How Do Foreigners Submit Visa Pre-application at Home?

Ms HiTouch GuideinChina 2018-10-04

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Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau recently released a document on improving life quality for foreigners living in Guangzhou. It includes advice on visa applications, security, and other incentives of starting a business.

Image: 平安广州

1 Submitting visa pre-application at home

The Online Visa Pre-application System of Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau enables applicants to make an appointment for visa application at home, meaning they don't have to go to the Immigration Office. Beyond that, applicants also can check the progress of visa applications, and fill in digital accommodation registration forms online.

Image: screenshot of Online Visa Pre-application System of Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau

Site address

http://www.gzjd.gov.cn/ELSPafv/index.jsp

Which foreigners can make a pre-application online?

- Foreigners visiting for sight-seeing, visiting relatives or seeing Chinese doctors in Guangzhou.

- Visitors who are invited by the organization in Guangzhou for a short-term business trip, study or exchange activities, and those who are employed by or work for companies or organizations in Guangzhou.

How to check visa progress?
When you have successfully submitted your online application, enter the application number to check the progress and other details.

2 Government hotline 24/7 for foreigners

Government hotline 12345 is also available for a foreigners 24/7. Actually, this telephone number is available in many Chinese cities for the citizens to report crimes or give suggestions to the local government.

Image: 平安广州

“

Previously, a foreigner fell down in Moganshan, a tourist spot in Hangzhou. He called 12345 and suggested to the local government that they improve the pavement. Now, the pavements of Moganshan in Hangzhou have been upgraded to a secure level street, curbless design between paths for vehicles and pedestrians.

”

Image: 一席

3 Residence permit with 5 years validity for foreigners

For foreigners who work in Guangzhou for a long-term, if they don't have any criminal records or misdemeanors from their previous stay. According to relative documents, residence permits with 5 years validity are available to be issued to them.

Image: 平安广州

4 Being over 60 years old is not a problem in work visa application

Frankly speaking, if foreigners are over 60, it is more difficult to apply for a work visa in China. But for Category A applicants in China's Work Permit Scoring System, whether can they successfully get a work permit is not affected by the age.

Category A applicants who have worked in China for 3 years, they can apply for Permanent Residence (China Green Card) if they are recommended by the company.

Image: 平安广州

5 Entrepreneur and internship visa for foreign students

1. Fresh foreign graduates who have a business plan and graduate from Chinese universities can apply for a 2-year residence permit for starting a business.

2. Foreign students who are invited by Guangdong companies which have put a record in Public Security Bureau for an internship, they can apply for the internship visa at ports. If they have entered China with another type of visa, they can convert the visa to that for an internship.

Image: 平安广州

6 Fewer formalities for foreigners studying at school in GZ

Foreigners who receive a school offer in Guangzhou can apply for an X1 visa at ports with, the offer and related proof letter. X1 visas can be converted into residence permits once they have entered China.

Image: 平安广州

As foreigners living and working in Guangzhou sees an increase, the local government has correspondingly improved the infrastructures for foreigners.

According to the latest data from Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau, from January 2018 to June 2018, the Public Security Bureau has a record of the accommodation registration of 1,172,512 foreigners. Most of them are from these top 10 countries: Korea, Malaysia, USA, Japan, India, Vietnam, Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore.

As of June 25, 2018, Guangzhou in total had 51,416 foreign permanent residents, an increase of 0.8% on the previous year. Among them, there are 46,512 foreigners whose residence permits are issued by Guangzhou. 4,904 foreigners holding a residence permit but not issued by Guangzhou, but have lived in Guangzhou for more than half a year.

12,363 foreigners are working for companies which are funded by both Chinese and foreign capital, accounting for 24%.
9,583 overseas students studying in China, accounting for 18.7%.
2,439 foreign teachers and experts, accounting for 4.7%.
1,396 permanent representatives, accounting for 2.7%.
19,838 foreign family members, accounting for 38.7%.