Estratos Posted November 29, 2011 at 03:57 PM Report Posted November 29, 2011 at 03:57 PM Hi guys! I have a concern regarding some visa issues. I have received my admission notice and JW202 form from university X. Because I have applied just for one semester of a part-time Chinese course, I will apply for an F visa (recommended by the school). However, I have found some better options for studying at a different school. Will there be a problem if I apply for an F visa using JW202 and admission notice from school X and then I choose to study at school Y/Z, etc.? Is my F visa somehow tied up with my university or am I free to do whatever I like during my stay in China (within the law, of course)? Can school X cancel my visa if I don't show up on classes? Quote
Aaron MH Posted November 30, 2011 at 04:23 AM Report Posted November 30, 2011 at 04:23 AM I like your profile pic! I get that you are yet to apply for any visa yet... Is it an option to ask your preferred school for the documents you need for your F visa and forego everything with the university? 1 Quote
Estratos Posted November 30, 2011 at 05:22 AM Author Report Posted November 30, 2011 at 05:22 AM The picture is lovely, isn't it? ;P I know that it would be the best to get new documents from the other school, but I am afraid I don't have enough time, because I would like to go to China very soon. That is why I am asking about the relation between the University and a visa. I don't want to end up with a cancelled visa or any problems. Quote
Lu Brian Posted December 1, 2011 at 12:30 AM Report Posted December 1, 2011 at 12:30 AM Hello, I see your situation. My suggestion is that you could apply for a L-visa with validation of 30 days to come to China. And you need to inform the university that you will come with this visa and ask them to provide the JW202 form for you to apply the residence permit. Also when you are in China, you need to follow the visa. I mean that if you don't want to go to the university that already assist you to get the visa, you need to get another valid visa. The origin university could cancel your visa if you are not there. Hope this would help you. 1 Quote
Matty Posted December 1, 2011 at 02:31 PM Report Posted December 1, 2011 at 02:31 PM If a university sends you an invitation letter and you get a visa granted on based on that invitation letter, the school has the right to cancel your visa if you don't attend. Whether/how/if they know/care is another matter, but I wouldn't risk it. I'd try and get the correct documents, and if I couldn't I think the next best option is as Brian mentioned, getting a tourist visa first and changing it to a student visa. Depending on where you're from and where you apply, and where you are from, you may also be able to get a 90 tourist day visa. 1 Quote
roddy Posted December 1, 2011 at 02:49 PM Report Posted December 1, 2011 at 02:49 PM Theoretically it could be, but as you'd be on an F visa and therefore not having to apply for a residence permit, I can't see what might happen. 1 Quote
Matty Posted December 1, 2011 at 03:23 PM Report Posted December 1, 2011 at 03:23 PM The school who grants your visa is legally responsible for you in some ways. I know or a couple of schools who will cancel visas if you don't attend classes. Whether they know or can find out if you got the visa without your passport, I can't be sure. 1 Quote
Estratos Posted December 1, 2011 at 04:13 PM Author Report Posted December 1, 2011 at 04:13 PM Thanks guys, now I'm even more confused. ;) What do I risk if my visa gets cancelled? Will I be deported or what? I know that China seems to have very strict laws on many things, but having them and actually enforce them are two different things. Quote
Matty Posted December 1, 2011 at 04:24 PM Report Posted December 1, 2011 at 04:24 PM The risk from the law finding out isn't great, they're not the problem in this case. The problem for you would be if the school who gave you the invitation letter knows the visa has applied for and cancels it on you for not paying your fees or turning up at the school. I have no idea what notification schools get, if any in relation to visas. Quote
jbradfor Posted December 1, 2011 at 06:59 PM Report Posted December 1, 2011 at 06:59 PM What do I risk if my visa gets cancelled? Will I be deported or what? I assume you'll have some period of time to get a new visa, or else, yes, you would need to leave. Anyone know if having the F-visa canceled by the school would hurt ones chances of getting a L visa? What if you get a visa based on school X, enter China, and then once you determine where you want to go get the "correct" visa based on that place? Quote
