VISA

Introduction to Chinese Visas
1. Visa of Category X: issued to foreigners, who come to China for studying, training or internship for more than 6 months.
Sample of Visa of Category X

A indicates the category of this visa is X.
B indicates that the holder of this visa can enter China only once.
C indicates that the holder of this visa must enter China before November 6th, 2010.
D indicates how many days the holder of this visa can stay in China.According to Chinese immigration regulations the holder of visa X must change his or her visa into a Residence Permit within 30 days after entering China.

2. Visa of Category F:
issued to foreigners, who come to China for studying, training or internship for less than 6 months, or who come to China for visiting, investigation, teaching, business, cultural or science and technology exchange activities.
Sample of Visa of Category F











Visa Extension and Re-entry Visa Application

1. The foreign student, whole holds an F Visa and wants to extend the F visa or apply for a Re-entry F Visa for the first time, must persent the following materials to Shanghai Exit-entry Administrative Bureau:
1) Passport;
2) Acceptance Letter;
3) JW202 or JW201 Form;
4) An Introduction Letter for Foreign Students' Visa and Residence Permit Application, which is issued by the Office of International Student Affairs;
5) One 2-inch Photo (the size of passport photo);
6) The expense of handling the visa, according to Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration Bureau;
7) An original copy and photocopy of Registration Form of Temporary Residence which is issued by the school dormitory reception or the local police station of community outside campus.
2. Foreign Students, who have finished the study in China but still want to stay in China for some days, can apply for a No-entry L visa for the maximum of 30 days. The following materials are necessary:
1) Passport;
2) One 2-inch Photo (the size of passport photo);
3) An Introduction letter from OISA, or a Certificate of graduation from the school or completion of study.
4) The original and one copy of Registration Form of Temparary Residence from the dormitory, hotel or local police station.

Regulations on Residence Permit

1. What should I do if I want to extend my Residence Permit?
The student who wants to continue studying at SISU or extends the study duration must get the following materials ready to extend residence permit at Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration Bureau before his residence permit expires:
1) Passport;
2) An Introduction Letter for Foreign Students' Visa and Residence Permit Application, which is issued by the Office of International Student Affairs;
3) One 2-inch Photo (the size of passport photo);
4) An original copy and photocopy of Registration Form of Temporary Residence which is issued by the school dormitory reception or the local police station of community outside campus.

2. Can I extend in Shanghai my Residence Permit, which was not issued in Shanghai?
Student who holds a residence permit which isn't issued in Shanghai should report to the local exit-entry administration bureau before he comes to Shanghai. After he arrives in Shanghai, he can extend his residence permit in Shanghai. JW201 or JW202 Form shall be provided.

3. What should I do if some information concerning my Residence Permit changed?
If the purpose of residence, passport number, accompanying person and so on has been changed, student must apply for a new residence permit at Shanghai Exit-Entry Bureau within ten days. The expense is 200 RMB. (If his passport number has been changed, he should submit both the old and the new passport or a certification of reporting the loss of the old passport and an Introduction Letter for Foreign Students' Visa and Residence Permit Application, which is issued by the Office of International Student Affairs.)

If student's address, university or other items has been changed, he must go to Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration Bureau to handle the change procedure within ten days. If the address has been changed, he should firstly fill out a Registration Form of International Students Living Off Campus of Shanghai International Studies University, then registers at the local police station of his residence and at last submits the Registration Form of Temporary Residence issued by the local police station or the hotel to Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration Bureau. The formalities of changing address are charged free.

4. What should I do if I will leave school before than scheduled?
For student who leaves school before his study finishes for various reasons, he should go to Shanghai Exit-Entry Administrative Bureau to handle a new visa or cancel his residence permit with an Introduction Letter for Foreign Students' Visa and Residence Permit Application, which is issued by the Office of International Student Affairs and then leaves China after he finishes the procedure of leaving school at the Office of International Student Affairs.

5.What should I do if I lost my passport and Residence Permit?
Student should firstly take an identification certification (e.g.: a photocopy of his passport) and an Introduction Letter for Foreign Students' Visa and Residence Permit Application, which is issued by the Office of International Student Affairs to Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration Bureau to receive a certification of losing passport, then goes to his country's embassy or consulate in China to re-apply for a passport. At last he should go to Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration Bureau to re-apply for a residence permit or visa.

6. How much does a Residence Permit cost?
1) The expense of handling a residence permit is charged by Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration Bureau according to the validity of the residence permit at the following standards:
- Less than one year, 400 RMB;
- One to three years, 800 RMB;
- Three to five years, 1000 RMB.
2) The expense of a re-entry visa is according to the bilateral agreement on visa expense.
3) It will take five working days for Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration Bureau to finish a residence permit. The Bureau is open from Monday through Saturday.

The visa and residence permit for the family members of foreign student
The spouse, children under 18 years old of a foreign student or the parents of a foreign student under 18 years old can apply twice to extend the validity of L visa. The longest period of validity for each extension is 6 months, but the period can't exceed the validity of the student's residence permit. He can take the following materials to Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration Bureau to handle his family member's visa.
1. The student's valid passport and residence permit;
2. His family member's valid ordinary passport and visa;
3. His spouse should provide a marriage certification. His children should provide a relative certification.
4. An original copy and photocopy of Registration Form of Temporary Residence.

Punishments on Overstaying
According to Chinese Immigration Regulations, if foreigners overstay his or her visa or Residence Permit, Exit-entry Adminitrative Bureau can give them punishments of warning, fine, detaining or leaving China within a time limit. The fine for every day of overstaying is 500 RMB. The maximum is 5000 RMB.

Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of Shanghai Public Security Bureau.
Address: No. 15000 Minsheng Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, China
Office time: 9:00-11:30, 13:30-16:30. From Monday to Saturday.
Telephone: 86-21-28951900
Transportation tips:
Students in Hongkou Campus can choose the following ways to go to Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration Bureau.
1) Take a taxi, through the Dalian Road Tunnel. It costs approximately 40 RMB.
2) Take Metro Line 8, transfer Line 2 at People's Square Station and get off the metro at Shanghai Science and Technology Museum Station, and then walk to the Bureau.
3) Take Metro Line 3, transfer Line 4 at Baoshan Road Station, and then transfer Line 2 at the Century Avenue Station and get off at Shanghai Science and Technology Museum Station, and walk to the Bureau then.