Visa & Residence Permit

I. Visa

[Types of Visa Coming to China]
A.     X1 Visa

X1 Visa is for people studying in China for more than 6 months. Once issued, it allows applicants 30 days to register at the international student office and apply for a residence permit. Before applying for a residence permit, however, students are required to get a health report from the Shaanxi Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau.
B.     X2 Visa
X2 Visa is for people engaging in short-term (less than 6 months) academic activities in China. It specifies how many days in total applicants are allowed to stay in China on the visa page. For instance, if you enter China with an X2 visa valid for 90 days on August 25, you may stay until November 23. The students holding X2 visa do not need to apply for Residence Permit.
C.     L Visa
L Visa is a tourist visa. It is for people or groups traveling to China.
D.    S1 and S2 Visa
S1 Visa is a long-term visa issued for dependents such as family members, parents/parents-in-law of work/study visa holders.
S2 Visa is a short-term visa issued for dependents such as family members, parents/parents-in-law of work/study visa holders.
E.     Z Visa
Z Visa is required if you are coming to China to perform services in a pre-arranged professional job.
F.      Residence Permit
Residence permit is issued to people studying in China for more than 180 days. Once granted, it allows students unlimited entry into China for the time that the visa is valid.

[Extension of Visa]

Students who want to continue their study in Xi’an Jiaotong University after their current X2 visas expire shall extend their visas. Students must apply for an extension at least one month earlier than the expiration of their visas. Documents needed and procedures:
1. Students should fill in Foreigner Visa and Residence Permit Application Form in the International Students Affairs Office with their Students Card, valid passport, Admission Notice, residence certificate, and one passport-size photo;
2. Those who should pay tuition are required to pay up their tuition before the extension of visa;

3. Students should go to the Exit and Entry Administration Division of Xi’an Public Security Bureau (see address on Appendix) to apply for an extension of visa with documents including the sealed Foreigner Visa and Residence Permit Application Form with photograph affixed to the form, valid residence certificate and passport.
4. Students would be considered as illegal stay in China if they fail to extend visa in time before the expiration of their visa and they will be fined according to the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China. They could be fined and even detained or expelled from China if the offense is serious.

[Visa Application for International Students and their Relatives]
International students’ spouses with foreign nationalities or their offspring under the age of 18 could apply for zero-entry, single-entry, double-entry or multi-entry L-visas that are valid for six months. They can apply as many times as they prefer. However, the valid period of their visas should not exceed the valid period for foreign students’ visas or residence permits.
Application procedures are as follows:
International students should go to International Students Affairs Office to fill Foreigner Visa and Residence Permit Application Form and provide the following documents;
Documents needed:
(1) International students’ valid passport or residence permit;
(2) Applicants’ valid passport and visa;
(3) Temporary Residence Registration Certificate of both internationals students and the applicants;
(4) Spouses of foreign nationalities should provide marriage certificates. Children of foreign nationalities should provide kinship certificates.
Note: Documents issued to applicants previously by institutions abroad must be authenticated by Chinese embassies or consulates abroad.
Applicants should go to the Exit and Entry Administration Division of Xi’an Public Security Bureau (see address on Appendix)to apply for an extension of visa with the documents above as well as the sealed Foreigner Visa and Residence Permit Application Form with photograph affixed to the form, and valid passport.

II. Residence Permit

1. Applying for Residence Permit
International students holding X1 visas shall go to the Exit and Entry Administration Division of Xi’an Public Security Bureau (see address on Appendix) to apply for residence permit within 30 days after they enter China. International students applying for residence permit should provide following documents:
(1) Certificate of Health Examination Report for Foreigners issued by International Travel Healthcare Center, Shaanxi Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau (See address on Appendix);
(2) Admission Notice issued by Xi’an Jiaotong University and JW201 Form/JW202 From;
(3) Foreigner Visa and Residence Permit Application Form and letter of introduction issued by International Students Affairs Office;
(4) Tuition Invoice issued by the university (if students are self-financed);
(5) Applicants’ valid passports and the copy.
(6) Four 2-inch bareheaded full faced photos (no red background)
(7) Temporary Residence Registration Certificated issued by local police office or flat related to foreign affairs.
(8) Application Fees: 400 RMB per year.
Note: It will be considered as illegal residence for the students who are overdue on application for transferring to the Residence Permit. According to the related regulations ofExit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China,you will be fined. Furthermore, those with a severe violation might be detained or expelled from China. In order to avoid troubles, kindly remind that please apply and carry out relevant procedures within 30 days entering into China.  
2. Valid Period of Residence Permit
Valid period of residence permit should be in agreement with international students’ studying period and should not exceed the valid period of their passports.
3. Extension of Residence Permit
Students who want to continue their study in China after their current residence permit expires shall extend their residence permit. Students should apply for an extension at least 30 days earlier than the expiration of their residence permits.

