▼ According to Chinese law and regulations, Foreigners with visa-free access cannot get any other valid visa within Mainland China. Please apply for an X1/X2/L visa before you come to China. ▲
How to apply
Students from countries like the USA and Russia can submit their visa application to Chinese Embassy/ Consulates directly.
However, most of Chinese Embassy/ Consulates do not provide postal service so you have to visit them or find an agent or a friend to submit the application on behalf of you.
To find the list of Chinese Embassies/ Consulates, Click here or here.
We use the procedure in the USA as an example.
▶Find the right Embassy/ Consolute. (See table below) from 6 cities.
China currently maintains one Embassy in Washington D.C. and 5 consulates-general in 5 cities.
▼Please be advised that sending your visa application or document(s) to the incorrect office may result in complications or delay in processing or even denial of the application. Please check the following table to find right office. ▲
▶Find an Agent. (If you are not living in the six cities where Chinese Embassy/ Consulates located.)
It is better to choose an agent having offices in these 6 cities. If you post your documents to an agent has no office in these 6 cities, they will repost your documents to their partner in one of these 6 cities, means you need to wait longer and increase the risk.
You can find agents in USA clicking here.
They have offices in all 6 cities. However, their charge is pretty high. If you have enough time to wait and want to save money, we can help you to find a really cheap agent. send us an email to vpn@studychina.education(Students living the USA only)
▶Prepare documents.
▼ For X2-Visa (Study < 180 days) ▲
1. Passport
Original signed passport with at least six months of remaining validity and blank visa pages, and a copy of the passport’s data page and the photo page if it is separate.
2. Visa Application Form (Form V.2013) and Photo
One completed Visa Application Form with a recently-taken color passport photo (bare-head, full face) against a light background attached.
3. Proof of legal stay or residence status (applicable to non-U.S. citizens)
You must provide the original and photocopy of your valid certificates or visa of stay, residence, employment or student status, or other valid certificates of legal staying provided by the relevant authorities of the country where you are currently staying.
4. Photocopy of previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas (applicable to foreign citizens who were Chinese citizens and have obtained foreign citizenship)
If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you should provide your previous Chinese passport held and a photocopy of its data page.
If you have obtained Chinese visas before and want to apply for a Chinese visa with a renewed foreign passport that does not contain any Chinese visa, you should present the photocopy of the previous passport’s data page and the photo page if it is separate, as well as the previous Chinese visa page. (If your name on the current passport differs from that on the previous one, you must provide an official document of name change.)
5. Original and photocopy of the Admission Notice issued by a school or other entities in China.
▼For X1-Visa (Study > 180 days)▲
All above documents plus Original and photocopy of “Visa Application for Study in China” (Form JW201 or Form JW202).
Chinese Embassy or Chinese Consulate in your country may set different requirements and procedures, contact them or visit their website to confirm.
For information regarding the location and the contacts of the Chinese Embassy/Consulate in your country, please visit the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs at http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/
▶Visit Chinese Embassy/ Consolute to submit your application.
The Embassy/ Consolute do not provide postal service.
▶Or, post all the forms and documents to an agent or a friend who will help you to submit the application on behalf of you.
You can find agents in USA clicking here.
▶Revisit the Embassy/ Consolute to collect your passport and pay fees.
Make sure that your letter of admission and/or JW202 form are handed back to you together with your passport after obtaining your Chinese visa. You will need these documents to apply for Residence Permit after your arrival in China.
▶Or, your agent or your friend collect the passport for you and then post it to you.
Together with the original letter of admission and/or JW202 form.
China Embassy/Consolutes in the USA
China currently maintains one Embassy in Washington D.C. and 5 consulates-general in 5 cities.
▼Please be advised that sending your visa application or document(s) to the incorrect office may result in complication or delay in processing or even denial of the application. Please check the following table to find right office. ▲
|
Washington D.C. |
Consulate in New York
NY |
Consulate in Chicago
IL |
| Washington DC | Connecticut | Colorado |
| Delaware | Maine | Illinois |
| Idaho | Massachusetts | Indiana |
| Kentucky | New Hampshire | Iowa |
| Maryland | New Jersey | Kansas |
| Montana | New York | Michigan |
| Nebraska | Ohio | Minnesota |
| North Carolina | Pennsylvania | Missouri |
| North Dakota | Rhode Island | Wisconsin |
| South Carolina | Vermont | |
| South Dakota | ||
| Tennessee | ||
| Utah | ||
| Virginia | ||
| West Virginia | ||
| Wyoming | ||
| Consulate in San Francisco
CA |
Consulate in Los Angeles
CA |
Consulate in Houston
TX |
| Alaska | Arizona | Alabama |
| Northern California* | Southern California* | Arkansas |
| Nevada | Hawai | Florida |
| Oregon | New Mexico | Georgia |
| Washington State | Pacific Islands | Louisiana |
| Mississippi | ||
| Oklahoma | ||
| Texas |
▼If you live in CA, you need to confirm you are in Northern California or Southern California to decide which consulate is for you. ▲
Important things to know
Single or Multiple entries?
For short-term students (Stay less than 180 days), you will get an X2 visa allowing you to stay in Mainland China for 180 days. However, this visa will be a single trip visa. If you leave Mainland China, you need to apply for a new visa to re-enter Mainland China.
*If you apply an X2 visa allowing multiple trips, they normally only allow you to stay in Mainland China for 90 days, you have to leave Mainland China within 90 days. However, You can then use this visa to re-enter and stay another 90 days. (you have to re-enter before the expiry date of the visa.)
▼(It is allowed to go to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan to fulfill this requirement. According to Chinese legislation, these 3 regions are Chinese territories but not the part of Mainland China) ▲
Different Chinese Embassy or Consulate may set different rules for different nationals. Ask them to confirm.
For long-term students (Stay more than 180 days), You will get an X1 visa without stating certain period to stay. After you enter Mainland China, you need to visit Visa Office of Public Security Bureau to convert your X1 visa to a Residence Permit label. This label will allow you to stay in Mainland China for up to 1 year. It allows freely leave and re-enter Mainland China without limitation.
Do not enter China too earlier!
If you hold an X2 visa (Stay less than 180 days) but you arrive China too earlier, your visa may be expired before you finish your study.
Very Important: (for X1 visa holder)
The‘X1’ Visa will be only valid for 30 days after your arrival. You must do your registration with your University and then convert your ‘X1’ Visa to a Residence Permit label within 30 days；you would be otherwise considered staying illegally and heavily fined.
You will not be able to convert your ‘X1’ Visa to a Residence Permit label prior to University registration. So do not arrive too earlier.
If you do need to arrive 30 days before the days of registration, you can apply for a tourist visa, known as ‘L’ Visa. Ask the visa office or your agent to confirm.