Visa Application Procedures For Foreign Nationals (aliens)
In the majority of cases, visa nationals (persons not citizens of China) are required to apply for a Chinese visa in their home country at the Chinese foreign mission (embassy or consulate) or through an appointed visa agent, prior to entry into China. In the U.S., this requires presentation of a physical passport to the embassy, where the visa sticker is affixed. This process requires four days but may be done in a single working day for an extra fee. It cannot be done by mail, and cash and personal checks are not accepted as payment.
In some scenarios, it is possible to arrange for a visa upon entry into China.
There are currently four main categories of visas available: L (tourist), F (short term business/study), X (study) and residence permits, also called work (Z) visas.
There are also visa categories for spouses and children, though these are more complex to obtain and rarely granted (letters of invitation are required for all types). L-visas are issued for any time between 14 – 90 days and can be extended in China twice for 30 days. F-visas are issued for either 1, 3, or 6 months, X-visas for 6 or 12 months and Z-visas for 12 months. Since March 2012 invitation letters are need for all types of visa, including Tourist (L) at almost all Chinese embassies when applying for a visa. For tourist (L) visas a copy of both sides of the inviting person's Chinese ID card or passport is needed since. In some countries a return flight ticket, travel itinerary and accommodation bookings might also be required. Non PRC nationals can only issue invitations if they hold a residence permit (Z visa).
Read more about this topic: Visa Policy Of The People's Republic Of China
Famous quotes containing the words application, procedures and/or foreign:
“We will not be imposed upon by this vast application of forces. We believe that most things will have to be accomplished still by the application called Industry. We are rather pleased, after all, to consider the small private, but both constant and accumulated, force which stands behind every spade in the field. This it is that makes the valleys shine, and the deserts really bloom.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Young children learn in a different manner from that of older children and adults, yet we can teach them many things if we adapt our materials and mode of instruction to their level of ability. But we miseducate young children when we assume that their learning abilities are comparable to those of older children and that they can be taught with materials and with the same instructional procedures appropriate to school-age children.”
—David Elkind (20th century)
“Genius resembles a bell; in order to ring it must be suspended into pure air, and when a foreign body touches it, its joyful tone is silenced.”
—Franz Grillparzer (1791–1872)