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Q: Do I need to return to my home country in order to apply for an X1 visa (student visa)
I've been told by my prospective Chinese college that I will need to apply for my visa within the UK. However, I've also heard about people applying and renewing their visas in countries such as South Korea or in S.A.Rs such as Hong Kong.
8 years 21 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
What visa are you in China on at the moment?
kasuka91:
A Z visa, however, my residence permit will probably expire before I'm able to actually lodge my student visa application to the Chinese authorities..
It looks like after the short search over Internet, you're required to exit China, and apply for X1 in Chinese Embassy in your home country.
Few links on X1 requirements and fees:
http://www.visainchina.com/studentxvisa.htm
Agency with phone no. for more info:
kasuka91:
Thanks for the links, but those sites still fail to clearly state whether the application has to me made in my home country. It still doesn't seem very clear.
icnif77:
There's phone no. on 2nd link. They might know about possibility to apply in HK, and 'how to...'
Phone: 646-807-8307 Email: info@omnivisas.com
This link might be helpful:
http://www.gokunming.com/en/forums/thread/2872/changing_zteaching_visa_t...
Good luck!
I've had a read of those links above and thought this through. This way may be possible but you need to get the school to check with the visa office!
1) you're already here on a resident permit for working. When this expires you can get a 30-day L-visa (tourist visa) inside China. That will let you stay here a bit longer.
2) You may then be able to apply for the student visa to get a new resident permit while already inside China.
The visainchina link above states:
Notice1: If the applicant didn't enter China with X1 visa, then he/she needs to provide extra JW201 or JW202 form.
So if my understanding is correct from that AND the old Gokunming link is correct you should b able to convert the 30-day tourist visa into the student visa in China.
My don't take my word on this though! Get the school to check with the PSB.
Thanks alot guys, definitely helped in making things clearer. The main issue is my school wants me to continue working until the end of January (when the semester ends), however, my resident permit expires at the beginning of January!
My college has also said that the student visa will only be approved at the beginning of the new semester (early March), and this is apparently law. So, as you can see, it's a bit of a sticky situation. I need to figure out a way to remain in China for at least one month in addition to the expiry date of my residence permit (until the end of the FIRST semester).
I wondering about whether I'd be able to get a business visa until the end of January, and then prepare my application for March in early February. All still so confusing!
Hotwater:
You might find it difficult getting a business visa inside China. Check if you can get a longer tourist visa.
icnif77:
If RP expire in the beginning of Jan., you must get 30-days visa (L or RP extension), after RP expire.
That's mandatory, for either prepare yourself for exit or in this period you can change your job/RP sponsor, and new RP sponsor have enough time to get new FEC , ME and extension of RP for the new Contract length.
Hotwater:
It's not mandatory! If he's going to leave the country it's not needed. Also if enough time between leaving last job and getting new job before current RP expires it's not mandatory....talking from very recent experience on the 2nd point!
Of course in the OP's case it will be needed to give time to get student visa and new RP. But he needs to check if it can be done the way I suggested in my earlier post.
icnif77:
RP expire on the same day as Contract, in other words you must be in the classroom on the last day of RP. School might agree you leave (home) earlier, but that is Contract breach.
That is the reason 30-days RP extension is mandatory.
Example: I finished my Contract in Xinjiang, and let say I was planning to exit China/go home. School wanted I work on the last day as per Contract.
Few days earlier, we went to PSB, where I got 30-days RP extension. School was coached on the matter by FEB.
FEB told me, 30-days extension is mandatory with purpose of preparing to leave China, or head toward the new RP sponsor.
I always got 30-days RP extension without Q: 'what do you plan to do?'.
OP won't get extra time to get new visa. He must exit China when RP (extension) expire. Purpose of extension is 'prepare for exit/traveling around China' or 'new RP Contract length extension'. From FEB's mouth...
Stop 'pointing' at me.
