary visas consist of eight sub-categories, which are marked with Chinese phonetic letters (D, Z, X, F, L, G, C, J-1 and J-2 respectively). Visa D: issued to aliens who are to reside permanently in China. A permanent residence confirmation form shall be required for the application of Visa D. The applicant shall apply to obtain this form himself or through his designated relatives in China from the exit-and-entry department of the public security bureau in the city or county where he applies to reside. Visa Z: Issued to aliens who are to take up posts or employment in China, and to their accompanying family members. To apply for a Visa Z, an Employment License of the People's Republic of China for Foreigners (which could be obtained by the employer in China from the provincial or municipal labor authorities) and a visa notification letter/telegram issued by an authorized organization or company are required. Visa X: Issued to aliens who come to China for study, advanced studies or job-training for a period of six months or more. To apply for a Visa X, certificates from the receiving unit and the competent authority concerned are required, i.e., Application Form for Overseas Students to China (JW201 Form or JW202 Form), Admission Notice and Physical Examination Record for Foreigners. Visa F: Issued to an applicant who is invited to China on a visit, on a study or lecture, business tour, for scientific-technological and cultural exchanges, for short-term refresher course or for job-training, for a period of no more than six months. To apply for a Visa F, the invitation letter from the inviting unit or the visa notification letter/telegram from the authorized unit is required. Visa L: Issued to aliens who come to China for sightseeing, visiting relatives or other private purposes. For a tourist applicant, in principle he shall evidence his financial capability of covering the travelling expenses in China, and when necessary, provide the air, train or ship tickets to the heading country/region after leaving China. For the applicants who come to China to visit relatives, some are required to provide invitation letters from their relatives in China.

Dec 28, 2007 01:14 GMT-6	#1
JIMMYB Points: 6322 Join Date: Feb 7, 2007 Status: Offline	Visa G: Issued to aliens who transit through China. The applicants are required to show valid visas and on-going tickets to the heading countries/regions. Visa C: Issued to train attendants, air crewmembers and seamen operating international services, and to their accompanying family members. To apply for a visa C, relevant documents are required to be provided in accordance with bilateral agreements or regulations of the Chinese side. Visa J-1: Issued to foreign resident correspondents in China. Visa J-2: Issued to foreign correspondents who make short trip to China on reporting tasks. The applicants for J-1 and J-2 visas are required to provide a certificate issued by the competent Chinese authorities. In addition to providing the above-mentioned documents, an applicant is also required to answer relevant questions and go through the following formalities (with the exception of those stipulated otherwise by agreements): Providing valid passport or a travel document in lieu of the passport Filling out a visa application form, and providing a recent 2-inch, bareheaded and full-faced passport photo. Paying the visa fee. The overseas Chinese visa authorities are Chinese embassies, consulates, visa offices, the consular department of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in HKSAR, and other agencies abroad authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. If a foreigner intends to enter into, exit from or transit through the Chinese territory, he shall apply to the above-mentioned Chinese visa authorities for a Chinese visa. For further information, please consult the nearest Chinese visa authorities. Information on Visa to Hong Kong S.A.R. and Macao S.A.R.: British citizens may visit Hong Kong for up to180 days without a visa, but visa is required for those to work, study, establish or join in any business or to take up residence. For visa requirements for foreign citizens, please visit the Hong Kong Immigration Department web site: http://www.info.gov.hk/immd Citizens of U.K. and U.S. and other 53 countries may visit Macao without visas. Citizens from the other countries should apply for entry permit when they enter Macao. Please visit the Identification Department of Macao web site: http://www.dsi.gov.mo for details.

Dec 28, 2007 01:22 GMT-6	#2
JIMMYB Points: 6322 Join Date: Feb 7, 2007 Status: Offline	How to apply a Chinese visa: Applications by post are not accepted. Applicants should submit their applications in person or entrust a third party to submit their applications on their behalf to the visa office of Chinese Embassys or to Chinese Consulate-General. Appointments are not required. Interview may be required by the visa officer if necessary. Applicants are required to lodge their applications to the Chinese Embassy or Chinese Consulate in the country where they normally and legally reside for Chinese visa. Required documents: A. All applicants are required to submit the following documents: 1. A valid original passport. There must be spare blank visa pages in the passport. Pages for endorsements or amendments can not be used as a visa page. The passport should be valid for at least 6 months. 2. One completed Chinese visa application form signed by the applicant. Children's application form can be signed by their parents or guardians. 3. One recent passport photograph affixed to the visa application form. Life photos, copied photos and digital photos printed on ordinary paper are not acceptable. B. Addtional documents: 1.Tourist visa---L: Documents mentioned in part A. For applicants who are going to Tibet, a permit issued by Tibetan Tourist Bureau is required . (fax number of Tibetan Tourist Bureau:86-891-6834632,telephone number:86-891-6834313) 2. Business visa---F: An invitation letter/ fax from a Chinese Government department, a Chinese company or a letter of introduction furnished by a company in the UK and the documents mentioned in part A. 3. Student visa------X: JW-201 or JW-202 form issued by the Ministry of Education of China and a letter of admission from a Chinese University / College and the documents mentioned in part A. 4. Work visa -------- Z: An employment permit from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security or the State Administration of Foreign Experts of China together with an invitation letter from a relevant Department of Chinese Government or a Government-authorized company and the documents mentioned in part A. 5. Journalist Visa -- J-1 or J-2: A letter from a relevant Department of Chinese Government and a letter from the employer and the documents mentioned in part A. 6. Transit Visa --- G: A valid visa for the country of destination and the documents mentioned in part A. Applicants should check the issued visa upon collection and if necessary raise any queries at the same time. If there is no immediate inquiry relating to the issued visa, the applicant is held responsible under any circumstances thereafter.

