Shanghai: Foreign Family Members are Allowed to Return there

 WeChat ID: ijobchina

Shanghai government ease the PU invitation letter policy for foreign family memberre-union in Shanghai, by allowing Foreign Family Members to return to China.

Since the Chinese government Temporarily Banned entry of foreigners on 28th March 2020, if anyone wants to come to China now, he/she need to apply a new visa in the Chinese Consulate/Embassy. Foreigners only having visas issued after 28th March are allowed to enter China. For the application of a new visa now, a person need to provide a "PU Letter" issued by the China foreign affair office.

 In the past, it was very difficult to get it. But now, shanghai foreign affair office ease the policy of the "PU Letter", following are 2 big changes (Note that this information is only for Shanghai, we don't know if it's the same in the other city) :

1. Before it was applicable only for HUGE and NECESSARY economic/trade activities, now they REMOVE the wording of "HUGE and NECESSARY". It means, with a normal business activities, the company also can apply the "PU Letter" for foreigner. So predictable, the successful rate of the "PU Letter"will increase a lot.

2. Company can apply the < PU Letter > for the foreign family member directly (if the employer is working here in shanghai, but their family member is still apart outside of China). Reason can be (for example, Kids need to study, Wife/Husbandneeds to take care of each other, etc.). So foreign family member can start toapply for that NOW!

Detailed Procedures:

1. Please ask your shanghai company contact the shanghai ministry of foreign affairs (Tel:[phone] or 62492910), and ask about the "PU invitation letter", they will give you the contact information of who are taking charge of this things in your company district.

2. Contact the district foreign affairs officer, submit the application what they ask for and wait for approval.

3. After the"PU invitation letter" issued, send it to foreign applicant

4. Foreigner take it to the Chinese Consulate/Embassy to apply the M type of visa.

Q

A

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Because different company has different issues, about the paperwork in detail, please ask directly with the foreign affairs officer in your district, we don't list ithere. VisaInChina list some Q&A's below about the "PU Letter"application for now:

Q1Now for all foreigners want to enter China, they need to apply this "PU Letter"?A

Yes, since the "temporary ban policy" take effect on 28th March 2020, for all foreigners who want to come to China, they need to apply a brand new visa from the Chinese Consulate outside. And the "PU Letter" issued by China foreign affair office is the most important requirement.

QI am working for a shanghai company. Because of the COVID-19, I am getting stuck outside of China, How can I go back to Shanghai?A

First of all, please make sure that your Foreign work permit is still valid . Secondly, please ask your shanghai employer apply this "PU Letter" for you. After you get the "PU Letter", you can apply the M visa and come back to shanghai. After you enter China, if your previous work visa is still valid, you can continue staying and working here. If it's already expired, no worry, since your work permit is still valid, we can change your M visa back to workvisa here in shanghai.

QI am foreigner working in shanghai now, my wife is still apart from me outside of China, how can she come back to shanghai?A

Above Big Change No.2 is special for your situation. You can ask your shanghai employer apply the "PU Letter" specially for your wife. With that letter, she can apply M or S1 visa in the Chinese Consulate and come back to shanghai. As soon as she arrives shanghai, apply the family residence permit.

QHow long it takes to apply this "PU Letter"? And it's good chance to get it ornot?A

It takes about 1 month time. It's worth to try now.

QEvery countrycitizen can apply this "PU Letter"? Any restriction country?A

No restriction.Everyone can apply it.

QAfter I enter Shanghai, Do I still need 14-days quarantine? if so, in where?A

Yes, you still need to be quarantine for 14 days, only if your country has the "fast track" agreement with China can avoid it. And quarantine in the government designated location.

QMy companytried to apply the "PU Letter" for me before, but failed. Can theyapply again?A

Sure, Why not? It's good time to apply it again.

QWill I have a higher success rate if we hire an agency to apply this "PU Letter"?A

Honestly, no one can guarantee it, and it's no agency can increase the success rate. We  suggest the company apply it by themselves because the company staff knows the company and foreigner's background much clearer than the agency. The government officer of the Foreign Affair Office (FAO) is very patient, and the checklist is in very details. So what you need to do is following the introduction of the FAO and file the application carefully. That's it.

QAny special notice for applying this "PU Letter"?A

Notice-1: You have to choose where/which consulate to apply your visa. It will be written in the "PU Letter" and can not be changed. For example, if you choose Chinese Consulate in India to apply the visa, then you can NOT go to Chinese Consulate in Canada to apply.

Source: VisaInChina.com;

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/eg1hbGryzApPvlrpvR3_vg, UniqueWealth

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