Hotwater:
And if you resign early? As I said, I changed jobs this year using 30 day notice period. That employer was very good and caused no problems, giving me release letter & WP cancellation receipt. Current RP had enough time left to get new one sorted out. So depends how you change jobs. I'm not a teacher so things might be different if on work permit, not FEC, but I doubt it.
icnif77:
That's different matter. If you resigned, you have plenty time on RP left.....I'm talking about 'when completing the Contract, extension is mandatory'. I'm saying, you don't need to beg at PSB, they'll give extension without Q 'why' and so on. PSB won't even ask anything. Give them passport few days before RP expire, and come back, and pick-up 5 working days later with 30-days extension in it.
If you resign, it's always 'hairy'. Why? Because School most likely won't like it, and will have demands, and your Co. was mostly likely 'happy' --->'pun' you left earlier. LOL.
OP: Dial FEB, and come back and tell us, what did they say. I'm telling you '30-days extension is given, if you complete your Contract'. RP and Contract end on the same day. You can't respect the Contract (school demands) and leave China (Exit law) on the same day.
kasuka91:
Icnif77's point definitely makes more sense. Perhaps my school has just decided to withhold this information from me and are simply messing me around. Seems to be the classic issue of the school principal saying one thing and HR saying another
icnif77:
Your school might don't know about that, but I doubt.
You're free to do anything you want in that time. You can spend time for purchasing exit tickets, you can pack your stuff, you can travel around China, and similar. If you have all that set, you can continue to work, but I think school will/must cancel your FEC.
If you'll change your job, you travel to new job site, and they have sufficient time to get new FEC, Medical exam and extend RP for validity of new Contract.
In Xinjiang, it was 30-days RP extension (they just add smaller stamp by RP similar as 'correction'), in Fujian it was S2, and in Hebei it was 30-days L. No Q asked.
When 30-days extension expire, you must be out of China!
@icnif77 thanks alot for that info regarding the idea that '30-days extension is given, if you complete your Contract', going to look further into that. What does FEB stand for btw?
icnif77:
That's not an idea. It's Chinese law. Foreign Expert Bureau is SAFEA, same place where you got Foreign Expert Certificate.
Enter 'SAFEA' in search above for address and contact no. in your Province. Dial them and ask about it.
Hotwater:
Which is exactly what I wrote about about getting a 30-day L visa :-)
icnif77:
The matter I want to point it out:
'you don't need to apply for any visa! 30-days extension or L (or whatever visa name is) is given. It's a must, if you finish the Contract.'
Hotwater:
Ok, it might be automatic to get it but you still need to go to the visa office to request it! So you apply for it! You're picking at different use of language mate. What I wrote earlier was correct.
icnif77:
@Hot, you're not into the 'hair....', are you?
Hotwater:
It's not mandatory!
I guess, proper Englo term I should use is 'obligatory'.
kasuka91:
Again, thanks alot guys. Things are becoming alot clearer now, really appreciated!
icnif77:
School rep. must come with you to PSB for RP extension, and show school's docs. about authorization for foreign hire. School must show some papers in Chinese. I'm not sure, what that is, but I guess it's Gov. approval for foreign hire. No any other forms to fill it up.
School rep. can get RP extension by him/herself, if you're willing to hand your passport. 15' tops at PSB, and after 5 working days passport pick-up.
Hey guys, just giving you all an update on the situation:
- my school agreed to extend my contract by another year, and by doing this, my residence permit will also be extended for an additional year. However, once our school semester ends they plan to cancel my work visa with the whole FEC cancelation letter stuff, thus, freeing me up to apply for my student visa
- As a UK citizen, I've been told by numerous sources (including businesspeople and visa agencies) that I am able to apply for a student visa in Hong Kong. British citizens can apply for all of the different visas in Hong Kong except for the Z visa
Thanks for all of your help and advice guys, appreciated as always.
icnif77:
I'd say, make sure next year to get Release letter and FEC Cancellation Certificate. You'll need both documents, if you'll apply for new Working permit/Z visa.
