How Can International Students Extend Their Stay in China? Student Visa (X Visa) is issued to an alien who comes to China for study, advanced studies or intern practice for a period of more than six months. International students who hold expired X visas are not allowed to apply for an extension, but they can apply for an alteration to extend their stay in China. There are two ways for international students to extend their stay in China.
I. X Visa Extension
Extending an X visa is usually easy. Normally, international students will have their X visa extended by the China universities they study at, and they can also get help from visa service agencies.
1. Current Students
Current students who need their X visa extended must submit the following materials: tuition bills, current study certificate, transcripts and valid passport. Usually the international student office of the university will inform students to prepare for the procedure in advance.
2. Graduated Students
Graduated students cannot apply for an X visa extension unless they are enrolled at another university in China. By providing their admission offer and other related documents, they may receive their X visa extension.
3. Transfer Students
Besides tuition bills, current study certificate, transcripts and a valid passport, a transfer certificate is also needed for transfer students.
II. X Visa Conversion
International students who want to alter their X visa have to go back to their home country for once and then return unless the visa service companies are able to take them to Hong Kong to handle the service.
Changing from X Visa to F Visa
The F visa is classified into several types such as 3 months and 1 entry F visa, 6 months and 1 entry F visa and 6 months and 2 entries F visa, etc. Each type has different requirements for applicants:
(1) For 1 year and multi-entry F visa: Applicants must at least have 8 leaving and entering records;
(2) For 6 months and multi-entry F visa: Applicants must at least have 3 leaving and entering records;
(3) For 3 months and 1 entry F visa: Applicants must at least have 1 leaving and entering record.
Since not many visa companies can handle this alteration service directly, applicants can first alter their Residence Permit into an L visa and then F visa.
Materials Required:
a. Valid Invitation Letter. Many visa service agencies are able to handle this. Sometimes, students are asked to provide a scanned copy of the business license of a Chinese company;
b. Valid passport and two 2-inch passport-sized photos;
c. Students from certain countries are required to provide a Letter of Agreement, which can also be handled by visa service agencies.
Contact Us
If you have further inquires, please do not hesitate to contact Tannet at anytime, anywhere by simply visiting Tannet’s website english.tannet-group.com, or calling Hong Kong hotline at 852-27826888 or China hotline at 86-755-82143512, or emailing to tannet-solution@hotmail.com. You are also welcome to visit our office situated in 16/F, Taiyangdao Bldg 2020, Dongmen Rd South, Luohu, Shenzhen, China.
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