F visa OR X visa - which is better?

[sandeehoo]

Hi everyone,

Could you please help me with my predicament.

My situation is: I coming from Australia to study in Tsinghua Uni for the whole of 2008 beginning Feb. I also plan to take a short holiday to Hong Kong during the July break and then coming back to resume the second half my studies.

My questions are:

- should I apply for the F visa (6 months validity) then renew it after 6 months or X visa (1 yr validity)?

- between the two, which is cheaper? keeping in mind that X visa requires full physical med examination (which costs money) and F visa can by-pass that.

- between the two, which is more convenient? keeping in mind that X visa offers multiple-entry but it requires you to apply for a resident permit, whereas F visa is only for single-entry but does not require resident permit application.

What are the fees and processes involved with applying for another F visa after the first one expires? Is it a simple process or does it require me to leave the country and renew it somewhere else like in Hong Kong or something?

Thanks in advance, everyone!

Sandeehoo.

[BrandeX]

to study in Tsinghua Uni

F visa OR X visa

Whichever one they choose to get you when you apply. Probably an X.

Also, you can get a multiple entry F visa. While it is somewhat true that people can maneuver there way into a certain type of visa, the standard process involves you (or in your case, the school who does this for their foreign students) filling out a form, and the chinese government decides what kind they want to give you based on what you answered on the form.

[hunxueer]

yes, your school should best advise you on this. probably you should get an x visa, since it's for studying, and that's what you'll be doing. if you get one that isn't a full year (say, 10 or 11 months) i think you don't need the medical exam. last time i checked which was a year ago, x visas were in the neighborhood of 400 to 500 for a year. f visas are expensive and you can get multi entry, but it might take some string-pulling. anyway, visa regulations are changing all the time and vary from place to place so ask your school as they probably have an employee in place to deal just with visas.

[imron]

Yes, you will almost certainly be issued with an X visa. Regarding the medical, from memory it costs about 600-700 RMB (~AUD100) to get it done when you arrive in BJ. That's usually the best way to do it, because if you get it done in Oz, there is still a good chance that they'll make you take it again anyway when you get here.

[sandeehoo]

hi everyone,

thanks for the quick responses.

My JW202 visa form actually says I will be studying for half a year only, even though I distinctly remember ticking the one year box in my application form.

so I guess it's likely they will grant me an F visa after all.

[applepie42]

i was granted a x-visa when i got my visa notice, and it also said 6months. but when u arrive in beijing, u have to apply for a residence permit anyways, it won't matter how long your x-visa is for.

when u arrive in beijing and decide to study for a year, make it clear when u're registering. u'll pay for a year's tuition and they will fill out the paperwork for a residence permit for 1 year, otherwise it will be for half a year and u will have to renew it.