China Romance
All About China => Visas, Immigration and Emigration => Topic started by: Paul Todd on November 19, 2009, 05:23:29 am
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China's Green Card gaining popularity 5 years on.
Updated: 06 Aug 2009
The creation of a Chinese Green Card in 2004 was a milestone in the country's immigration law. Five years on, the card is an increasingly sought-after document.
On August 15, 2004, the Regulations on Examination and Approval of Permanent Residence of Aliens in China created a Green Card system granting qualified foreigners the right to live in China permanently.
Liu Lili, who works in the Exit and Entry Administration of Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, has watched the Green Card system develop since its inception. She said nearly all applications received by the Bureau are approved. So far, 323 people have been granted a "Green Card" qualifying them for permanent residence in Beijing. Another 15 are awaiting final approval. It takes around 6 months to process each application.
Of the 323 Green Card holders, 94 are wives or husbands of Chinese citizens; 50 are minors dependent on their parents; 20 are senior citizens returning to live with relatives; 114 are individuals who have made outstanding contributions or are of special importance to China (another 7 are their family members); and 23 are high-level foreign personnel who hold posts in businesses (another 15 are their family members).
Liu said the authorities had been granting residence to returning senior citizens for some time before the Green Card system was formally launched. The government has approved permanent residence for over 3,000 foreigners since the implementation of the Law on Control of the Entry and Exit of Aliens which was adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in November 1985.
Four groups of people are eligible for permanent residence: high-level foreign personnel who hold posts in businesses that promote China's economic, scientific and technological development or social progress; foreign citizens who make large direct investments in China; persons who have made outstanding contributions or are of special importance to China; and people who come to China to be with family, such as husbands and wives, minors dependent on their parents, and senior citizens dependent on their relatives.
Liu told China.org.cn that most applications she dealt with were from American citizens.
Why do overseas citizens apply for permanent residence status in China? The main concern, said Liu, is the political factor. Once people have a "Green Card", they feel they are accepted and trusted by the Chinese government. The "Green Card" also facilitates entry and exit. With permanent residence status, visas are no longer needed and people can enter and leave the country using only a valid passport. China offers outstanding career opportunities and is seen by many as safer and more secure than many other countries, said Liu.
Green card holders have the same rights and responsibilities as Chinese citizens. However the card is not equivalent to Chinese nationality and holders are not allowed to vote in elections, hold political office, or serve in the military.
Obtaining a Green Card is not easy. The qualifying conditions are tough. Unless you are a close relative of a Chinese citizen you will either have to invest a substantial amount of money in the country or make a genuinely outstanding contribution to the country's development.
To meet increasing demand, the authorities are considering making the Green Card more available by broadening the range of applicants without lowering the requirements, said Liu, but she gave no further details.
Source: China.org.cn.
Currently, most of the major Chinese cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan, Guangzhou and Chongqing, have started to issue green cards. Dream on guy's. If you fancy your chance, here's what you need to do:
To qualify for the Green card, you need to fulfill at least one of the following criteria:
I Be a high-level foreign expert holding a post in a business that promote China's economic, scientific and technological development, or social progress.
II Have made outstanding contributions, or are of special importance to China.
III Have made large direct investment of over 500 thousand US dollars in China. [ how many EMF's is that?]
IV Come to China to be with your family, such as husband or wife, minors dependent on their parents, and senior citizens dependent on their relatives.
How to Apply for the certificate
I Submit an application to the public security organ of the People's Government at the city level or the branch office or county office of the public security bureau of a municipality directly under the central government, which is in charge of the community of the applicant's major investment or long-term residence,
II Provide the specified application documents.
III The public security body shall investigate and verify the conditions of the applicant according to the specified prerequisites.
IV The local department will submit the application to the Ministry of Public Security for examination and approval.
V The ministry shall decide whether to approve or reject the application for permanent residence permit within 6 months of receiving the application.
VI Upon the approval of the Ministry of Public Security, the applicant will be granted a Foreigner Permanent Residence Permit by the Ministry of Public Security.
AND To applicants outside China:
A Foreigner Permanent Resident Status Confirmation Letter shall be issued by the Ministry of Public Security, with which they may apply for D Visas from a Chinese embassy or consulate abroad, and receive the Foreigner Permanent Residence Permits from the public security organ which handles their applications within 30 days of entering China.
