The different types of student visas available in China
There are two types of student visas available for international students. There is one for students planning to study long-term and the other for short-term students. Student visas are, in other words, known as X visas, and there are two types of X visas.
The X1 Visa
It is a long-term visa granted to students whose learning programs extend beyond six months. For example, those planning on and taking post-graduate or undergraduate degrees or language programs usually take years. The X1 student visa is valid for five years. This Visa is also known as the multiple entry Visa; this means that an X1 Visa permits a student to enter China at any point in time, be it directly a month after they obtain their visa or even a year after.
Open arrival in China students is advised to visit the Exit and Entry Administration Bureau to apply for a temporary residence permit. Because you will spend more than six months in the country, a residence permit gives you legal access to be on Chinese soil.
X2 Visa
The X2 Visa, unlike the long-term visa, lasts for six months or less. This type of visa is meant for students who plan to take very short courses, such as required fieldwork, language programs, and other very short-term study programs. A short-term Visa is not a multiple entry Visa; in other words, the holder of a short-term Visa is required to enter the country at a certain time frame and complete their studies, then return.
It is possible to extend a short-term Visa if need be. In some cases, your schooling program may extend, or the timespan of your fieldwork may expand, and you need to stay longer? We advised that students do the extension before the 180 days marked for their current X2 visa to expire.
Documents Requirements for a Visa application
If you have read this far into this article, then it is safe to assume that you have decided to study in China and to study in China, you need a student visa. To get a student visa, you need to know the step-by-step procedure. In this article, we will be talking about how to get a student visa but before that, let’s talk about the documents that you need to get a student visa.
Passport
We are sure it is no surprise that you need an actual passport to get a student visa into China, so we advise that you get one valid for up to 6 months from the date of application. You’re also going to need a photocopy of your name page printed and attached to your passport.
photograph
You need a passport size photograph for the compilation of your documents to get a visa from the Chinese Embassy. This photograph is a requirement to match all of your documents together. It is also used to identify you.
Application form.
The next step here is to get an application form from the Chinese Embassy. This application form is to be filled out by all Chinese student visa applicants. You can get it at the Chinese Embassy; make sure to fill it in with accurate information and be sure to cross-check your application details before submitting your application.
Letter of admission.
Since we have gotten how to get and fill an application form out of the question, the next thing you want to consider is your letter of admission. This is very important. Be certain not to forget or omit your letter of admission from your compiled documents when you’re about to submit it to the Chinese Embassy.
Now, the letter of admission is what shows the Embassy that you are a student who has been accepted into a Chinese university. This is the only proof they have, and you will need to present one. It is also important to note that the Chinese Embassy will be looking for a university seal on your letter of admission, so you need to check your letter of admission for any mistakes before taking it to the Chinese Embassy.
JW201 or JW202 Form
These forms are known as foreign student visa application forms. The State Education Ministry of China issues it. Your host university, which is the university that has accepted your application and has admitted you to study in that Institution, is expectedInstitution, is expected to send you these two forms. The JW201 form is for students who have a scholarship. that is for students whose educational needs will be taken care of by the university. The JW202 form is for students whose stay in China is fully self-funded.
You are required to fill just the form that is aligned with your academic path. That is to say, if you have a scholarship in China, then you will be filling out the JW201 form, but if your education in China is fully self-funded, then you’ll be filling out the JW202 form. Please be certain to have this form in the compilation of documents you take to the Embassy. It is very important.
Proof of payment
The next thing that you need to take into consideration is your proof of payment. Of course, a certain fee applies to getting a visa from the Chinese Embassy and any embassy, for that matter. The fee is usually set around $66. And you have to include a receipt of your fee paid to proceed with your visa application process.
Travel and accommodation arrangements
Once you get to China, you certainly need to get a place to stay. The Chinese Embassy is bent on making sure that any person granted entry into China has the means to sustain a good and, at the very least, an average standard of living. As such, visa applicants are required to bring receipts of housing arrangements made. for example, receipts of house rent and lodging tickets.
Students are also expected to come along with travel arrangements receipts, that is, your flight ticket. train tickets, bus tickets, anything that has to do with transportation. It is very important to include these receipts in your compiled files because the visa officer will most likely request them.
Language requirements
A language proficiency test is a method Chinese universities use to ensure that they have the right language or communication tools to effectively make your study experience a success. A language proficiency test is usually not required for a visa application process, notwithstanding; you must take a language proficiency test because your host university requires it. We advise you to take the test before completing the admission process, which happens even before you apply for a Visa.
Physical examination
A physical examination is a routine set of well planned and simple exercises that are carried out by a doctor or professional health personnel to determine your overall mental and physical state. The Embassy requires a physical examination to determine if you are fit to travel and study.
Steps in applying for an X1 student Visa
Step1: The first thing you want to do here is to look for an accredited Chinese university, go through their offered programs and check if they offer graduate or post-graduate programs for foreign students such as yourself. Once you are sure that the university of your choice offers International programs, you can evaluate your career choices and educational path to pick the right program for you.
Once you have made your choice of program, the next step is to check if your university requires a language proficiency test. They can be done in two languages, either a Mandarin language proficiency test or an English language proficiency test. The test you will be taking depends on your learning requirements. It is best to send you an application months before the set time for the start of your studies. This ensures that you have enough time to do things calmly.
