PROFESSIONAL COMMENT----EXPATS IN SHANGHAI
Ⅰ. Visa Application
According to the Administrative Law of the People Republic of China on Entry and Exit of Foreigners, foreigners entering China should apply for a visa to the Chinese diplomatic representative or consular offices, or other institutions authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of People?ˉs Republic of China.
While applying for a visa, a visa notice issued by an authorized Chinese organization should be presented. Visa notice could be obtained from the Chinese host organization, or the Chinese side of a joint venture, or the warranty company of the foreign representative office and the solely foreign invested company, after being reviewed by the corresponding supervising commission, office or bureau and approved by the authorized organization.
Invitations belonging to foreign trade sector should be submitted to the Municipal Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Commission for examination and approval and issuance of visa notice; invitations belonging to tourist sector should be submitted to the Municipal Tourism Administration Commission for examination and approval and issuance of visa notice; the entities registered in Pudong New Area inviting foreigners to come to China for business activities should submit the application to the Pudong New Area government for examination and approval and issuance of visa notice; the authorized group companies issue visa notices to foreigners invited by their affiliates for trade or investment activities; other visa matters shall be dealt with by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People?ˉs Government (SHFAO)for the issuance of visa notice.
Department of Responsibility
Foreign Affairs Administration Division of SHFAO
Address: 1418, Nanjing Road (W), Shanghai Zip Code: 200040
Tel:62792387
Fax: 62565485
Office Hour: 9:00-11:30, Monday, Wednesday and Friday
For the convenience of foreigners traveling to China, Shanghai authority offered 48-hour transit visa-free service to foreigners from Japan, Korea, Singapore, USA and some European countries who are connecting flights at Hongqiao and Pudong Airport starting on Jan. 1, 2000.
The Chinese visas are divided into four types, i.e., diplomat, etiquette, business and common.
The common visa includes the following:
"F" visa is issued to foreigners invited to China for purposes of visits, research, lectures, business, scientific, technological and cultural exchange, short-term study as well as attending international meetings and other events. The host organization should provide the following material when applying for a visa notice: written application, well-completed visa notice form; for those attending international conferences and other large events in Shanghai, a letter of approval shall be enclosed from the supervising agency about the organization of those events for which purpose the foreigners are invited.
"X" visa is issued to foreigners coming to China for training or field study. The applicant shall submit the well-furnished JW202 Form to SHFAO for approval after having been reviewed and approved by the Shanghai Education Commission. A name list shall be enclosed if there are over 5 members in the delegation.
"L" visa is issued to tourists or persons coming to China for personal purposes.
"Z" visa is issued to foreigners who are going to be employed in China and their family members. The maximum period of stay is one year.
"C" visa is issued to the international train staff, plane crew and seamen who are carrying out their respective duties in China as well as to their family members.
"J1" visa is issued to the resident foreign journalists in China and their family members.
"J2" visa is issued to the foreign journalists conducting interviews in China on a short term basis.
The validity period of a visa refers to the time limit for the bearer to enter China, and it is irrelevant to the duration period of stay in China. The duration of stay refers to the period allowed for the bearer to stay in China starting on the date of entry. If the visitor fails to complete his/her work at the duration period of stay, he/she should go to the Entry and Exit Administration of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau to extend the visa. 30 days of extension could be granted to a "F" visa if the application is submitted by the bearer?ˉs host organization while 90 days could be granted if the application is submitted by the supervising commission, office or bureau of the host organization and the visa could be renewed repeatedly within one year. "L" visa can be renewed only once for 30 days.
Ⅱ.Foreign Family Members for Residence Permit
Ⅰ. Qualifications:
A foreigner can apply for the Foreigner’s Residence Permit for foreign family members under any of the following circumstances:
1. Foreign family members of a foreigner holding a post or being employed in Shanghai;
2. Foreign family members of a foreign resident correspondent in Shanghai;
3. Foreign family members of a foreigner who is engaged in the commercialized theatrical performance in Shanghai;
4. Foreign family members of a returned overseas student who has obtained the registered permanent residence and is working in Shanghai;
5. Foreign family members of a Hong Kong resident, a Macao resident or an overseas Chinese working in Shanghai;
Note: Foreign family members include the entourage’s spouse, parents and children under the age of 18.