For holders of the previous resettlement or permanent residence certificates, you can go to the Entry-Exit Administration of the Public Security Bureau and change over to the new green card.
You Should Submit:
A Valid Passport or equivalent
B Health certificate issued at state level
C Credentials proving no criminal record by China embassies or consulates
D Two passport photos, no hat
E Other relevant credentials if required.
Fees
The fee for the new green card certificate is 300 yuan.
The cost of getting a new card is 1500 yuan.
Validity
The Foreigner Permanent Residence Permits are valid for five or ten years.
--Certificates with five-year validity are granted to minors.
--Certificates with ten-year validity are granted to adults.
First one to get one of these on this forum has some serious “Guanxi”
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Paul,
I tried to get this at the PSB here in guangzhou and i ended up just
recieving a visa that was good for 1year. the lady told me to apply
for the green card next year as i will already be here a year and as
long as i was a good boy then i have a good chance. do you know of
anyone else who was told this? i see you live here in China did you
try to get one or do you have the same visa as i do? just curious as
to what you did.
Ted
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Hi Ted,
I don't know anybody that has managed to get a green card or even applied for one. I read on a web site that even if you were married to a Chinese citizen you would still have to have been living here for five years before you could apply. It's interesting that the PSB in Guangzhou said you could give it a go after 1 year. That's the difference of hear say on other sites and up to date genuine information here! Thanks.
I am a newbie to China,came here in September to marry my lovely wife and live. Best move I ever made ! I used up my 60 day tourist visa and after visiting the PSB here in Baoding they gave me a 6 month multiple entry visa. They said that next time I apply I will get the 1 year visa no problem. It's easy enough to get if you have the right paperwork so in all truth if I only get a year at a time that's no hardship,but a green card would be nice! Best of luck to you and Sisi
Ming Zhi,Paul
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Paul,
Going from past experience, this ''Green Card'' will come to be abused like everything else official in China. it's just a case of ''WHO YOU KNOW''!!
There have been so many times that I've heard that, this and that is impossible to attain, only to find, that it was dead easy, when you know the right people in the right places!!
There are guy's in China that make a living out of doing just this, cutting out the red tape and getting to the right people to make it happen. Every foreign company in China, employs these guys commonly known as ''Fixers''. You would be totally amazed, just what these guys are capable of, and what they can do.... Put it this way, nothing would surprise me, if you got one of these guys on the case!! ...hahaha!!!
David......
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Too bad we cant get one of these "fixers" to help get our wives here. I even have a politician that owes us a favor and he cant do anything.
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JimB,
I suggested just such an operation several months ago, alas no-one seemed interested. And yes they can and do have contacts in most if not all the foreign embassies and consulates. Tourist and business visa's are an absolute breeze for these guys.... Let's put it this way, there isn't much that the better fixers can't get done in China....
I can thank one such guy for having Lucy here in Cyprus on a yearly renewable, working multiple entry visa. With that visa, she has no problem traveling throughout the EU.
After being married here in Cyprus, (EU country) it will make getting a full UK passport that much easier too ...much easier!! The other thing is that because marrying outside of China, they will have no record of the marriage and therefore she will retain her Pension too. An absolute winner all round as far as were both conserned!!!
David....
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Hi Ted,
I don't know anybody that has managed to get a green card or even applied for one. I read on a web site that even if you were married to a Chinese citizen you would still have to have been living here for five years before you could apply. It's interesting that the PSB in Guangzhou said you could give it a go after 1 year. That's the difference of hear say on other sites and up to date genuine information here! Thanks.
I am a newbie to China,came here in September to marry my lovely wife and live. Best move I ever made ! I used up my 60 day tourist visa and after visiting the PSB here in Baoding they gave me a 6 month multiple entry visa. They said that next time I apply I will get the 1 year visa no problem. It's easy enough to get if you have the right paperwork so in all truth if I only get a year at a time that's no hardship,but a green card would be nice! Best of luck to you and Sisi
Ming Zhi,Paul
Paul, where do you have to apply for renewing your Visa when the time comes - is it at the PSB or do you have to do the trip to the UK or possibly Hong Kong?
