China Visa Problem

[ohitsgary]

I'm a university student from London who has already applied and got accepted to go to a university in China (flights, hotels booked. flying on the 22nd August 2011 - it is a one year return ticket) to study abroad for one year. I have received my JW201 forms and admission letter from them. However the problem is when I was applying for the University, I mistakenly added my Other name, which is not in my passport, during this application. With this misunderstanding on the wording of my JW201 and admission letter, there is now a mismatch regarding my name between my letter of admission and my passport. The name on my JW201 and admission letter is presented as "Other name" "first name" "surname" and my passport is "first name" "surname". In other words, I have wrongly added "Other name" by mistake in my application to the Chinese university.

I have already visited the Chinese Embassy and they refused to give me a Student X Visa because of this name issue. They advised me to contact my Chinese university to reprint and resend the JW201 and letters with the correction. Afterwards however, when I contacted my Chinese University, they said it is not possible to resend the JW201 and letters, even with the corrections, as they are the "original" copies. I was also told by the Chinese uni that my option is getting a tourist visa to China, and when I arrive to the Chinese Uni, then I sort out the Student Visa for the year or an extension of some sort (presumably with some of their help). This does sound a little apprehensive to me.

Can anyone out there throw light on the exact nature of the problem caused by this mismatch, and how I should resolve it. If I return to the Chinese embassy and explain fully of my situation and what I have done so far, will they change their mind? Is getting a tourist visa to China, then I sort out the Student Visa for the year in my university really the right solution? Or are there any other suggestions on what I can do? A friend suggested to get my uni in London and/or get a solicitor both to write a letter of explanation and confirmation that these two different names are actually the same people?

Help and suggestions much appreciated,

Gary

[roddy]

Do what the university is advising you. Given that you're going to be going through the application process anyway you could ask nicely for a student visa again, but if the university reckons a tourist visa is fine, a tourist visa is likely fine.

[ohitsgary]

Thank you for your reply. More general questions, is ideal to go to the chinese university early and to sort out and change from tourist L visa to student visa X before the registration right? They wouldn't help you ON registration day? And since my booked ticket is a year long return ticket, do I have to change it because tourist visas only last for 30 days, don't they?

[roddy]

Unless the university is telling you different, I wouldn't change your plans - they know way more about what they can do and how long it takes than anyone on here. this might be reassuring.

The flight shouldn't be a problem.

[jbradfor]

Is "Other name" a legal name for you, or is it a name that you just happen to use because you like it?

If the former, I assume the UK has some type of legal document stating that a person goes by multiple names. If you don't have that, get one. Give it to the embassy and try again, and bring a couple copies with you to China.

If the latter, well, honestly, you blew it big time. I don't want to worry you, and I don't think you should change your plans because of this, but I can see this continuing to give you issues. So just carry on, but be prepared. In this case, I don't see any other option besides what the school suggests. When applying for your new visa, ask for a 90 day stay multiple entry; if you get that, then the absolute worst case scenario is that you make 3 extra trips out of China during your stay. Not a bad worst case scenario.

Also, I would suggest being mentally prepared for the case that your university doesn't really help you with your visa situation, or tries to help and can't. I'm not saying this all won't work out (and if I were a betting man I would bet it would), but I can see them saying "sure, come on a tourist visa! no problem (for us)!"

[ohitsgary]

The "other name" was given to me by my parents when I was 1 or 2 years old. This name is not actually my legal name but I've been so used to this name. Is this document you are referring to kind of like a name change document? Wouldn't getting a lawyer letter that shows confirmation that the 2 names are the same people be easier?

[skylee]

Besides the names, does that form show any other data of your identity? Like your nationality and passport number? If you present that ID with the same ID number and a slightly different name, wouldn't it be enough to prove that you are the guy on that form?

Or perhaps you can do a declaration at your local government office? Like what we can do in HK -> Declaration for Private Use

[ohitsgary]

This form (JW201) shows my nationality, date of birth, sex, place of birth, address and even the university in London. So it's pretty obvious it's me. For some people in my class, including myself, the passport number is not filled in. However I know a classmate who is doing the same program as me and was told by the Chinese embassy to literally fill in his passport number in that missing field by hand. So I'm a bit confused about that since I wasn't told to do that.

[jbradfor]

No, it's not a name change (unless you want to change your name....). In the USA it's called a "(same) name affidavit". I don't know the UK term, but I'm sure you must have one.

