From the past couple of years china has become the next destination for the overseas students after their high school education. The education standards have been raised by the education ministry of china. Recently more than 50,000 overseas students became a part of different universities in china. China is now becoming a country that’s more of an innovator rather a country that relies on the technology of other nations. China is developing progressively on daily basis and is in the competition with all other top leading countries around the world. Tourism is becoming increasingly important to China as both a source of revenue and means to enhance its international image. China currently ranks fourth in the world as a tourist destination, behind France, the United States, and Spain. In 2013, over 55 million tourists visited China. The question, “can I study in china with a tourist visa?” the answer to this question is simple and is explained in this article.
Here are some of the details that may help you to understand all the queries related to visa’s regarding to study in china:
Foreign students studying in China are obligatory to have an ordinary passport and either a Study visa (X-visa) or a Short-term visa (F-visa study/research period). If you arrive China on a Tourist visa (L-visa) and your program is longer than a month, you’ll have to apply for a new visa and try to apply for a student visa and get enrolled into an institution. You can apply for a Chinese visa from your nearest Chinese Embassy.
Here in china there are three kinds of visa issued to the foreigners and it is very important for someone to understand the actual basis of these visas.
Tourist Visa (L Visa) is issued to an alien who comes to China for sightseeing or visiting family members or friends or for other personal affairs.
The straight answer to the question is “you cannot study in china with a tourist visa” but there are some other ways which you can adopt such as:
1. You can convert your L- visa into X or F-visa (student visa) easily by the Chinese embassy but it will cost you more.
2. You can directly apply for x-visa from your country.
Student visa ( X / F-visa)
This visa is especially issue to the students who wants to study in china for a short or for a long time depending on the program they get enrolled in. here is a list of the documents that you need for the F or X-visa:
1. valid passport
2. Foreign Student Visa Application Form (JW202)
3. Application form that must be signed by the applicant
L-visa:
l-visa is issued to for the tourist who are specifically visiting china for a limited period of time just to explore it. However the JW-202 is parceled to you and may take about 2-4 weeks’ time to be processed once you’ve been accepted by a university but if you want to be in the scene you can apply for the L-visa and experience it by yourself.
General information about visa:
Once you have entered in China, your visa is valid for only 30 days, during these 30 days you need to apply for a residence permit. This residence permit substitutes your visa, and is valid for the period of time you were approved with your original visa.
Processing Time for visa:
1. The regular processing time is 4 working days.
2. Express service: 2-3 working days processing, $20 will be charged per visa.
3. Same day rush service: additional fees of $30 for 1 working day processing
Visa fees
1. you can pay by Visa, MasterCard, Money Order, Cashier’s Check or Company Check. Cash or Personal checks are not acceptable by the embassy of china.
2. Please make the company check, cashier’s check or money order payable to Chinese Embassy.
3. Fee:$130 for American, and $30 for Citizens of other countries.