Saleh Posted August 3, 2017 at 04:29 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 at 04:29 PM @PeacellvesZhongguo and how about a cheaper one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeacellvesZhongguo Posted August 3, 2017 at 04:37 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 at 04:37 PM @Saleh nordvpn is the only other vpn that comes closest and it's still much worse. ExpressVPN is $100 for 12 month subscription, and although that may seem steep, it's worth it. It works more than 95% of the time, and they're always coming up with new ways to go around the great firewall. There are definitely a few cheaper ones, but I personally would only use/currently am using ExpressVPN right now; even though I'm still in the USA. Regardless of what service you choose, don't use any free VPNs, like Hola, because they steal your information to sell, thus defeating the purpose of the vpn. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kebat Posted August 3, 2017 at 04:48 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 at 04:48 PM TONGJI UNIVERSITY（同济大学）CSC type B result： 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erich Posted August 3, 2017 at 06:15 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 at 06:15 PM Does anyone know if we need to apply for a X1 or X2 visa for 3 year Masters Program under Chinese Government Scholarship? Thx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members MC2 Posted August 3, 2017 at 06:17 PM New Members Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 at 06:17 PM On vpns, China issued a statement a couple weeks ago that all personal vpns will not be allowed by Feb 1, 2018. Earlier this week, Apple pulled all of their vpn apps from within China. So, they might work for a while, but it looks like they will be going away in the not-so-distant future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kouch Posted August 3, 2017 at 06:22 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 at 06:22 PM @Erich X1 visa @Erich X1 visa 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vitus Posted August 3, 2017 at 06:27 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 at 06:27 PM X1 are issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of more than 180 days. X2 are issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of no more than 180 days. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kambili Posted August 3, 2017 at 06:28 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 at 06:28 PM Does anyone know if it is ok to enter China on ordinary tourist visa？I worry I might not have enough time do go through proper visa formalities with those university papers once they arive, before my flight to China... Anyway i will have to change it for resident permit later on right... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwinpv14 Posted August 3, 2017 at 07:11 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 at 07:11 PM I just received the confirmation from the embassy. I've been awarded the scholarship. They are going to make an official act on the 10th of this month to deliver the documents. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nhq0117 Posted August 3, 2017 at 07:13 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 at 07:13 PM @artfullounger @PeacellvesZhongguo @edwinpv14 thanks for the the useful information. In your experience did the NYC Consulate ever ask for the physical exam form? In the admission letters I've seen that it says to bring the physical plus blood tests to the embassy, but I am unsure of this point. (For the x1 visa since I plan on being there over one year) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PeacellvesZhongguo Posted August 3, 2017 at 07:32 PM Popular Post Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 at 07:32 PM @MC2 the government is cracking down on VPNs, this is true-- but more so for Chinese netizens. It would be ludicrous for them to shut down all VPNs in the country because they are imperative. I just graduated from NYU, and we have a degree-granting college in Shanghai. This university is a dual venture between NYU (an American university) and the Chinese government. When I attended, everything needed to be sourced through a VPN. That will not change anytime soon. All the platforms that NYU uses, if it had no access to a VPN, would be blocked. Every single portal, from the student page to access classes, to email, and even our online libraries are all blocked by the Great firewall. In addition, as a private university (in the states) you literally cannot access anything if you are away from the main campus (which in NYC) without a VPN. The same for foreign companies, operating in China. Google for example, does not actually work in China. (Cause, they wouldn't pander to the Chinese government's requests) However, they do have offices in the bottle opener building in Shanghai, where they do actual work--they could not operate without a VPN. This is not to say that the government will not purposely throttle VPNs. On days of extreme importance, all VPNs will be down, such as last fall when the G20 summit was in China. No VPNs (whether foreign or within china) worked for days. So right now, you cannot download a VPN in China-- unless you are within a VPN network (which in my case was my semi-foreign university, but most of the universities we will all be attending are public ones, and completely sanctioned by the Chinese government). Which is why I'm saying you need to make sure that you have a vpn downloaded and working on your tech. If not, fly or take a ferry to Hong Kong or Macau (if your country of origin allows you to go visa-free) and get a working VPN before you actually enter the mainland. This is also why I said you should pay for your VPN--ExpressVPN has pledged not to be intimidated by the Chinese government, and even though Apple is currently in compliance with the Chinese government and has removed the ability to buy a VPN/download one on its mainland China store, if you have it on your tech, it will work. This rule also applies to most good VPNs. Every few years the Chinese government promises to crack down on VPNs, and they never completely do. So don't worry. They only target the cheap and terrible ones.@Kambili don't go with a tourist visa, there is no way to change that visa unless you physically return to your home country. Rather, you would have to go to Hong Kong every 60?or 90? days in order to renew the tourist visa. And when you're in China, you need to apply for a permanent residence card within 30 days of arrival if you intend on staying there for longer than 6 months-- and you cannot do that on a tourist visa. @Nhq0117 I would highly recommend that you bring your health form with you, if the embassy told you to. (Mine did as well) because again, you may not need it for the X1 or X2, (I didn't last year for my X1), but you will need it for your permanent residence application, if you don't want to go through all the hassle all over again. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nhq0117 Posted August 3, 2017 at 07:36 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 at 07:36 PM @PeacellvesZhongguo very useful information. I will opt to do the tests and stuff in China as it is much cheaper. One bureaucratic step at a time. As long as the Consulate doesn't care about it I won't worry about it until I get to Shanghai. on the downside I will need to buy my one way ticket soon. 謝謝！ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kambili Posted August 3, 2017 at 07:38 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 at 07:38 PM @PeacellvesZhongguo Thanks a lot for clarifying, appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artfullounger Posted August 3, 2017 at 07:46 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 at 07:46 PM @PeacellvesZhongguo So to clarify, a one way ticket should suffice? Also side note, anyone else going to Fudan? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeacellvesZhongguo Posted August 3, 2017 at 07:55 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 at 07:55 PM @artfullounger I don't know. I bought roundtrip because my mum wants me to visit periodically at the end of every semester/ I need to stock up on hair supplies because I can't buy them in China. Since, you're attending for a prolonged time like me, I highly doubt it though. You could call up the New York Consulate to ask, they're relatively helpful. Real talk though, it's the same cost to go roundtrip twice in the year (sept-Jan, feb-June), then to do sept-june ticket (for my Americans that intended to come home), at least on the east coast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artfullounger Posted August 3, 2017 at 08:01 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 at 08:01 PM Hmm I'd rather not, vacation time is a great opportunity to visit new places or to intern/work haha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeacellvesZhongguo Posted August 3, 2017 at 08:10 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 at 08:10 PM @artfullounger of course! I'm intending on working in Beijing for the summer, but I've got to return home first and attend my little sister's graduation. 90% of studying in China is taking the opportunity to see the country and visiting others. Just never go to Lijiang. You'll get ripped off times a hundred compared to most other places...which says a lot. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artfullounger Posted August 3, 2017 at 08:11 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 at 08:11 PM Haha I was in Lijiang for a night while on a trip to Dali, it was alright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danteveli Posted August 3, 2017 at 08:15 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 at 08:15 PM @Kambili You can go on tourist visa but contact ppl from your university before that. I had do that once in Chengdu because my papers got lost in the mail and I had plane booked. I have contacted Uni and proposed going on tourist visa and then getting residence permit on new papers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kambili Posted August 3, 2017 at 08:18 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 at 08:18 PM @Danteveli Oh so it might be possible after all, I will give my prospective uni a call then, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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