Willy
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Hi Willy,
Yes its the local PSB. Hong Kong is only for a Z visa. I had to take my passport and our little red books. Ming Zhi had to take her ID card and house registration documents We also had to get something from the police. Not sure what exactly that was, but Ming Zhi wrote it out on a sheet of A4 and the police stamped it. It was no problem at all, felt more like a box ticking exercise. This all went to the PSB office and we were told come back in 5 days. Next time they said I would get a muliply entry visa for a year, but first time you only get 6 months. Don't know if that's a hard and fast rule or just something they do here. I'm also not sure if we will have to resubmit our documents in April as there all on file now, anyway it's an easy visa to get as long as you keep out of trouble. It's an ongoing thing so there's no limit to the number of years you can apply. I think it's after 5 years of living here and the definition of "year" I read was resident for a minimum of 9 months per year that things change. It will be interesting to see it Ted can apply for a green card after a year. You just never know here ! I would certainly like to meet one of David's fixers but even without the high power friends its simple enough!:icon_biggrin:
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The Z visa is for work is it?
I went to the PSB at end of August and received a Registration Form of Temporary Residence for Visitors. They told me that would run until the end of my visa which was then dated 28/1/10 and the limit on days i can stay as shown on my visa would no longer apply. Since then I renewed the visa in London and this one expires 7th April 2010. I am off to London for a few days next week then coming back again which will be the fourth entry I have made since june and will use up both entries on this new visa.
I am then going to the PSB at Zhongshan when I get back and will see what the proceedure is here. I will see if I have enough entries to go for a 12 month unlimited entry.
Willy
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Yes Willy the" Z "visa is the one for work.
Have you got plans to make an honest woman of that girl of yours anytime soon ?:angel:
Along with everything else it makes the visa situation easier ! hehe hehe
Best of luck with the PSB.:icon_cheesygrin:
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PAUL,
When i was talking about Tourist and Business visa's, i was talking about foreign visa's ...not Chinese Visas.... ie, Getting your lady a tourist/visit visa to visit the States, UK, Aussie and so forth, and same goes for Business visa's, but it does help if the lady has some form of business, anything even a shop will do!!
Not so easy i think, if you try doing that on your own!!!......
And YES, they can and do organise spouse entry visa's to your country, and it doesn't take 12 months either. Find a good experienced Fixer, and there is not much these guys can't circumvent within China.
There not that expensive either, my fees for Lucy's visa was around 700 to 800 RMB and from start to finish took way less than a month..... That was just over 2 years ago, so the costs may have gone up, but even a 1000/1500 RMB would not be expensive in my book!!
David......
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Mike,
Point one, ... That's correct, Paul's wife lost her state pension the moment she married Paul!!
Point two, ... I didn't say anything about back dating anything Mike. Your first job is to find that ''Good Fixer'' and he will tell you what you need and roughly how long it will take.
I would suggest that those living in China at the present, try to make contact with foreigners that are working for an overseas company, and via those contacts get the name of there company fixer. Try to find out if the guy they have is a good one, as the better they are the more contacts/influence they will have and be quicker and more reliable....
Oh, and Mike, nothing much in the way of officialdom is insurmountable in China. Where there are Chinese in the loop, it can be sorted !!! ....
David.....
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Mike,
I really don't know how or what these guys do to get the Visa's. I know personally of a colleague that got his spouse visa for New Zealand in a little over 2.5 months, they had been married at the time about 4 or 5 months. They actually received the visa while they were still in China.
As i said , first job is to find a ''GOOD Fixer, and let him tell you what he can and can't achieve and what he needs from you to process a Spouse visa for Canada.....
David.....
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Vince ...
You can think what you like ....they are very REAL!!! No they don't just get visa's for women... They cut through official red tape and the reams of bureaucracy that is so abundant in China. They deal with the Ministry's, the local Authorities / administrators, the Police, Customs and any other quango authority in place. Without these guy's there would be no foreign companies operating in China. Which is why every overseas company has at least one of these guys on staff, and often more than one...
