Visa and Pre-Departures

Admission Notice

Once you're accepted, your Chinese university will send you (probably via global EMS or airmail) a document packet containing:

• 1 Original JW202 Form (Foreign students visa application form)
• 1 Letter of Acceptance from your Chinese School
• And probably some other stuff in there as well.

The JW202 is the form you'll need to take to your nearest Chinese consulate or embassy to apply for your Chinese student Visa (X-Visa). You can't download a JW202 form, since the school has to fill it out in Chinese, stamp it (nothing is official in China without being stamped) and sign it themselves. Therefore, if you haven't received your JW202 form yet from your school and your departure date is approaching,
you should get in touch with them to find out what you have to do to finish processing your Chinese student Visa.

After receiving the university's Admission Notice with JW202 Form, you may begin preparations for studying abroad in China.

Visa

Applicants who will study in China need to apply for visa. Foreign students studying in China are required to hold an ordinary passport and student visa (X-visa) (issued to foreign students who will study for more than six months in China) or F-visa (study period of 6 months or less). Those who will study for less than 6 months should apply for F-visa holders. Other applicants will be required to change their visa into student visa after entering China.

Chinese authorities do not allow students from some countries to study in China with a tourist visa, if you want to apply for a tourist visa to study in China, please consult at service@cucas.cn.

Where do I apply for a Chinese visa?

Applicants may apply for a Chinese visa from the nearest Chinese Embassies and Chinese Consulates.

Materials needed in visa application:

• Original Admission Notice
• Original JW202 form (Foreign students visa application form)
• Foreigners Physical Examination Record (in some cases) (Download)

Medical Examination

Generally speaking, students can submit their medical examination certificates together with their applications. If there is no medical certificate, you can do it after you arrived in China. This will cost about 100 U.S dollars (may differ according to the city).

Travel arrangements

• After obtaining your visa, please arrange your trip in advance, such as booking air tickets, confirming your accommodation and so on. If you need airport pick-up service (Beijing Capital International Airport), please contact service@cucas.cn.
• Beijing Language and Culture University are commissioned by the government to provide transit service for the Chinese government scholarship students in China. Self-supporting students may receive CUCAS transit services in the near future. Regardless of which city you will go in China, CUCAS can provide you with pick up service to your campus.
• If you are infected with a disease, please see a doctor first. 
• Please do not bring prohibited drugs and other dangerous materials to China.

Luggage Preparation

• Materials: Take you passport, visas, related health certificates, tickets, ID, money, credit card, map, itinerary and other important documents needed during traveling
• Clothes: Check the climate of your destination, and then see what kind of clothes you require. Take leisurewear, waterproof and umbrella, toiletries and your personal items such as toothbrush, towel and so on.
• Electronic products: Take a power convert and adapter plugs. China's electrical system operates at 220 volts. Do not take too many electrical products which can be bought anywhere, hair dryers for example.

Clothing Suggestion in General

Money Affairs

Please be reminded that many Chinese universities only accept tuition payment in cash with RMB (the abbreviation of Chinese Currency, Ren Min Bi). Students should change money before the registration date. (At present, the exchange rate between RMB and US Dollar is roughly ONE US$=6.81 RMB ) You are required to present your passport to change money/travelers checks etc.

• Cash: All the universities accpet cash in RMB. It is possible to exchange cash at most banks in China.
• Traveler's checks: Some universities accpet travelers' cheques as tuition payment method. If you want to pay tuition with traveler's check, please check with school in advanced. Don't worry if you take traveler's check, Bank of China can cash travelers' cheques sold by international commercial banks and travelers' cheque companies.
• Credit/ debit cards: Some universities accpet credit cards' payment, but a 3%-4% service fee will be charged when using these cards. Cash advances are available on most common credit/debit cards e.g. American Express/Visa/MasterCard, but this facility is available only from the main branch of Bank of China in most Chinese cities. A fee of 3%-4% will apply. Check you credit card provider for this information before leaving your home country.
• Money Wire Transfer: Western Union money transfer allows instant money wiring to and from 100 countries. Receivers could withdraw either RMB or USD.