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===X or student visa===
Used by long-term students (usually more than one semester). Obtained from your local Chinese embassy or consulate, you will need to provide proof of enrollment at a Chinese university. Private schools are not usually able to assist you obtain an X visa. Once you have your X visa you have three months to enter China. Once you enter the country you have thirty days to complete the [wiki]residence permit application process[/wiki] which will allow you to leave and enter the country as you please as long as it is valid.
Under this Visa, the student is not supposed to work. However if the student is a native speaker there is ample opportunity to teach English and get paid under the table. Many students do this, and the authorities rarely check up on the students unless they have a reason. However, realize that working under this visa is illegal[footnote]Some Nanjing students made this mistake when they took part in a television advertisement for a School that didn't have the authority to employ westerners. The School was shut down and students were checked on everyday in the campus and were almost deported.[/footnote].
===Z or working visa===
Obtained from your local Chinese embassy or consulate, you will need to provide an invitation letter from an approved Chinese employer. Many employers are reluctant to provide this and may ask you to enter on a tourist or business visa. Once you have your Z visa you have three months to enter China. Once you enter the country you have thirty daysto complete the [wiki]residence permit application process[/wiki] which will allow you to leave and enter the country as you please as long as it is valid.
===F or business visa===
Although commonly called a 'business' visa, the F actually stands for 访问 or visit. The F visa is appropriate for short-term students (one semester or less) (that need to be confirmed as of 01-01-2008!!!!), those visiting for business purposes, visiting scholars, short-term internships (not exceeding 6 months), etc. It is also commonly used by those working in China who cannot obtain a Z visa. This is not legal, but often done.
To get an F visa from an overseas embassy or consulate you will need a letter of invitation from a school or business in China. However, in Hong Kong agencies can arrange, at a cost, F visas of up to three month duration with no documentation required. (as of oct08 the HK loop is not valid anymore for most people) For more info, read about [wiki]Hong Kong F visas.[/wiki]
For many young westerners this is the visa of Choice. Most Europeans can get a 1 year visas, US and other countries can be restricted to a 6 month visa. In some of the wealthier cities of Beijing or Shanghai you may work one month (usually teaching English) and live of the earning for another 5 months until you need to renew you visa or work again.
If you leave your Z work visa job the company can get the police station to revoke your visa. However this entails some paperwork and is rarely done. For this reason some foreign workers prefer the F visa. In addition, companies and schools need authority certification to issue the Z- visa invitation letters. The criteria for F visa is less, and some schools will ask you to get the F -visa.
Note: since Oct-2008 the requirements for F Visa are stiffer. Hong Kong travel agent no longer give them without some legitimate proof, such as an invitation letter. read more there [wiki]Hong Kong F visas.[/wiki]
===L or tourist visa===
No supporting documentation required, but when applying don't mention on the form that you are a journalist planning to research the plight of ethnic minorities in sensitive border regions. Duration can range from 30 days to 120 days, and can usually be extended up to two times within China.
===Visa free Entry===
Currently, following nationals can enter China without visa for up to 15 days: Brunei, Japan, Singapore
Source: http://www.fmcoprc.g...eng/zgqz/xwrmq/
===APEC Cards===
If you are an APEC region resident you may can apply for an APEC card with a China visa waiver. An APEC card will give you 3 years visa free entry.
http://www.apec.org/...ss_travel0.html
===Green Card===
If you have started a large company in China or married a Chinese National, lived in China for 5 years you can apply and get a Chinese Permanent Resident Card. This will allow you to come and leave the PRC without a visa. You will present the Green Card to Immigration on arrival, you may need to present your passport as well.
===Notes===
====Length of stay restrictions.====
Be aware that F and L visas may have length of stay restrictions - ie, you may have a 6-month F visa with a 60 day stay restriction, meaning you have to leave the country every two months. Leaving the country can be as simple as crossing the border into Hong Kong and coming right back, but even this can be expensive and time-consuming if you live in Urumuqi.
This post has been edited by guillaumeowl: 05 January 2009 - 05:16 PM
Reason for edit: accuracy
