Planning a trip to Mainland China? You might want to read this!

No doubt, traveling between Hong Kong and China is quite common among HK expats.  So it is important to stay up to date with all the entry and exit policy changes.

And speaking of the devil, the State Council of the People’s Republic of China has announced new immigration  regulations, effective as of September 1^st, 2013.

The KEY changes are:

• Professionals – High-level foreign professionals and individuals with talent in high demand will receive a new R-visa.
• Family Reunion – Any Chinese national with a family member or adopted children will receive a new Q-visa.
• Relatives – A spouse, parents, parents-in-law and children under 18 related to a long-term staying work visa holder in China will receive a new S-visa.
• During the entry visa application process, China authorities may request a face-to-face interview.
• China authorities shall acknowledge visa extension and visa re-issuance applications within seven days. While the authority is withholding passports and travel documents during the application process, the applicant will have a valid immigration status.

• Local Public Security Bureau (PBS) may retain biometric identification, such as fingerprints, during the application process.

• When submitting a Residence Permit application of over a one-year duration, a medical examination report must also be submitted, completed within a six month period of application.
• China authorities shall acknowledge Residence Permit extension, replacement and re-issuance applications within 15 days.

• PBS may access any application via phone interview, face-to-face interview, on-site audit and audit of any means to verify the validity of information provided. Applicant and local sponsoring entity must cooperate with the PBS.

At the same time, make sure to not “overstay your welcome” in China:

1. Overstay in China after the visa period.
2. Overstay in China after the visa free period.
3. Visa holder is acting beyond the condition of stays.