Visa&Residence Permit
Visa
1. What kind of visa should an international student apply for in order to enter China?
International students who wish to study in China should apply for X-Visa (Student Visa) if their study is longer than 6 months or F-Visa (Visit Visa) if their study is less than 6 months. If there is no enough time to apply for X-visa (Student Visa) or F-visa (Visit Visa), L-Visa (Tourist Visa) is also acceptable for most international students. In most cases, Shanghai Normal University can help the student change the L-visa (Tourist Visa) to X-visa (Student Visa) after the student registers in Shanghai Normal University.
2. How to apply for the visa in an international student's home country?
The Acceptance Letter and Visa Application Form (JW202 form) will be prepared and sent to the applicant 3 to 4 weeks after receiving the applicant's Application Form and the application fee. The Acceptance Letter and Visa Application Form (JW 202 Form) are used to apply for X-Visa (which also requires a Health Certificate issued by the registered hospital in the student's home country) or F-Visa (which doesn't require a Health Certificate) from the Embassy or Consulate of P.R. China in the student's home country.
3.Residence Permit (for Study)
Residence Permit (for study) is a legal residence certificate issued by the Ministry of Public Security of China to a foreign individual to study in China. It has multiple entries to China while it is valid. X-Visa must be changed to a Residence Permit (for study) within 30 days from the first day of entering China. F-Visa is a short-term Visit Visa with a valid duration of 30 to 180 days and can include single, double, or multiple entries. If the valid duration of the F-Visa doesn't cover the student's planned study period, he should change it to a Residence Permit (for study) with the assistance of Shanghai Normal University. If the interval between the last exit and this entry is less than 3 months and the total duration of those two stays together is longer than 180 days, the student must apply for the Residence Permit (for study). L-visa (Toursit Visa) must be changed to X-visa (Student Visa) as well as the Residence Permit (for study).
4.How long is Residence Permit (for study) or F-visa valid? How much are the processing fees?
Visa's validity depends on the student's tuition. One semester's tuition payment equals one semester of validity, two semesters' tuition payment equals two semesters of validity. To extend visa, the next semester's tuition fee must be paid in advance. Fees for transaction of Residence Permit (for study) are: RMB400 (within 6 months' validity), RMB800 (1- 3 years' validity), RMB1000 (3-5 years' validity). Fees for the transaction of F-Visa differ by the number of entries required and the student's home country. Usually the change of L-visa to F-visa is RMB160 and charge for each more entry is RMB160.
5. What documents should be submitted when applying for Residence Permit (for study) ?
(1) passport with at least 6 months validity left before expiration and at least one blank page left in it
(2) one photo (passport size)
(3) a copy of the Registration Form of Temporary Residence (student who lives off campus should apply for it in the local police station near his lodging.)
(4) Health Certificate
(5) JW202 Form
(6) Acceptance Letter
(7) Application Form for Visa and Residence Permit
(8) School Letter (provided by Shanghai Normal University after full tuition payment).
6. How to get a Health Certificate?
Shanghai Normal University can arrange for students to do a Health Examination or Verification only one time after the registration in each semester. Students should make an appointment with the registered hospital and do it by themselves at other time. Health Certificates are usually issued 4 work-days after the examination. Those who have got the Health Certificate in their home countries must go to the registered hospital and do the verification after entering China. The registered hospital is Shanghai International Travel Healthcare Center (15 Jinbang Road, Shanghai. Telephone number for appointment is: 6268-8851. Website: http://www.sithc.com). Required documents that should be submitted to the hospital are: passport, copy of passport, copy of Acceptance Letter (or Student's ID Card), four photos (3cm*4cm), original papers of blood-test and Health Certificate obtained abroad (for verification). Fee for Health Examination is about RMB 600.
7. How can the students who live off campus get the Registration Form of Temporary Residence?
Those who live outside campus should go to the International Students Center of Shanghai Normal University to fill out the Registration Form for Students Living Outside Campus first, then take it to the local police station which is in charge of the area of residence with their passport and rental contract within 72 hours after moving in.
8. What should I do if there is a change in my passport number, purpose of residence, residence address or my school?
Go to the International Students Center of Shanghai Normal University within a week to get the related documents, then go to the visa center or visa office to process it. A new Registration Form of Temporary Residence is needed to change your addresses.
9. What should I do if I lose or break my passport?
Go to the International Students Center of Shanghai Normal University immediately to get the related documents, then go to the visa center or visa office to process it. After receiving a new passport from the respective embassy or consulate, prepare all the documents needed to apply for a new Residence Permit or F-Visa.
10. What should I do to cancel my Residence Permit (for study) or F-Visa?
When international students finish their studies, they should leave China before the expiry date of their Residence Permit (study) or F-Visa. If a student is dismissed or drops out from Shanghai Normal University, he should get the related documents from the International Students Center of Shanghai Normal University and go to the visa center to cancel his Residence Permit. If the student doesn't go to the visa center to cancel his Residence Permit, Shanghai Normal University will send his name to the visa center and then his residence in China will be illegal.