Ⅱ. Formalities:
1. Handing over the originals of the valid passport and visa for examination;
2. Submitting the original of the certificate of check-in in Shanghai (issued by the hotel or the police substation of the area where the lodging takes place);
3. Submitting the Visa and Residence Permit Application Form completely filled up and one recent 2-inch half-length, bareheaded and full-faced photograph;
4. Submitting the original of the Health Certificate issued by Shanghai health quarantine department (15, Jinbang Road, Changning District; note: An applicant under the age of 18 or above the age of 70 or an applicant, who extends the Residence Permit within 3 months as of its expiration, can be exempted from submitting the Health Certificate.);
5. Submitting the copy of the Family Relation Certificate;
6. Submitting the letter of application of the unit of the foreigner working in Shanghai，the original and the copy of the Certificate of Approval of Enterprise, the Duplicate of Business License or the Representative Agency Registration Certificate and the organization code;
7. Submitting the originals and the copies of the Passport and the Residence Permit for the foreigner working in Shanghai; the original and the copy of the Temporary Residence Card of Hong Kong and Macao Residents and Overseas Chinese or the Shanghai Residence Card for the Hong Kong resident, the Macao resident or the overseas Chinese;
8. Submitting the original of the certificate of Shanghai Personnel Bureau too for the foreign family members of a returned overseas student.
The applicant under the age of 18 or above the age of 70 should go through the formalities in person for the first application，others can do it on behalf of the applicant for the second one.
III. Business Hours and Place:
Monday-Saturday 9:00-17:00
Note: Credentials are handled alone on Saturday.
1500, Minsheng Road, Pudong New Area
IV. Time Limit of Handling and Winding Up a Case: Within 5 working days, if application documents are complete
V. Fee Standard: For details, see the Visa Fee Standard of Reciprocal Countries and Non-Reciprocal Countries, the State Development and Planning Commission and the Ministry of Finance [J. J. G. (2003) No.392]
VI. Information Telephone: 28951900
VII. Supervision Telephone: 68547109
III. Employment
Foreign Expert Certificate consists of two types: economy and culture/education.
Foreign Expert Certificate (Economy) is issued to foreign experts employed in industrial or commercial enterprises or institutions, who work in the fields of economy, technology, management and training; while Foreign Expert Certificate (Culture/Education) is for those employed in that of education, media, publication, culture, art, hygiene and sports.
Foreign Expert Certificate shall be held by foreign experts holding employment visas and employed in the fields of economy, culture and education in Shanghai.
Application for the Foreign Expert Certificate shall be submitted by the host organization of the foreign expert to the corresponding supervising government departments. The organization intending to employ foreign expert is allowed to do so only after having observed the related regulations, having met the employment qualifications and having been authorized by the State Foreign Expert Bureau.
The host organization should apply to the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People?ˉs Government for the Foreign Expert Certificate after being approved by the corresponding supervising government agency or district/county foreign affairs office.
The following items should be provided: Application of the host organization; Contract of employment, appointment decision of the Board of Directors or letter of appointment; Resume of the foreign expert; Certificates of education and employment qualifications of the expert; Copies of data pages of the expert?ˉs passport and employment visa; Duly-completed Foreign Expert Certificate Application Form; Two 2-inch recent photographs; Letter of Approval by the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission or related supervising agencies; Health Certificate for experts aged between 60 and 70.
IV.International and local schools
Some local schools, allowed by the education authorities, are also available for foreigners, but most of them teach in Chinese. If your want your kids to speak fluent Chinese, this may be a good option.
In general, the curriculums in international schools and ordinary local schools are totally different. International schools, such as the American school and British school use the same language, teaching method and textbooks as schools in their homelands. Besides the curriculums, the expenses of the two different schools are also different. You should be clear what kind of education you want your children to receive.
V. General Hospitals at District or County level
Shanghai Zha Bei Central District Hospital
Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital
Shanghai Pu Tuo Central District Hospital
Shanghai Chang Ning Central District Hospital
Shanghai Jing An Central District Hospital
Shanghai Eighth People's Hospital
Shanghai Xu Hui Central District Hospital
Shanghai Rui Jin Hospital (Lu Wan Branch)
Shanghai Second People's Hospital
Shanghai Huang Pu Central District Hospital
