Return to Beijing

IMPORTANT
All travelers to China are required to hold a valid visa and passport. Our school will send a letter of invitation and we can help with advise but it is the participants responsibility to apply and receive both their Visa and passport. Please allow pleant y of advance time to apply for your visa ( 10 - 12 weeks before your proposed start date).

PASSPORTS
It normally takes about 2 – 6 weeks to apply for a passport, sometimes longer if last during the busy summer season, so don't delay!

If you are traveling or studying abroad, all travelers and students must have a valid passport. The passport is your official identification as a citizen of that country. If your, American it is issued by the Department of State, and is good for a period of 10 years. You must have a valid passport on your person to show border and customs authorities when you enter or leave the United States or when crossing most other national borders.

When traveling keep your passport in a safe place and take a photocopy. Losing a passport while you are abroad is not the end-of-the-world, but it will be a problem, since the procedures for being issued another are very complicated and often extremely time consuming.

If you already have a passport but it will expire before your trip is completed abroad, you should apply for a new passport before you depart from the U.S/Canada. Your current passport usually suffices for identification of your birth and citizenship, but new photos and the fee are of course required.

Domestic loss or theft of a valid passport should be reported in writing immediately to Passport Services, or to the nearest passport agency. If the loss occurs while abroad, you should IMMEDIATELY notify the nearest US/Canadian consulate or embassy. Theft of a passport should also be reported to local police authorities.

It is important to remember that your passport is your most important legal document while traveling overseas. In some countries it is required that aliens carry their passports at all times. Guard and store your passport carefully and do not travel away from your study abroad or travel site, particularly away from your host country without your passport.

Useful web links:
USA Citizen: http://iafdb.travel.state.gov
Canadian Citizen: http://www.ppt.gc.ca
UK Citizen: http://www.ukpa.gov.uk

VISA
A Chinese visa is a permit issued by the Chinese visa authorities to those foreigners who want to enter into, exit from or transit through the Chinese territory. According to the applicants' identity, visiting purpose and passport type, the Chinese visa falls into four categories, namely, diplomatic, courtesy, service and ordinary visas.

The ordinary visa consists of nine sub categories, which are respectively marked with Chinese phonetic letters F, L, Z, X, C, J-1, J-2, G, and D.

Visit/Business Visa (F): Issued to those foreigners who are invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business, cultural and exchanges, short-term advanced studies or intern practice for a period of less than six months.

Tourism Visa (L): Issued to those who enter China temporarily for touring, family visiting or other personal affairs (multiple entry is not granted for this category).

Working Visa (Z): Issued to foreigners who are to take up a post or employment in China, and their accompanying family members.

Study/Student Visa (X): Issued to those who come to China for study or intern practice for a period of six months or above.

Crew member Visa (C): Issued to crew members on international aviation, navigation and land transportation missions and their accompanying family members.

Journalist Visa (J-1): This visa is for journalists who are posted to China for at least one year.

Journalist Visa (J-2): Issued to foreign correspondents on temporary interview mission in China.

Transit Visa (G): Issued to those who transit through China.

Residence Visa (D): Issued to people who are going to live in China permanently.

The Chinese visa authorities overseas include Chinese embassies, consulates, visa offices, and the consular department of the office of the Commissioner of 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.

Basic Requirements for Applying for a Chinese Visa
When applying for a visa, foreigners are required to present relevant documents and go through the following formalities:
1)Your original valid passport with at least 2 blank visa pages and six months validity left before expiration
2) A fully completed visa application form with your passport photo attached
3) Sometimes, documents which explain and prove your reason to enter China are needed for visa application
All the incomplete and false information in the visa application form would lead to the failure of application. And all the consequences arising therefrom shall be born by the applicant himself.

How to apply for a tourist visa
Traveling in China requires a tourism visa (L). L Visa is sub-divided into two kinds: group visa and individual visa. If you are a part of a group, the tour operator will often obtain it. Group visas will usually be issued for groups with at least 5, and the guide accompanying your group will keep the visas.

An Individual traveler can apply for one at any Chinese embassy or consulates, and the procedure is usually straightforward. China has its embassies and consulates in most Western and many other countries. You can either get an application form in person at the embassy or consulate or download one by visiting the website of Chinese embassies in the foreign countries.

UK: http://www.china-embassy.org.uk
USA: http://www.china-embassy.org
Canada: http://www.chinaembassycanada.org
Other locations: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/embassy_list.htm

After fully and accurately completing your application, you should submit it to the nearest Chinese Consulate or Eembassy, either in person or by mail. A standard 30 day, single-entry visa from most Chinese embassies abroad can be issued in three to five working days. Rush processing of 24 hours issue or same day is also available (additional Embassy fee applies).

When applying for a tourism visa, some extra documents are sometimes required besides the basic requirements:
1) For individual tourism visa, a letter of confirmation of the tour arrangement made by a travel agency in China or letter of reservation of hotel in China or a invite from your university is required.

2) For group tourist visas, a confirmation letter from a provincial tourist bureau or a government authorized Chinese travel agency; a name list of the whole group in triplicate and one copy of the information page of each passport are required.

Foreigners from countries which have visa agreements with China, are treated in accordance with these agreements.

Visitors who want to visit Tibet need to acquire the consent of the Tourism Administration of the Tibet Autonomous Region or any one of its foreign representative offices.

Foreigners requesting to visit Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Xiamen and other Special Economic Zones may apply directly to visa authorities in these zones for tourist visas. Foreign tourist groups from Hong Kong for a 72-hour visit to the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone are exempt from entry visas.

Tourist visas are usually valid for three months, but can be extended for an extra month at the Foreigners Section of the Public Security Bureau. Passports must be valid for at least six months before you travel to China.

REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS
Due to specific health concerns and conditions in various countries, proof that you have received certain immunizations may be required upon arrival in China. An official record of your immunizations must be carried with you and is usually asked for when you enter China. Please see the below website link for upto date information.

You can demonstrate that you have had the required immunizations by having this information listed on an "International Certificate of vaccinations." This form is issued by the US Department of Health, Education and Welfare and approved by the World Health Organization. It is obtainable from your local Department of Health, a passport office, or from many physicians and travel agencies. It must be filled out and dated by the physician or medical clinic which provides the immunizations.

Useful web links:
http://www.cdc.gov