It's just a legal document stating that "Other name" "first name" "surname" is the same person as "first name" "surname".

[ohitsgary]

Thank you for the info about affidavit. I've just googled this and yes England does have this sort of scheme as well. Thank god, this might be the solution. May I ask, who usually writes this affidavit?

[jbradfor]

I think how it's done in the USA is likely different enough from how it's done in the UK that I could not offer any useful information.

My only suggestion is to call up a law office there and ask.

[m000gle]

I was also told by the Chinese uni that my option is getting a tourist visa to China, and when I arrive to the Chinese Uni, then I sort out the Student Visa for the year or an extension of some sort (presumably with some of their help). This does sound a little apprehensive to me.

If word of mouth is to be believed, switching from a tourist to a student visa is relatively painless, even while already in the country, something which can't be said about switching between other visa types. There is the off chance that it would require a visa run to Hong Kong, but its not as sketchy as it may seem. Hopefully someone with first hand experience can attest to this.

As roddy said, though, if the university suggests it, its likely fine.

[ohitsgary]

Although the university suggested to use this method, but wouldn't my name still be different over there?

[Matty]

If word of mouth is to be believed, switching from a tourist to a student visa is relatively painless, even while already in the country, something which can't be said about switching between other visa types. There is the off chance that it would require a visa run to Hong Kong, but its not as sketchy as it may seem. Hopefully someone with first hand experience can attest to this.

I've done L Visa to F Visa for study, it was as easy as sleeping, the school did it all for me and it wasn't even a university.

From my experience the government doesn't like to make it simple for you to earn money, but if you're spending lots of money on things like student fees they'll be behind you all the way.

Although the university suggested to use this method, but wouldn't my name still be different over there?

I would assume they wouldn't be doing using the same form. I'd make an assumption somewhere along these lines...
You've given the "fake" information and they've sent you legal visa paperwork based on those details. Now they don't want to risk sending out more paperwork to this person who may be trying to get people into China on cheated visas meant for another person. You need to understand there's risk for them too and you don't look so innocent.

However you being there in person is pretty good proof that you are you. I'd say some of it is risk mitigation, some is that you're maybe just a little too much trouble and they probably don't want to do forms again and send them to you all over again.

Personally, if I couldn't get a visa, I'd just fly over on an L Visa and if they ask about your exit (which they never do in my experience), just (a) tell them the truth, they're not robots; or ( tell them you're planning to travel to Hong Kong by train, then to Macau and on to... and when you want to go home change your ticket to your desired date and have a last final week of tour in China.

The entry/exit guys and girls I've found to be rather fair and not so bureaucratic and have never given me any trouble. I just got back from Hong Kong at about a minute to midnight where they told me not to even bother filling my form, just sign it. (Important bits were done I guess)

And as a tourist, I always tick the box "Settling down" as my purpose of entry and no one has ever asked yet why I'm trying to settle down on a 30 day per entry tourist visa.

Just be respectful and friendly, don't get angry or upset, just smile and always use thank you and things often work very easily.

[Silent]

And as a tourist, I always tick the box "Settling down" as my purpose of entry

Why would you do that?

[ohitsgary]

Thank you all for your responses. And thanks Matty for your post, I feel a lot more hopeful and positive now^^. I've managed to obtain the same name affidavit form that jbradfor suggested (written and signed by a solicitor). I'm going to the embassy once more to see if this would solve the problem. If not, I will tell them what my chinese uni suggested to me and hopefully all will be good. cheers guys.

[Matty]

Why would you do that?

I'd rather be accused of being a fool than a liar. It's the truth after all, I have no intention of leaving.

Thank you all for your responses. And thanks Matty for your post, I feel a lot more hopeful and positive now^^. I've managed to obtain the same name affidavit form that jbradfor suggested (written and signed by a solicitor). I'm going to the embassy once more to see if this would solve the problem. If not, I will tell them what my chinese uni suggested to me and hopefully all will be good. cheers guys.

Good luck, and keep us posted of your progress too, it might also help others with similar problems in the future, and I'm a little curious to see how the story ends.

[gougou]

I'd rather be accused of being a fool than a liar.

I forgot what visa I was on at the time and what I ticked, but I once had the immigration officials change my check mark when　it didn't correspond to the kind of visa I had.