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Getting a Visa in Wuxi! This article is for informational purposes only. Requirements and procedures can change. During your staying Wuxi you may from time to time require a visa extension or renewal. You need not leave China to do this. Although in some cases a visa extension may not be granted. Then you must depart China and renew your visa outside of China. The closest legal jurisdiction that you can apply for a new visa outside of China is Hong Kong or Maco. Before making this trip you should first however confirm with the Public Security Administration in Wuxi that they will in fact accept a visa renewed in Hong Kong or Maco. Upon arriving in Wuxi you should report to the local public security office. Whenever you leave and return to Wuxi you should report again to this local office. Practically you need only do this once in person, there after your company can inform the police of your return to China. WARNING! Ensure that your are in fact registered. If the secretary or whoever else in your company in charge of doing this fails in this task you will be held responsible.
If you have questions about your visa status, need more information about applying for a visa the following offices can help you. They are all located downtown and very close to one another.- Public Security Administration 58 Cong Ning Road , Tel:0510-82705678
- Wuxi Judicial Courts , 19 Cong Ning Road , Tel: 82727131
- Public Prosecutors Office, Cong Ning Road #7, Tel: 82790111
Limited service in English is available, it is advisable to bring a good interpreter.If you are applying for an Employment/Work Visa (Z) you will need you bring the following documentation.- A letter from you explaining your request for a visa, stating your place of employment, duration of stay and place of residence.
- A letter from your employer verifying your employment and duration of employment.
- A copy of your passport, visas and entrance stamps
- Original Foreign Residence Permit
- One 2 inch passport photo
- Completed Visa and Residential Stay application (available at the Public Security Administration office)
Sorting out your visa issues need not be a difficult. The staff at the counters are doing their jobs and they have rules to follow. You are by law also expect to follow these rules. Ignorance of the law is no more an excuse in China than it is in other legal jurisdictions. Here are some basic things to think about before heading to the visa office; - Bring a good interpreter with you. That bar girl may not be the best choice even if her English is good. Make sure that your interpreter looks professional.
- Dress well and look sharp. If you look important chances are they will treat you better.
- Always be polite. Keep smiling and never get mad, even if it seems you are running around in circles. Some of these officers see a lot of foreigners, not all of them are as nice or honest as you are. Convince them you are one of the good guys.
- Come prepared with all your documents and copies of these documents. Photocopier machines are uncommon and that means you may have to leave the office to make a photocopy of a document. Make extra copies before you go.
- You do not have a right to a visa. Applying for a visa means you are seeking permission from the Chinese Government to enter or extend your right to work and stay in China. It works the same way for a Chinese nationals wanting to work in Canada, the United States or Europe and the application procedure is much, much harder.
- Don’t offer a bribe. The majority of government employees are honest. You could make things much more difficult for yourself in the long run. If you are in a situation where it appears that you are being asked for a bribe be careful. You could be placing yourself in danger by breaking Chinese law.
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