Your thinking too much along the lines of America or other western countries, it just ain't like that in Asia (or in many other parts of the world). In Asia they only go through the motions of having similar western rules and regulations etc. Even in the Middle East, the overseas companies employ these Fixers, or believe me, absolutly nothing would ever get done, just as it is in China....
David....
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Mike , just 1 thing , think outside the square , the paperwork is filled out in China not in Canada , in all outposts most of the workers are natives of that country , not as in this case Canadians , that is where the fixers have the important input , better to have your paperwork on top of the pile and not at the bottom , not forgetting that Canada is one of the major ," I want to go live there " places , and I would these days hate to think how many relatives of Chinese / Canadians are also using this way to move across the ocean , regards Ying and Robert .
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Guys you need to really listen to what David 50 is telling you.These fixers that he is talking about.Can and do fix things.Mike can they get your lady a visa for Canada and let her work while she is there yes.If the fixer knows what he or she is doing.
They do have contacts in foreign embassies.I've seen these guys make birth certificates come out of thin air.Ive seen them change what province a lady was born.Ive seen them work visa's where it took a Chinese women 5 days to get a visa to Australia and New zealand.China does not run or work without a fixer
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Mike,
That's fine, go the normal route and wait your 12 months or so. I'm not here trying to convince you to do otherwise. I'm just telling you what i know, what i have seen, and have experienced myself. Like Vince your not thinking outside of the box, we are conditioned to do things according to how we are told by those in authority. Things get done far more efficiently via the back door in many parts of Asia, than walking in the front door.
I have no idea what they do to attain the various different visa's from these embassy/consulates, and don't really need or want to know, so long as an appropriate valid visa is stamped into the passport....
Now think about who actually does all the paperwork and processing in the immigration/visa dept's at virtually every embassy/consulate!!!
David.....
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The Fixer - sounds like a good TV suspense drama show. I can see that there would be this shady under side to business everywhere. I can also see that the Fixer's ability to fix something would work better overseas then here. Mike as for you ability to find this so called fixer, I see a low probability. If the Fixer was that common, then the average citizen would protest such flagrant queue jumping and disregard to local rules. The how dare you....syndrom would keep this guy away from local limelight.
We have so many posts about being scammed by agencies and ladies, that I can see this topic being even a larger iceberg. And there is no way that we could have a list showing reputable Fixers as we are trying to do with agencies. I wish I had the conections to meet this Fixer, but alas, I am just a lowly country doctor that needs his patience to keep from floundering.
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Mike most of the time .It does not matter how the fixer works.Just that the situation gets fixed.Sometimes its a carton of cigarettes and some fruit.To several hundred dollers.It all depends on the situation.And how bad the client wants or needs it.
Jessica is going to have to find the fixer.Next time she is in China.Or you can talk to Proteus.I would be willing to bet he knows somebody somewhere.That can fix this for you.If not he probably does know somebody who knows somebody how to fix it.
Is all of this on the up and up.No not always.In your situation it is just a matter of moving the paperwork to the right place.Then getting it shoved threw quickly.
It is not the Canadian government who decides who lives in Canada.It is Canadian immigration.And inside Canadian immigration is a bunch of embassies and inside these embassies is little departments.With department heads.Who want something that there job does not supply.That is where the fixer comes in to play.He or she supplies what the department head or office worker wants.And for the right price.All of the sudden your problem is fixed.
Rhonald it is alive and well in China.It is a awesome machine.And it works quit well.
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Rhonald it is alive and well in China.It is a awesome machine.And it works quit well.
Yes after reading so many Economic books that keep hammering the idea of Incentive, I do not doubt your claim. My eyes have seen the light, and in one regard I wish the ability to smile and wink. But even though I like Tom Clancy and Ian Flemming, I have to admit being a little to straight laced to try the cloak and dagger method. And my gut instinct says that I do not have the money or means to try this method.
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Mike,
Sorry i had to go out for a while in the middle of writing the last post. I see that others have knowledge of just what an experienced fixer can do in China. All i can tell you further on your questions, is that you basically ask the fixer what you want, and he will tell you if that is possible or not. He will give you alternatives if he can't get you specifically what your asking for, or maybe even put you in touch with someone than can get your requirement. But i have no idea of how or what they do to get these visa's, and they are sure not going to tell you.....
