Recently, some fans and friends asked Xiaobo about foreigner visa, such as how long foreigners can stay in China? How to renew a foreigner’s visa when it expires? What are the consequences for foreigners overstaying their visas? Today, Bo’s accountant will give you a detailed explanation.
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, How long can a foreigner stay in China?
How long a foreigner can stay in China depends on their visa. This visa is like a “pass” that clearly states how long they can stay in China.
1. Visa types
Tourist Visa: If you are traveling to China, you may be issued a tourist visa. This visa will state how many days you can stay in China, for example 15 or 30 days.
Business Visa: You may be able to obtain a business visa if you are coming to China for work, such as meetings or business negotiations. The length of stay on a business visa may also vary depending on your specific needs.
Work Visa: If you plan to work in China for a long period of time, you will need to apply for a work visa. The duration of stay for this visa may be longer, but it also depends on the time specified in your work contract.
2. Stay
Duration The visa will have a clear date range on it, telling you from which date to which date you can stay in China. For example, the visa may say “May 1, 2023 to May 30, 2023”, which means you can be in China during this period.
3. Extension of stay
If the time specified on your visa has already come and gone, but you still want to stay a few more days, you can apply to the Chinese immigration authorities for an extension of your stay. However, this extension usually cannot exceed the time on your original visa.
II. How to extend a foreigner’s visa after its expiration?
Generally speaking, the extension period cannot exceed the duration of stay on the foreigner’s original visa. For example, if a foreigner’s business visa entry period is only 30 days, even if the company has a large registered capital, the extension can only be for 30 days. If a client holds a 60-day Business M Entry Visa, they are eligible to apply for a 60-day extension.
1. Q2 visa holders should submit letters, identity certificates, and proof of kinship issued by the visited person when applying for the visa extension (it is recommended to apply for third-level embassy authentication or Hague authentication in advance for documents certified by the relatives outside the country, or else it may lead to incomplete documents and materials, which may result in the inability to renew the visa properly). The period of stay can be extended for not more than 180 days.
China Tourist Visa L Visa: Issued to foreigners who come to China for tourism, visiting relatives or for other personal affairs. Generally, foreigners entering China on an ordinary tourist visa (L visa) can extend their tourist visa once for a maximum of one month without increasing the number of entries. After the extension, they need to leave and re-enter the country before applying for another extension, if there is no special reason. (So after the automatic postponement, they must leave the country)
3. L-word visa holders should submit a travel plan and itinerary, and in the case of a group tour, a letter of certification from the travel agency. The stay can be extended for a maximum of 30 days.
4. For S2 vISA holders, family visitors should submit a letter from the person being visited, proof of residence of the foreigner and proof of family relationship. Other persons should submit relevant proofs of handling personal affairs or humanitarian reasons. The period of stay can be extended for no more than 180 days for family visitors and 90 days for other individuals.
V. Applicants holding M-visa should submit a letter of attestation issued by the local inviting unit, receiving unit or individual, and a certificate of registration if the unit is not registered. If the partner is an individual, he/she should sign the issued letter and attach the local permanent residence certificate or actual residence certificate. The period of stay can be extended for not more than 180 days.
6. X2 visa holders should submit a certificate of enrollment issued by an educational and training institution in China. The period of stay can be extended for not more than 180 days. The cumulative period of stay shall not exceed the original period of stay specified in the visa.
What are the consequences of overstaying a visa?
The consequences of visa overstay and stay mainly include the following:
1. Penalties for illegal residence: According to the relevant provisions of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Administration of Exit and Entry, overstaying a visa is regarded as illegal residence. Once discovered, one may be penalized with warnings, fines and detention up to 10 days. In serious cases, criminal liability may also be pursued in accordance with the law.
2. Repatriation and entry restrictions: Aliens who are in the country illegally may be expelled from the country. Under article 62 of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Administration of Departure and Entry, an individual who has been expelled from the country may not enter the country for a period of one to five years from the date of expulsion. This means that once deported due to visa expiration, they will not be able to re-enter China for some time in the future.
3. Impact on an individual’s credit and visa application: The expiration of a visa and the record retained may have a negative impact on an individual’s credit, which may affect the success of future visa applications. Some countries may blacklist illegal detainees and permanently or permanently ban them from entering the country.
4. Lack of access to public services and social benefits: During illegal detention, individuals may not be able to access local public services and social benefits, such as health care, education, etc.
5. Facing dismissal from employer: If working during the period of unlawful residence, one may face dismissal from the employer due to lack of legal right to work.
In summary, the consequences of overstaying are very serious. Therefore, foreigners with visas are advised to apply for an extension or leave the country in a timely manner before the expiration of their visas in order to avoid unnecessary legal risks.