After your student visa expires...

[akire]

Hi,

for how long does the student visa last? I want to study for one semester in Beijing this spring - do i have to go back right away after the semester has ended? I've heard about the oppertunity that you can go to another country nearby and apply for a new visa. For how long do you have to wait until you can get the new visa and go back to china?

Thanks!

[abcdefg]

for how long does the student visa last? I want to study for one semester in Beijing this spring - do i have to go back right away after the semester has ended?

The duration of the student visa (residence permit) varies. The time is set at the discretion of the school. Some allow a couple weeks after the end of the semester, others allow longer. No set answer. You will have to ask the school or university directly about their policy.

I've heard about the oppertunity that you can go to another country nearby and apply for a new visa. For how long do you have to wait until you can get the new visa and go back to china?

Afraid this is going to be another "it depends" answer. It will depend on your passport (nationality) and where you go to apply for the new visa (for example Hong Kong or Thailand.) Furthermore, this kind of thing changes frequently. It isn't carved in stone. What you learn now may not still be true next year.

[akire]

Ok, hm.. this sounds complicated. I'm thinking about applying at BLCU and i've sent them an email asking about the duration of the visa. They haven't answered yet, i'll let you know as soon as i find out.

What do you mean by "this kind of things changes frequently"? Isn't it possible to go outisde of China and then apply for a new VISA abroad and then go back? Is it easier to get a visa in for example HK than it is to get a permit in Thailand or another country? Would I contact my ambassady in my country or the ambassady in for example Hong Kong in order to find out where I can apply for a new Visa?

[abcdefg]

What do you mean by "this kind of things changes frequently"? Isn't it possible to go outisde of China and then apply for a new VISA abroad and then go back? Is it easier to get a visa in for example HK than it is to get a permit in Thailand or another country?

Yes, you can leave China and apply for a new visa in a nearby country. The thing that is not predictable is how they will treat your application at the time you will be applying, which from reading your original post sounds like it will be late summer or early fall of 2013. What is true today may not be true then.

At some points in time the Chinese consulate in Hong Kong has been lenient, helpful and generous and at other times less so. Same goes for the Chinese consulates in Thailand. I'm American, and as of right now, Americans usually get the best visa terms by applying back in America instead of when already abroad. I'm less well versed in the situation for other nationalities because they don't impact me directly.

It's not really fair to reduce it to childish terms, but for a while China may be "angry" at France and make it difficult for French citizens to get China visas, or may give them less favorable terms (such as number of entries and duration of each stay.) Then it changes, and they make things tough for British or Americans. It is never transparent and often has to do with international issues that are happening behind the scenes, not in the public eye. No advance announcements are made so one can prepare. The rules just suddenly change without warning. Major changes have occurred twice this year.

Would I contact my ambassady in my country or the ambassady in for example Hong Kong in order to find out where I can apply for a new Visa?

For more information you would need to contact a Chinese consulate in your home country or in the place you are considering applying. They will be a better source for this information than your own country's embassy. Often what you need to know can be found on a Chinese consular website or even that of a reliable visa service.

[akire]

ok! Thank you so much!