Matty Posted December 2, 2011 at 03:00 AM Report Posted December 2, 2011 at 03:00 AM If you have no visa, you will have to leave, but you might only find out it's been cancelled when trying to extend or leave, in which case fines or detainment could be involved. I really don't see the point in risking the F-Visa when I've never met a proper school that can't change an L-Visa to an F-Visa. I also don't know what the PSB would say about changing from one F-Visa to another equivalent, they may not quite understand the issue. I'd personally just play it safe. Quote
yialanliu Posted December 4, 2011 at 11:51 AM Report Posted December 4, 2011 at 11:51 AM Your F is tied to the school as mentioned. Normally, they do cancel visas with people who do not show up at orientation/classes. When they cancel your visa, you need to leave immediately or else you will be fined. Next, from that point on, all future visas you apply for will require you to explain this situation that you overstayed making future visas harder to obtain (although not impossible if you overstayed a few days. Going to another program is inexcusable though. Similarly to working without a visa, a big offense). A F visa cannot be changed to another F visa on a whim. It needs sponsorship. What you can do and what I have seen done is a person with an F Visa with Beijing University. During the winter break, the person I know is doing a BLCU 5 week program. For that 5 week program, the person had to goto BLCU to apply, goto PKU to allow the visa to cover his studies, send the paperwork to BLCU. Not hard but there is a protocol. If PKU refuses, BLCU will refuse admittance unless a new visa can be obtained. Quote
roddy Posted December 4, 2011 at 01:39 PM Report Posted December 4, 2011 at 01:39 PM Has anyone actually seen this happen with an F visa? Quote
Matty Posted December 6, 2011 at 12:55 PM Report Posted December 6, 2011 at 12:55 PM Nope, haven't seen it happen because no one I know would take a bad visa when they've got an easy legal option. Not making a bad decision and hence not seeing the consequences, doesn't mean the consequences should be ignored. John: Michael died last week. Sarah: What happened? John: He set himself on fire and burnt to death. Sarah: That's terrible, why on Earth would he do that? John: None of his friends or their friends had ever done it before, and despite all our advice against it and the obviousness of it, he thought he would be fine... Sarah: Well, that's just stupid... Quote
roddy Posted December 6, 2011 at 01:16 PM Report Posted December 6, 2011 at 01:16 PM A simple 'no' would do . . . Quote
panda23 Posted February 27, 2012 at 11:27 AM Report Posted February 27, 2012 at 11:27 AM I am now in a similar situation, my F visa is for a university that has now decided they no longer want me to attend (they claim recent safety concerns regarding foreign students and feel I won't live close enough to campus), so I have found a private language centre, but they cannot provide JW202 forms. The university says they do not have the ability to cancel F visas because its not a student visa. I have already signed a rental contract for a duration of more than my current visa. What do you advise I do? Go to the PSB, or simply do nothing? Quote
Sam Reeves Posted February 28, 2012 at 06:40 AM Report Posted February 28, 2012 at 06:40 AM 'A simple 'no' would do' ROFL Laconic sarcasm never ever fails to amuse me. Quote
panda23 Posted March 11, 2012 at 10:45 PM Report Posted March 11, 2012 at 10:45 PM called the PSB about changing programs, the officer said that since I have an F visa rather than an X visa/residence permit, switching schools does not require a new visa as long as both schools are in the same municipality (i.e., F visa is not connected to the school) Since this info is different than what people here say, is it just different rules in different places, or did I happen to get a misinformed officer? Quote
yialanliu Posted March 12, 2012 at 01:32 AM Report Posted March 12, 2012 at 01:32 AM The forms for PKU to BLCU looked legit to me. Not sure if PKU/BLCU got it wrong or your PSB officer. The thing is with China, there's like 10 sets of them and all of them work and each city/province uses their own rules and you never really know who is actually right. Odds are, they all are since they all have the mandate to at least govern their jurisdiction. Quote
chinadude2006 Posted March 12, 2012 at 07:36 AM Report Posted March 12, 2012 at 07:36 AM called the PSB about changing programs, the officer said that since I have an F visa rather than an X visa/residence permit, switching schools does not require a new visa as long as both schools are in the same municipality (i.e., F visa is not connected to the school)Since this info is different than what people here say, is it just different rules in different places, or did I happen to get a misinformed officer? Where did you get the F visa from? F visas are not tied to a school, city or province, so as long as it is valid, you could easily go and study in Harbin or Guangzhou on that F visa. Quote
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