Criminal record checks for X1 (etc) now routine?

[onebir]

Same school in Shandong, 5 X1 visa/residence applications:

.............................criminal record check required

- late 2015, 2 Brits,  no

- early 2016, 2 Italians, yes EDIT:*

- mid 2016, 1 Israeli, yes EDIT: then no**

 

I think I read somewhere China's getting stricter on applications from the Middle East over terrorism concerns. But it looks like this might be a more general recent trend; perhaps people in the process of applying can chime in.

 

This adds a layer of bureaucracy which can be expensive, slow and otherwise problematic (eg if the records check document is issued only in an exotic language, or only in person, has to be notarised, can only be issued to the consulate of the issuing country etc).

 

So it's far better to have some idea of what's involved in advance.

 

*Possibly due to beards! :s

**

The uni has contacted with psb. I don't need to get it any more. They said is Israel has a really good relationship with China, so problem solved.

 

I guess the recent visit by Liu Yandong to Israel may have helped with this - not least by reducing chances of PSB confusing Israel & some other countries in the region.