Anyway, it's really up to you and anyone else out there if they want to go to the trouble of finding such a guy/fixer (our company called them local liaison agents.) All i can tell you is, it has worked for me and a good many others....
David......
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It is not the Canadian government who decides who lives in Canada.It is Canadian immigration.And inside Canadian immigration is a bunch of embassies and inside these embassies is little departments.With department heads.Who want something that there job does not supply.
Thus the reason for Hong Kong having a 13 month waiting time compared to Beijing's 5 month. From another immigration site I have read how the embassies are almost a law onto themselves with us with little or no recourse. My one co-worker had his vistor visa for his wife's sister denied. No reason given and all he can do is pay the fee and reapply.
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Mike,
All i can tell you is, it has worked for me and a good many others....
David......
Ya...but your name is David 5o. I think you got conections with MI5 :fi_lone_ranger: thus the 5o ..you got some kind of licence to....
I understand you now ... you telling me to get it done, when no one else is getting it done .... and I find this confusing and frustrating .... can you understand how this looks to me?
Mike O.
Mike don't let it get you down. If we knew the "Who" then it could be done. Unfortunately we fish in the wrong river, being mainstream - our chances of finding this fixer is small.
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Rhonald,
No, but i have no qualms about bucking the system when it, or i need to buck it....
I understand what you say about being straight laced. Up until about 10 or 12 years ago i was exactly like you, everything by the book. Then things changed, and it slowly started not to pay to be up front with officialdom. In fact it got to the point where you were getting shafted for being up-front..... So now, i duck and dive and only tell or give the bare minimum of what they need to know and nothing more.... lol!! Oh, and no these fixers are not that expensive, ...well they weren't the last time we used one....
David.......
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Rhonald yes the embassies are a country and laws of there own.I have a friend she went to Australia New Zealand,Japan.SHe gave the fixer like 2 weeks to get it done.The fixer got it done.
She wanted to come to the states.So she did it all by herself no help.The interview lasted five minutes.It was a straight denial.She had all the t's crossed all the eyes dotted.She had met and exceeded every condition.That the United states.Said she had to meet.She even had a letter of invite from a company in the states.It was still a denial.The reason it was denied was.The interviewer said she was going to America.And would want to stay.
That is why I tell you guys to get a lawyer.When you start the visa process for your lady.If somebody like me can fill out the paperwork anybody can.The paperwork is very simple.Then why can't somebody like me not get there lady a visa? cause there. is nothing in it for the guy doing the interview.
With a good immigration attorney.One who has had allot of success.Even after you have bent and twisted the application beyond all help or repair.It is because the lawyer has the fixer.Or is the fixer themselves.
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Mike,
I can't help you or Jessica, in giving you a specific name of a fixer in your area. Which is why i suggested, that those presently living in China try and locate a good all round Fixer, that you guys can make use of in the future, maybe including myself....
Yes it is frustrating knowing that these things can be done, but not knowing where to go to find one. As I've mentioned before, if i were living in China right now, i'd be looking around for a wholly owned overseas company. Then trying to make contact with the expats working in that company to gain access to there Fixer, as they tend to hire the better more experienced guys.
Another point you made in your last post was about money, ....I have never payed money to these guys up front, only when they have delivered, you may be asked for the actual official cost of the visa however. So there is no on-going greasing of wheels, ...so to speak!! The price is agreed from the outset, and that's what you pay the guy!!
Mike i don't know if any of those you mentioned in your post have tried using a Fixer, i would suspect not!! Maybe Chong, if interested, would be one of the better bets to find a suitable guy/Fixer, especially if he is making many contacts on his frequent Chinese visits...
Another point to raise here, all the visas are genuine, they have to be, because the visa number and name are linked and is uploaded to the county in questions immigration computer system, and checked against the list at the entry airports immigration control point...
David......
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Wow Good post David and also Max thanks for your input. I feel caught in a quandry. No, I never tried a fixer but knowing how the system is unfair, I wouldn't mind trying. But also because of the police interview my wife had, I wonder if I am close to a decision anyways. She's convienced it will be soon. Maybe she does know someone that I don't or she is just being optimistic. I know that if I have to make another trip next spring then I will definitely look into it. "The Fixer" coming to theaters soon :icon_biggrin:
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Rhonald Canadian immagration is a great mystery to me.Hell I thought when you went to the interview and they said yes.Then it was over.But it isn't.So yes a fixer mite be in your future.
