Q&A on the Visa Issuance for Foreign Employees into Jiangsu under the Travel Ban Go back »

2020-07-08 | Nanjing

Q&A on the Visa Issuance for Foreign Employees into Jiangsu under the Travel Ban. In this article you may find information about the current situation and our suggestions to the Chinese visa application. 

1. 此类签证适用于什么样的公司和什么样的人群?

What company and who will be qualified for the visa issuance?

重点外资企业,外资项目及外贸进出口企业邀请的来江苏办理业务或工作的必要外籍人员可以申请此类签证。原则上来说,如果您申请的是3个月以内短期商业贸易访问签证,您将有资格获得邀请函。

Necessary foreign employees invited by key foreign companies, foreign investment projects, and foreign trade import-export companies to conduct business activities or work in Jiangsu may apply for this type of visa. In principle, if you apply for a short-term business visa (less than 3 months), you will be eligible for the invitation letter.

 

2. 办理主体是谁?

Who should file the application?

企业为主体进行申请办理。

Employers will be responsible for filing the applications.

 

3. 办理方式?

What is the application procedure? 

申报企业向相关区市商务局递交申请材料,区市商务局对申请材料进行初审并将企业申请材料及商务局工作措施报告省商务厅。商务厅进行最终审核并出具邀请函,邀请函将进入外交部系统,申请人可联系所在国中国大使馆进行签证预约及办理。办理细则各个地区存在一定差异,请与公司所在的区市商务局联系获取细则。

Employers will submit application material to the Bureau of Commerce in their own district or city. After the Bureau of Commerce review the material, they will submit the material to the Jiangsu Department of Commerce along with their work report regarding the case. Jiangsu Department of Commerce will then review the application and issue invitations, which will go into the system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Applicants can contact local Chinese embassy and consulates to schedule an appointment and apply for visa. The detailed instruction can vary from place to place, please contact the district/municipal level commerce bureau for the most updated one.

 

4. 哪个部门负责?如何联系?

Which department is in charge of this and how can I reach out to them?

江苏省区市商务局负责初审;江苏省商务厅负责最终审核并出具邀请函;中国驻海外大使馆负责签证办理。

Bureau of Commerce on the district/city level in Jiangsu is in charge of the initial screening of the application. Jiangsu Department of Commerce will issue invitation letters. After receiving the invitation letters, Chinese embassy and consulates overseas will start the visa application. 

For contact information, see these websites for reference.

江苏省商务厅 Jiangsu Department of Commerce http://swt.jiangsu.gov.cn/

外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/web/

 

5. 我该如何准备申请材料?有成功申请到签证的企业吗?

What documents should I prepare? Any successful case to share?

外籍员工应当联系公司人力资源部门,通过公司进行申请材料准备。您也可以通过链接来了解一些公司的成功经验。

Employees should contact the HR department to prepare the material for invitation letters and submit applications. Please check here for some successful experience from other companies:

 

6. 申请时长和概率?

How long will the procedure take and what are the chances to get the visa?

根据现有数据,申请时长可能在1个月-2个月或者更长。江苏省商务厅所出具的邀请函数量位居全国第一,因此,在江苏省申请邀请函获批可能性相比在其他地区还是比较大。

According to experiences shared by member companies, the duration of the application may last 1- 2 months or more. The Department of Commerce of Jiangsu has issued the most invitation in China to foreign employees. You will have a bigger chance to receive invitation if you apply in Jiangsu compared to in other provinces of China.

 

7. 是否有官方文件提及了邀请函及签证办理一事?

Any official document/announcement mentioned the invitation letter and visa application process?\

阅读《江苏省人民政府关于促进利用外资稳中提质做好招商安商稳商工作的若干意见-操作指引》中有关邀请函的相关条目。

See ‘Opinions of the Jiangsu Provincial People's Government on the improving the quality and stabilising the utilization of foreign capital, and to attract, secure, and stabilise business investment’ for reference.

 

8. 我的配偶/子女还在欧洲。他们可以拿到邀请函和签证吗?

My partner/kids are still in Europe. Can they get the invitation letter and visas? 

根据目前情况,配偶与未成年子女可以同主申请人一同获批,或者可以以家庭团聚为理由申请入境。

Currently, the spouse and children under 18 of the qualified employees are eligible for invitation letters and visas. The company can either file the applications along with the employee if coming to China together, or file the applications separately for them

 

9. 获得M签证现有的居留许可和工作签证仍然有效吗?

I already hold a Z visa and resident permit. If I re-apply the M visa and enter China, will my current visa still be valid?

获得三个月以内短期商务签证入境后,可转为原有的工作签证和居留许可。

Your firm must apply for the short-term business visa for you to enter China. However, after entering China, based on the experience shared by member companies, your previous valid work visa and residence permit will stay valid.

 

10. 国际学校雇员何时可以返回江苏?

Can foreign teachers apply for the invitation letter and visa?

国际学校教师不属于经贸类外籍员工,他们的申请理论上有教育部门与外事部门负责,不适用于上述说法。中国欧盟商会已经将外籍教师入境作为下一个政府事务工作重点。

Foreign teachers in international schools are not eligible for invitation letters and visas through this channel. In principle, the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are in charge of their application. The European Chamber have listed the entry of foreign teachers as next GA advocate priority.

 

11. 入境之后隔离政策等?

What’s the procedure after entering China?

入境后外籍人士与中国公民一样,需要接受核酸检测与集中隔离。

After entering China, both Chinese citizens and foreigners will have to be tested for coronavirus and put in centralized-quarantine for 14 days.

 

12. 欧盟商会是否会有包机?

Will there be a charter flight?

目前没有计划。

There is currently no plan for charter flights.

 

13. 我是一名绿卡持有者。我可以入境吗?

I am holding a Chinese permanent residents’ card, can I come to China?

理论上开放,请与边检和出入境进一步做最终确认。

In theory the border is open to permanent residents, but please confirm with the China immigration inspection and China customs before making any travel plan.

 

14. 建议现在进行申请吗?

Do you recommend me to apply at this moment?

考虑耗时,机票与隔离等高额费用,建议申请前确认您的来访目的是紧急的且必要的,随着目前越来越多的商业航班复航,以后可能会越来越顺利。

Considering the visa processing time and a high fee for flights and quarantine, we recommend you to take all the factors into consideration and make sure your trip to China is necessary and urgent. As more commercial flight companies are resuming international flights to and from China, the situation might turn better and better

 

Disclaimer: The above information is based on note taken on meetings with Jiangsu Department of Commerce, and experience shared by member companies. This Q&A is not an official guide for invitation letter and visa applications, but only for reference. The steps and requirements listed above need to be confirmed by the authority in charge of the visa application. The European Chamber is not responsible for the result of the visa application.