Dec 28, 2007 08:37 GMT-6	#3
CARLOS Points: 1650 Join Date: Sep 10, 2007 Status: Offline	Jimmy, You have done Your homework. There has been quite many queries about China visa, now we have a page to tell if someone asks. Fine work! Carlos

Dec 28, 2007 10:56 GMT-6	#4
APAULT Points: 5980 Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Status: Offline	Thanks Jimmy. But it doesn't seem to reduce the number of times the same questions get asked!

Dec 28, 2007 19:01 GMT-6	#5
JIMMYB Points: 6322 Join Date: Feb 7, 2007 Status: Offline	Thanks, Carlos and Paul. I find that there are so many peole who want to know something about Chinese visa and I just want to do something for them. I will keep doing my 'homework'. Hope it can be useful to someone.

Jan 11, 2008 10:34 GMT-6	#6
ZEPHYRUS Points: 11 Join Date: Jan 6, 2008 Status: Offline	Hello, Thank you for your invaluable information. My wife and I (U.S. citizens) are awaiting approval of our passports for a trip to China in May, 2008. In your post, you indicate "Applicants should submit their applications in person or entrust a third party to submit their applications on their behalf...". Since we do not live near the Chinese Embassy/Consulate, do you know of a reliable (and inexpensive) third party visa service? Thank you! Zeph

Jan 12, 2008 21:03 GMT-6	#7
APAULT Points: 5980 Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Status: Offline	You can download the forms from the US Chinese embassy site and submit them by mail. But as I think the visas must be used within 3 months of issue don't do it yet. If you want to use a professional service try your travel agent as they should be able to pass on the applications to them. My experience in Australia is to use a Chinese agent...if you live in an area with a Chinese population, as they are doing it all the time.

Jan 12, 2008 21:40 GMT-6	#8
SHESGOTTOBE Points: 3530 Join Date: Nov 23, 2007 Status: Offline	Zeph, I was in the same situation. There is no Chinese Embassy anywhere near my area, not even in my state. I used http://www.mychinavisa.com/ when I got my Chinese visa for my trip. The whole process including the mailing to and from took less than 2 weeks. ^_^ Goodluck!

Jan 17, 2008 22:24 GMT-6	#9
GUESTDAVID	Guys, Get the application at the Chinese Embassy.http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/ I used this agency. Very fast and reliable. http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/yisq/t169580.htm Go to China ANYTIME before your visa expires. My length of stay was 60 days for an L Visa because my girlfriend lives in China and I provided the necessary information. I just got back from China last week, 2008.1.9. The experience is overwhelming. In BeiJing I stay in the Wangfujing area. Walking distance to Tianamen, People's Square, Zero Beijing Point and if you don't feel like walking to the Temple of Heaven (30 minutes from Tianamen) bus #120 will get you there for only 1 yuan. Wangfujing has many places to eat and shop. All an easy walk plus the train station and subways are easy to get to. Taxis to and from the airport will burn you with more than 100 yuan easily one way. Cheap way to get from the airport is by bus which cost about 12 - 15 yuan. Bus # 1 - 4 will drop off at popular locations and hotels. Get a taxi from that spot to your hotel. Very cheap. Have your desitination printed in CHINESE. TIPS to live by when flying inside or outside the US. 1. Fly Continental in the US. Good service and meals onboard over 3 hours. Snacks less than 3. 2. DO NOT FLY A US carrier to China. Instead choose Air China, Korea, China Southern Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines or Thai. Once you do you will know what I mean. US carriers service is deplorable. I avoid United and definitely do not go Northwest. 3. Avoid Chicago. Cheap fares but the taxes are about 30% of the price of the ticket and you will be hasseled in Immigration in Chicago. Never again will I go through Chicago. 4. Choose LAX, SFO, or Dulles. 5. Book only to a major city in China. Fares are cheaper if you use the English websites of AirChina, China Southern Airlines, or my favorite to book airfares or hotels...www.ctrip.com. Also check www.elong.com. 6. Not all ATMs work with your ATM card. Expect to pay about $1.50 transaction fee for using ATMs. If you have an issue with an ATM choose one that has the 'CRS' written big on it. Sometimes the 'ATM' symbol just doesnt work. You will find out. 7. Get cash at the Airport. Outside of major cities, cash is KING. Notes are just like in the United States; 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100. 8. You can find great deals if you avoid Star (2,3,4,5) hotels. I stayed on the 17th floor in my town for only 50RMB per day (about $7.00) 9. Have fun. The driving is awesome. Screw wearing seat belts and learn to use chopsticks. 10. POLITICS is a definite NO-NO. Have fun and chat about anything else. But I will avoid anything political. 11. Have fun and if you intend to marry, expect to find many more attractive Chinese women than you can imagine. The Chinese woman are very sexy and slim. You will be surprised!!
GUESTDAVID

Jan 28, 2008 20:51 GMT-6	#10
GUEST29157	my chinese wife & i plan to return to guangzhou to live soon. i want to open a small art studio there. can anyone please tell me how to do this?
GUEST29157

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