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Sorry Maxx if I caused some confusion. Her interview was not at the Hong Kong embassy with Immigration, but rather with the Shenzhen Police department. When I asked her if the embassy had requested the interview, she did not know because the police officer did no say to why the interview. I hope it was at the embassy's request and not that the Chinese government was doing a spot check.
I have never heard of anyone else ever having a non embassy interview before so I am still in the dark for the reason. I wish there was a phone booth down some dark alley that allowed me to contact my own Mr Fixer. I wonder who would play his part if the story ever made it to the big screen. And if he wasn't asian then I bet he would have an English accent.
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Hi David,
I"m one of the lucky ones, my wife has her own well established and highly profitable business so the pension she will receive is not from the state. She has travelled outside of China on many occasions for business and pleasure without any visa problems at all, now this may or may not be down to the fact that her brother is a senior Judge over here.:icon_biggrin: So far I have not needed anything "Fixing" but It will be interesting if I ever do! I would think he knows one or more of these guy's.:icon_biggrin:
Like Maxx said with the right motivation most things are possible.
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Paul,
There you go..... having a wifes brother as a senior judge in your pocket, is just about as good as you can get ...hahaha!!
Yes, i understand about your wife's situation, somewhat similar to Lucy's situation, she has also travelled outside of China for the later part of her life with various companies on business. In fact she is still travelling now, but mainly around eastern Europe and Germany. But seeing that she has always worked, and for sometime in goverment positions in the past, and is due a pension from the state. I don't see why it should be stolen from her, just because she marries a foreigner, so it's better in her pocket than in theirs is what we say!!! ...lol!!!
Maybe you can find out from your brother-in-law if he can put you in touch with such a guy, (Fixer) i know it would help a lot of the brothers here, when they find themselves in a catch 22 situation.
David.....
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David, I don't know if having him in my pocket is the way I would describe it! hehe hehe The first time we met I had the distinct impression of being judged, that look and the feeling of the condemned man was very strong indeed! After all I do come from Liverpool where the saying is " What do you call a Liverpool lad in a suit?.....the accused! "
He lives in another province and as is the Chinese way his young daughter is living with her grandmother. I go round to their house regularly to give her English lessons and I'm sure this gets back to him. So no harm there then!:angel:
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Paul,
Your dead right there, keeping him sweet can do you no harm at all!! lol!! He'll probably be considered the head of the family right now, So couple that with his official position, and you'll have the stern ''I'm Important'' face syndrome. I'm sure your not going to be intimidated by his initial demure towards you. I'm sure JimB got the same initial treatment from his high ranking security police brother-in-law, when they first met....
He'll know that his sister and Mum is happy with you and all about what your doing for his own daughter, Mum will be keeping him well informed that's for sure!! ...lol!!
And if you as a Liverpudlian (is that how it's spelt? ..haha!!) can't find away around him, your letting your roots down, ....Big time!! ...haha!!..
David.....
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Mike,
I really don't know how or what these guys do to get the Visa's. I know personally of a colleague that got his spouse visa for New Zealand in a little over 2.5 months, they had been married at the time about 4 or 5 months. They actually received the visa while they were still in China.
As i said , first job is to find a ''GOOD Fixer, and let him tell you what he can and can't achieve and what he needs from you to process a Spouse visa for Canada.....
David.....
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its the small things you do that keeps you in good graces with everyone
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David,
he's the youngest in the family and Oh yes where good friends now.:angel: He came to visit a few weeks ago and I walked into the living room and found him with his feet up on the sofa. He immediately jumped up and look very embarrassed about this. I assured him that "my" home was his, but he didn't put his feet up again. Before he left he insisted that we had our pictures taken together. his arm around my shoulder and such. Hope there not for Interpol !:icon_cheesygrin:
Ted, your so right!
I was lucky enough to marry into a tight knit and loving family so I actively look for things I can do for them. Its the least I can do for all the kindness they've shown me.