● Visa Application

International students need to apply for a visa to enter China at the Chinese embassy or consulate in their home country. Documents required to apply for a visa include a valid passport, admission notice (original) and the Visa Application for Study in China (also known as JW201/JW202 Form). Please make sure that the original admission notice and JW201/JW202 form are returned when collecting the passport and visa. Those who study in China for less than 6 months can apply for an X2 Visa. Students who study in China for more than 6 months are required to enter China with an X1 Visa.

Note:

(1) The X1 Visa is valid for 30 days once entering China. X1 visa holders must apply for a residence permit within 30 days of entry to legally reside in China for a long term.

(2) According to relevant regulations, students must hold the X1/X2 visa or residence permit when registering. Other types of visa cannot be applied for registration.

● Extend or Change Visa

Students holding X2 visa can stay in China for the specified period of time without changing to residence permit after entering China, and study in China within the validity period of visa. If a student apply for one-semester extension of study before the expiration of X2 Visa, he/she can apply for extending X2 once with the approval of the school, and the extension shall not exceed the original duration of the visa.

Students holding residence permit can apply for further study before their visas expire, and the university will issue documents to help them apply for residence permits for the new semester. To change the residence permit, the JW202 form, the Registration form of temporary residence and the Certificate of Physical Examination record for Foreigners shall be first handled.

Students who hold a residence permit can apply to continue their studies before it expires. After approval, the university will issue documents for residence permit extension. 

International students must apply for extension before visa or residence permit expires. The Public Security Bureau will impose a penalty of 500RMB a day on overdue ones.

● Lost or Reissue Passport

After the student finds and confirms the lost passport, he/she must immediately follow the following procedures:

- The student himself/herself should report the case to the local police station with a valid certificate and receive a loss report certificate;

- Go to the International Student Affairs Office to get the relevant certification letter;

- Present the passport loss certificate issued by the police station, the accommodation registration form, and the certification letter issued by the International Student Affairs Office to Division of Entry-Exit Administration of the Suzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau to issue a passport loss certificate;

- Go to the embassy of your country in China to apply for a new passport with the certificate of lost passport;

- After obtaining a new passport, international students must apply to International Student Affairs Office immediately and then go to Division of Entry-Exit Administration of the Suzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau to go through the procedures for re-applying visa or residence permit, and to update the accommodation registration in time.