Links

Here are other useful sites for learning Chinese and knowledge of China.Click here>>

English Learning

Learn English online on our website:

englishmedialab.com

english-4kids.com

Business English

Business quizzes

China Visa Information - ChineseForTravel.com

Get information on Chinese visas and how to apply. It is very nasty to find yourself in a visa crisis while in China. Time and again, I come across foreigners who did not check the facts carefully and found themselves in an unexpected visa crisis. So what is a Chinese visa? What visa should you obain before arrival? Also know what your visa allows you to do while in China. With this information you can better prepare yourself, by getting the right visa and avoid unpleasant endings like paying a fine over a misconception.

 

Brief Introduction to the Chinese Visa

A Brief Introduction to Chinese Visa and the Procedure for Visa Application


2000/11/15

 

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):

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.

Source: China Foreign Affairs Bureau

 

Learn Chinese Online

 

Today's Lesson: Click Play to Start Listening

Click here for more survival Chinese lessons>>>  

Lesson Podcasts

Learn Chinese online by listening to podcasts. Learn your first words in conversational Chinese. We have tried to prepare lessons according to traveler needs. These survival Chinese lessons were built, based on most foreigners' learning experience.

Lessons

Vocabulary Lessons

  • Numbers - Learn how to count in Chinese
  • Learn Chinese prefixes/Suffixes

Grammar Lessons

  • Tenses in Chinese
China Photos & Videos

Discover China in full color. You know what they about pictures telling a thousand words. Here is your chance to quickly look at our collection of travel photos & Videos. Explore China in full color.

Check out some videos and Photo slideshows of our travel around China>>>

New & Events

Get news and information of big events in China. So what's happening in China? Start with Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and more here>>>

English Lessons

We are mostly in the language business and the webmster of this site has other Free online English websites and materials for teaching English. Click here to Learn & teach English with our resources>>>

Lesson Mp3 Downloads

To make it easier for you to learn Chinese we have made it possible for you to freely download the mp3 lessons for listening on ipods and mp3 players. We also have pdf study guide to go with each lesson. Visit the mp3 downloads here>>>

 

Travel in China

The cheapest way to travel around around China is to join package tours. However, if you have a bit more cash to spend, then you can get an agent to arrange that for you. Here are leads to some agencies that organize tours around China>>>

Foreign Community

There is an ever-increasing foreign community in China, made of business persons, students, foreign expats and more. Here you can find links to embassies and where to find people like you in China. We have embassy directories, phone numbers and more. We also have a list of websites set up by foreigners living in China. Check it out>>>

Culture

It common knowledge that culture plays an important role in human relations. This is true of cross-cultural relations in China. There is always a Chinese way of doing things which can be traced back to some story or past event in Chinese history. When you understand this, can you have an easier life & business in China. Don't expect China to be "Just like home." Check out articles, tips and experiences of other foreigners who have understood and lived with this culture>>>

 

For English Learners & Teachers

ESL Kids Lab- Free ESL Resources for Kids

English Media Lab- Free online exercises for all levels

ESL-Galaxy.com : Free Worksheets for Teachers

Download-esl.com : Free Podcasts & Downloads