Step2: The next thing to do is to make sure that you receive an admission letter, which is a letter of acceptance into the university of your choice. This will be required of you when you go to apply for a visa at the Chinese Embassy. Also, take note that you need an original copy and a good photocopy of the acceptance letter to be sent to you. Also, verify if the university sent you a JW201 form or a JW202 form.
Before you rush into filling out your JW201 or JW202 form, we advise that you consider the option of applying for scholarships in China. Several scholarships are made available in China by the Chinese government to international students, and they’re very easy to acquire. All you have to do is apply and wait for verification.
Step3: Once you are certain about wanting to get a scholarship or not, the next thing to do is to begin the proper process of applying for a Visa. Here, the first thing to do is to combine all of your required documents. Make sure you have the original copies and good quality photocopies.
Once you have compiled all of your documents, the next thing to do is to fill in your application form at the Embassy and submit it. You can also apply for a Visa by going through the nearest Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC). Some applicants prefer to send in their applications via mail. It is important to note that most embassies do not appreciate mailed applications; it’s advisable to go in person.
Step4: The next step would be to wait for approval on your application. It usually takes a week or more but hardly ever too long. Waiting may seem like the easiest thing to do, but it is not always easy to sit back and wait. While you wait for your visa application to be processed and approved, we advise that you go through everything you need to do and prepare yourself mentally and physically for your journey, keeping in mind that you took out time and properly executed your application process.
Once your visa is granted, and you can travel to China, you must visit the administration office to apply for a residence permit. The Administration office is a Local Public Security Bureau, also known as the Exit and Entry Administration Office. You are expected to do this within 30 days upon arrival in China.
Applying for a Chinese Residence Permit
Once you obtain an X1 student visa, this will guarantee that your stay in China will extend to 6 months. It could be three years or more, depending on your study program. Once in China, you are expected to visit the Entry and exit administration Office within 30 days upon arrival to obtain a Residence Permit. This is what registers you as a resident of China, this way, you do not get in trouble with the local authorities in the country.
A residence permit is what replaces your X1 visa and gives you legal access to the country; your residence permit is valid for the entire duration and time that is registered on your student visa. As a permit holder, you are expected to report to the local authorities in case any of the following happens;
A family member or a close relative visits you.
You are also expected to inform the local police if you at any point drop out of the university.
Failure to observe these rules may result in you getting arrested and paying a fine of $76 to $1440. You will also be detained for 15 days.
Getting a part-time job as an international student.
Yes, as an international student in China, you will be permitted to get a part-time job while studying. Part-time jobs can be obtained first by a consent letter from the Institution or university where you have been admitted into. Then you have to get a certification from the company that will be employing you. After obtaining a certification, you have to go to the local police station to get your Visa or residence permits stamped with the mark of “part-time work”.
It is also important to note that the Chinese government does not rigorously allow a change of part-time jobs. So we advise that you are meticulous and very thoughtful about which job you’re applying for and which company you are working for before getting any of your documents stamped.
Advantages of studying in China
China is known for its richness in culture, trade and beautiful touristic sites. Let us walk you through what you didn’t know you loved about China.
Impregnation with Chinese culture
By studying in China, you will have the opportunity to meet the leaders of this country by living their vision and dreams. Thus immerse yourself in the key cultural factors of their development and current power.
A lower standard of living than in Europe
Unlike Paris, London, or New York, the cost of living is relatively low, and the price varies by city. For example, in Ningbo, you are fed and housed with only 700 euros per month.
Very affordable tuition fees
You might not believe it but studying in China is cheaper than private universities and business schools in a country like Morocco. A bachelor’s degree in Management and Logistics at Wanli University costs around 2300 euros annually.
You can benefit from the scholarship
China wants to attract the best foreign students to their universities. To do this, it issues scholarships for the most deserving. They can be partial or total. The nature and amount of these scholarships depend on your file and your eligibility.
Enrichment of your professional career
Which country organises the largest fair in the world? China, of course. By settling in China, you will have the opportunity to develop your business network by visiting the fairs and exhibitions that are organised in this country.
Abundant internship offers
You will enrich your CV during your academic course by doing internships in trading companies and other factories. These factories are home to business leaders working and collaborating with young foreign and competent executives and students.
Opportunities to travel and discover exotic countries
An academic experience has no value without a convincing cultural enrichment. In Asia, you will be spoiled. Plane tickets are not at all expensive between China and Asian countries. South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos. All these countries are exempt from visas for Moroccans.
You will become a Polyglot!
Today, institutions and companies know the value of a great communicator, especially one who is fluent in various languages. If you decide to study in China, you will acquire two extremely important new languages: English and Mandarin.
Very high security
Finally, China is one of the safest countries in the world. Surveillance cameras are everywhere in the streets. If there is one advantage that all foreigners living in the Middle Kingdom agree on, its great security makes you feel free and protected.
Let’s wrap up
Certainly, by now, you get the big picture. If you have ever considered studying abroad, China should be one of the top countries on your list. Don’t be scared to take that big step; apply for admission and build your dreams.