Information on Visa & Residence Permit

1.Visa
1) Different Kinds of Chinese Visas
Exchange students to China must bring a current passport and either a study visa (“X”) or a visiting visa (“F”) [for students studying for less that 6 months]. If a student has come with a different visa, he or she must promptly change it to a study visa.

2) Changing Visas
· Who should apply?
Students who do not have a study (“X”) visa or students who leave the mainland, return,and do not get a re-entry visa need to change to an “X” visa.
· When should I apply?
Within ten days of entry into China.
· How do I apply?
Students should bring their student ID, current passport, and an extra passport picture to the Division for International Students office and should fill out a visa/residence permit form. Attach the passport picture to the visa/residence permit form and have the form stamped with the Division for International Students office’s seal. Bring this completed form and your passport to the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau (http://www.bjgaj.gov.cn/) to change your visa.
· What will happen if I do not change visas?
If you do not immediately change your visa, then your status will not conform to The People’s Republic of China’s laws on entry and you will be severely penalized.

3) Visa Extension
·Who should apply?
Students whose “F” visas will expire while they are still studying at Peking University must follow procedures to extend their visas.
·When should I apply?
Students should apply a month before their visa expires.
·How do I apply?
Students should bring their student ID, current passport, and an extra passport picture to the Division for International Students office and should fill out a visa/residence permit form. Those who need to pay tuition, should pay tuition before seeking an extension on their visa. Attach the passport picture to the visa/residence permit form and have the form stamped with the Division for International Students office’s seal. Bring this completed form and your passport to the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau (http://www.bjgaj.gov.cn/) to extend your visa.
· What will happen if I do not extend my visa?
If your visa expires, you did not extended it, and you continue to stay in China, you are considered an illegal resident and according to to government law, you will be punished with a heavy fine and serious cases will result in imprisonment.?

4）Extending Spouse & Children of International Student’s Visas

Peking University can help your spouse and children to extend their visas. Although their visas may be extended 6 months or one year each time, there is no limit to the number of times it may be extended. However, their visas may not be extended longer than your own visa or residence permit. Students should bring the following items to the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau:

·Spouse/children’s current passport with valid visa
·Visa/Residence Permit Form (from Peking University)
·Two passport pictures
·Student’s passport or Residence Permit
·Certificate of relationship

(NB: Certificates from foreign authorities need be verified by Chinese embassy in students’ country. )
2.Resident Permits
1) Applying for a Residence Permit
·Who should apply?
Students who possess an “X” visa should apply for a “Foreigner Residence Permit”.
·When should I apply?
Students with study (“X”) visas should apply 30 days after they arrive in China.?
·How do I apply?

Observe the following for health inspection verification:
a)New students from abroad need to show proof of physical examination and go to the Beijing Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau for verification. Those who obtain verification will receive a health certificate from said bureau.
b)If you do not gain health verification, you must repeat the physical examination until you can receive the health certification.
Students should bring their student ID, current passport, and an extra passport picture to the Division for International Students office and should fill out a visa/residence permit form. Then, students should bring the following items to the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau:?
c)Health Certificate (from the Beijing Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau)
d)Visa/Residence Permit Form (from Peking University)
e)Application Form for Foreign Students Studying in China (Form JW201 or JW202)
f)Letter of Admission into Peking University
g)Current passport with a study (“X”) visa
h)Two passport pictures

2) Expiration Date of Residence Permit

The length of residence permits is generally the same as Peking Universities’ length of study for exchange students. The residence permit will not be effective beyond the expiration date of one’s passport.

3) Obtaining Another Residence Permit if Yours Becomes Lost

If your residence permit is lost, immediately apply for a new one. Students should bring their student ID, current passport, and an extra passport picture to the Division for International Students office and should fill out a visa/residence permit form. Attach the passport picture to the visa/residence permit form and have the form stamped with the Division for International Students office’s seal. Bring this completed form and your passport to the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau (http://www.bjgaj.gov.cn/) to obtain your new permit.
If your fail to immediately obtain a new permit and you remain in China, then you will be considered an illegal resident and according to law you will be given heavy fines and in serious cases you may be imprisoned.
4) Changing Your Residence Permit

·Who should apply?
Students for whom the information on their Residence permit needs updating (address, passport number, hosting organization/school, etc).
·When should I apply?
Whenever there is a change in your pertinent information.
·How do I apply?
Students should bring their student ID, current passport, Residence permit, and an extra passport picture to the Division for International Students office and should fill out a visa/residence permit form. Attach the passport picture to the visa/residence permit form and have the form stamped with the Division for International Students office’s seal. Bring this completed form, your passport, and residence permit to the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau (http://www.bjgaj.gov.cn/) to change your updated permit.
4). What will happen if I do not update my permit?
If you do not promptly update your permit, then according to government law, you will be penalized.

5) Residence Permit Extension
·Who should apply?
Students who wish to stay in China after their residence permits have expired.
·When should I apply?
One month before the residence permit expires.
·How do I apply?
Students should bring their student ID, current passport, residence permit, and an extra passport picture to the Division for International Students office and should fill out a visa/residence permit form. Those who have not paid tuition, should pay tuition before seeking a permit extension. Attach the passport picture to the visa/residence permit form and have the form stamped with the Division for International Students office’s seal. Bring this completed form, your residence permit, and passport to the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau (http://www.bjgaj.gov.cn/) to extend your permit.
·What will happen if I do not extend my permit?
If you do not extend your permit, it expires, and you stay in China, you will be considered an illegal resident and according to the law, you will be fined and in more serious cases, you may be imprisoned.

6) International Transfer Student Residence Permits

International students who transfer from schools in China must present their passport and residence permit and follow the procedures for updating their residence permit information (see above).
International students who transfer from schools in other provinces must go to the Municipal Public Security Bureau of their old school to update their information.

Notice：
·Leaving the Country after Completion of Study Program
International students must leave the Chinese mainland before their visa or residence permit expires. If for some reason this is not possible, you must apply for permission to extend your visa or residence permit. Students who leave the mainland and do not return will have their residence permits collected by customs when they leave the country.?
·Obeying the laws of China & Pertinent Laws
The legal rights of international students who study in China will be upheld and protected by Chinese law. International students must also obey all Chinese laws and university rules, including: The People’s Republic of China’s Rules for the Entry and Exit of Foreigners, Beijing Traffic Laws, Regulations for Institutions of Higher Learning, the P.K.U. Handbook for Undergraduates, the P.K.U. Handbook for Graduate Students, the P.K.U. Handbook for International Students, etc.

You can get more information from the website as follows:
http://www.oir.pku.edu.cn/oiren/excstu.asp
http://www.oir.pku.edu.cn/oiren/handbook.asp