Confusion again regarding health check...

[joshuawbb]

Sorry for bringing up a well-discused topic again but I really am quite confused. Firstly, here is my situation:

I've got my JW-202 which is ready to be given to the London Chinese embassy as soon as I can - sometime during the week. I am going to Xiamen for university study so I'll most likely receive an X visa as I'm staying for a long time. I've been reading up about the health check for a long time but I'm confused about how to go about doing it.

I have read all the threads I can find regarding this and I get the overall impression that for the London embassy, they won't need the health check form and I can get my visa without it. My impression is that I can skip getting it here entirely and just get it after arriving in Xiamen.

But I'm not sure. I also read that rules and regulations vary by province, and I can't find information about whether I can do the same thing in Xiamen, Fujian Province as those of you in different areas of China. I've even heard that in Shenzhen there are different ways of doing it altogether (?)

So my question is this: bearing everything in mind, can I definitely get my visa without trouble without doing any health check in the UK? My plan is this:

Go to embassy, give form, etc --> Go to Xiamen in early July, get health check soon after --> Get residence permit.

I know there is a designated area in Xiamen for doing the check, but I don't have certainty about the whole visa issue. I really want to do it in China because I think it's such an expensive hassle in the UK. I've heard conflicting opinions virtually everywhere I look on the internet, and I need to be certain since it's not too long now until I leave.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate it!

[gerri]

I don't know about London (or xiamen, for that matter), but from what i've seen and read, you need the health examination when applying for the visa at the embassy, and then everything get's checked (or you have to do it again) in China.

There seem to be quite few differences between different types of visa and what's necessary when, though.... any way to ask the embassy in London what's their verdict?

[Shadowdh]

When I got my x visa they said I had to have a health check BEFORE I got my visa... that was about two years ago though... and they also gave me one at the other end too... all part of the uni admission process... better safe than sorry mate...

[adrianlondon]

According to this, you don't need to get a health exam done before you go.

Note that the Chinese Embassy in London doesn't allow direct applications any more; you have to go through (and hence pay extra for) their "service center".

[anonymoose]

I got an X visa from the London embassy (actually, the passport issuing office - it is separate from the embassy) about 9 months ago, and I did not need the health examination sheet. Whilst it is true that regulations vary from province to province in China, I doubt that it would make a difference to the visa application process.

A piece of advice: take several spare passport sized photographs with you, as you'll need them (more than one) for the health check in China, and also for your residence permit application.

[joshuawbb]

Thank you for your help regarding this confusing issue - I'll look into the health check costs and see if it's better to be safe than sorry, though I would really prefer to do it in China

I called the London embassy today and didn't get anything conclusive:

-Called the visa office (9:30am), it went straight through to their machine which didn't help me. I tried all the options I could see, and all the machine options led to just a dead-end of information and no way of getting through to a person. Although, maybe I've not explored all the options?

-Called the main embassy line (9:40am) and the lady who answered told me she was not authorised to answer the question and didn't know about it - said I needed to contct the visa office (above) or contact the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre/CVASC.

-Called the CVASC (10:00am) and found the same thing - just a machine with options leading to dead-ends, and no option to connect to a person. Although again, maybe I would have to call at a different time? The information I heard is the same as their website - the health form should be given with the visa application. No word on whether it is absoultely required or not though.

So maybe I should risk it, maybe not. Still rather unsure, but thanks everyone for your replies as they are very helpful.

[adrianlondon]

As I linked to above (from the CVASC) there's no mention of any health certificate. It's all done by post; just send your stuff as they request, get your visa, and worry about the health check in China when you need to change your X to a residency-thingy.

Unless I'm wrong, in which case do it differently ;) It's only a visa application, they don't (as much as they might like to) shoot you if you get it wrong before you leave.

[anonymoose]

As I said, I did not need the health check getting a Z visa from London less than one year ago. If I were you, I'd just send off the application without it, and if you need it, they will contact you later.

Regardless of whether you do it before or not, you will need to do it once you are in China anyway, so why put yourself to the trouble and expense twice?

[joshuawbb]

From what you said I am sure it's best not to do the health check here - looks like I'm doing it though. Mostly my parents want the reassurance; I've told them I won't need to do it but now that they sent an email to the embassy and got a "he has to do it here" reply, that's what they're set on.

Well, £150 is a lot of money, but I guess it can't be helped though.