Documents needed and procedures include:
(1)  Students should fill in Foreigner Visa and Residence Permit Application Form in the International Students Affairs Office with their Students Card, valid passport, residence certificate, and one passport-size photo.
(2)  Those who should pay fees are required to pay up the fees before the extension of residence permit.
(3)  Students should go to the Exit and Entry Administration Division of Xi’an Public Security Bureau (see address on Appendix) to apply for an extension of residence permit with documents including the sealed Foreigner Visa and Residence Permit Application Form with photograph affixed to the form, valid passport and residence certificate.
If the students’ Residence Permit expire and they continue to stay in China without applying for a new one in time, their stay will be considered as illegal. These students will be fined or detained if the offense is serious according to theExit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China.
4. Alternation of Residence Permits
In case of any changes in the information of the address, passport number, or host institution, the residence permit holder shall register these changes with the Exit and Entry Administration Division of Xi’an Public Security Bureau. Documents needed and procedures:
(1) Students should fill in Foreigner Visa and Residence Permit Application Form in the International Students Affairs Office with their Students Card, valid passport, residence permit, temporary residence registration certificate and one passport-size photo.
(2) Students should go to the Exit and Entry Administration Division of Xi’an Public Security Bureau (see address on Appendix) to apply for an alteration of visa with documents including the sealed Foreigner Visa and Residence Permit Application Form with photograph affixed to the form, valid residence certificate and passport.
If international students fail to alter residence permit in time when there is any change on it, they will be fined according to theExit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China.

III. Visa Application for Re-Entry

International students holding valid residence permit can re-enter China mainland if they go to other countries or region (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) without applying for a new visa.
International students with X2 visas should apply to the International Students Affairs Office 10 days in advance and go to the Exit and Entry Administration Division of Xi’an Public Security Bureau (See address on the Appendix) to apply for a new visa with documents including properly-completed Foreigner Visa and Residence Permit Application Form, valid personal passport, Admission Notice, JW201 Form/JW202 Form, one 2-inch photo (with no red background) and Temporary Residence Registration Certificated issued by local police office or flat related to foreign affairs. .

IV. Exit from China

International students with X2 visas who want to be back to China after holidays should apply a new visa for re-entry into China before they leave. Those who finish their studies and do not plan to return China should leave China within the valid period of their visa or residence permit with their valid passport.

V. Loss of Passport

International students shall report to the local police office immediately if they lose their passport, and ask for a Certificate of Lost Passport at the Exit and Entry Administration Division of Xi’an Public Security Bureau. Then apply for a new passport at their embassy in China. After they get the new passport, they should go to the International Students Affairs Office to reapply for visa.

VI. Loss of Residence Permit

International students shall apply for a new residence permit in time if they lose their current one. Documents needed and procedures:
(1) Students should fill in Foreigner Visa and Residence Permit Application Form in the International Students Affairs Office with their Students Card, valid passport, temporary residence registration certificate and one passport-size photo;
(2) Students should go to the Exit and Entry Administration Division of Xi’an Public Security Bureau (see address on Appendix) to apply for an alteration of residence permit with documents including the sealed Foreigner Visa and Residence Permit Application Form with photograph affixed to the form, valid residence certificate and passport.
If students lose their passport or Residence Permit but continue to stay in China without applying for a new one in time, their stay will be considered as illegal. These students will be fined or detained if the offense is serious according to theExit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China.

VII. Others

No alteration or damage is allowed to be made on the visas, papers, or any certificates issued by the International Students Affairs Office. Violators will be punished and fined.
Generally, no invitation is made to international students’ family for accompanying. Accompanying family member can only hold tourist visas to enter China in special cases.

Appendix:

Exit and Entry Administration Division of Xi’an Public Security Bureau
Address: Southwest of Xixieqilu Crossing, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Office Time: 9:00- 16:00 (Monday to Friday)
Website:http://www.xa-police.gov.cn/
Route: Get on the Bus 34 from Stop of Jiaoda South Gate to Stop of Xixieqilu, the place is at the Southwest of Xixieqilu Crossing. (It may take you about 20 RMB by taxi.)

International Travel Healthcare Center, Shaanxi Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau
Address: No.10 North Hanguang Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Office Time: 8:00-11:00 (Morning every Monday to Friday)
Website:http://www.snciq.gov.cn/
Route: Get on the Bus 313 from Stop of Jiaoda South Gate to Stop of Hanguang Road. The place is at the south of Hanguang Road. (It may take you about 15 RMB by taxi.)