一． A Brief Introduction to Chinese Visa and the Procedure for Visa Application
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.
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):
1. Providing valid passport or a travel document in lieu of the passport
2. Filling out a visa application form, and providing a recent 2-inch, bareheaded and full-faced passport photo.
3. Paying the visa fee.
二．How to deliver the application for visa?
The following materials for application for Chinese visa are required:
1. A passport with visa blank page is required and its valid period is not less than 6 months from the date of delivery.
2. An Application For People’s Republic of China Visa signed by the applicant truthfully, completely and clearly is required.
3. A recent, bareheaded and full-faced passport photo is required. ( a life photo, a duplicated photo and a digital photo printed by ordinary paper are not accepted)
4. According to the purpose of visit to China, other relevant materials for application are required
5. Other certificate materials that visa officials require and are for visa application are required.
6. When receiving the visa, an applicant should pay the visa fee or urgent service fee (if you choose).
三． What attention should be paid when we apply for Chinese visa？
When you deliver the application for Chinese visa, you should pay attention to:
1. Make full arrangement in advance in case of delay because of failure visa and lateness of application.
2. Application form should be filled out accurately, completely and clearly and signed. (Juveniles can be replaced to sign the application form by their parents or guardians and mutual relationships should be confirmed)
3. The materials for application must be authentic and complete. If not, you will be refused to transact the affairs.
4. You should answer visa officials truthfully. According to Chinese laws and regulations and international conventions, consul generals authorize to require the applicant to offer his other relevant documents, and have the right to refuse to issue the visa without explaining the reasons.
5. The category, frequency, the period of validity and stay of visa should be decided by visa officials according to the regulations concerning as well as the requirements of applicant
6. When receiving the visa, the applicants have responsibilities for verifying the content. Immediate claim as there is any problem
7. The applicants should bear the responsibility themselves for the consequences resulting from the following cases:
① You will be refused to apply for the visa when the application form is not filled out truthfully and completely ,or there are misleading declarations.
② You will be refused to apply for the visa when the passport and photo dissatisfy the requirements, or the concerning application materials are not offered according to the requirements by visa officials.
③ You will be refused to boarding or immigration when your visa expires for untimely application, or you fail to receive the visa in time.
④ The visa is invalid to use because of self-arrangement or the third party after the visa is issued.
⑤ You will be refused to boarding or immigration because you fail to check the frequency, the period of validity and stay of visa and the period of validity of passport before you come to China.
⑥ you will fail to use the visa for other reasons of applicants.
四． Is a visa needed when coming to China?
1. According to bilateral agreement, citizens of some countries, carrying the relevant passports, can come to China with exemption of visas. But the period of stay should not surpass 30 days from the date of your immigration. If you need to extend the period of stay, you should apply to the department concerned as soon as possible.
2. Citizens coming from Singapore, Brunei, Japan in order to travel , trade and visit relatives and friends should take ordinary passports staying within 15 days with exemption of visas from China to Foreign Port. But the three countries’ citizens should handle visa as the following conditions : Firstly, the person with ordinary passports comes to travel ,trade and visit relatives and friends within 15 days; Secondly , the person with ordinary passports comes to study , work ,settle and interview;, thirdly, the person takes diplomatic or official passports.
3. From November 15, 2000, foreigners from the countries having diplomatic relations with China, carrying the ordinary passports, can enter Guangdong Pearl Delta Region (refers to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, Huizhou, Shantou) within 6 days, in group via the travel agencies registered in Hong Kong and Macau.
4. Foreigners, carrying the on-going airline tickets and ascertaining the seats, travel by international airline and transit directly from China. The period of staying in transiting cities don’t surpass 24 hours and the foreigners don’t leave airport. They can be exempt from applying for visas.
5. The citizens of the following 20 countries: U.S.A., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Netherland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy, can transit Shanghai with exemption of visas within 48 hours, whatever passport they carry.
6. The citizens of following 19 countries: Malaysia, Thailand, Korea, Philippine, Indonesia, Germany, U.K., France, Austria, Italy, Russia, Swiss, Sweden, Spain, Netherland, U.S.A., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, can travel in Hainan Province via international travel agencies authorized to be registered in Hainan by National Tourism Administration with exemption of visas within 15 days
7. In addition to the above mentioned, all other foreigners should carry visas when entering China mainland. Chinese citizens including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan compatriots come to China mainland without applying for visas but passports and relevant travel certificates.
According to the principles of international law, any sovereign state authorizes to decide on its own whether foreigners are allowed to enter its country and to issue visas, refuse to issue visas and withdraw the issued visas on the basis of national laws.
五．What articles are forbidden to enter our country?
1. Various firearms, simulation firearms, ammunition and explosion.
2. Counterfeit money and marketable securities of falsification.
3. Printing articles, films, photographs, records, movies, tapes, videos, DVDs, computer storages and other articles , which are harmful to Chinese politics, economy, culture and ethics.
4. Various deadly poisons.
5. Opium, morphine, heroin, hashish and other addictive narcotics and Psychotropic Substances
6. Dangerous pathogenic bacteria, pest and other animals, plants and their products that are harmful to other creatures.
7. Food, medicine and other articles that propose harm to health of human and animal, come from infected areas and transmit diseases.