i am a us citizen teaching in kunming. have been here 2 years.

Question

I am a US citizen teaching in Kunming. Have been here 2 years.  My residence permit from my teaching job expires July 31.  I want to attend a language school which begins August 23. Both the school and VISA office here say I must leave China to obtain a tourist visa, then return so the lang school can change it to the student visa.  Do you have any idea of why I can't just get a student visa directly from the lang school without going out to get a Tourist visa first?  If I must leave, why can't I just get the student visa in HongKong and save the cost of the tourist visa?  Finally, whether it is the tourist or student visa, can I obtain either in Hong Kong?

Mrs.Mia · Answer

Ms.Lizik, as you were told, it is easier for you to get a visa from HongKong, especially a tourist visa. maybe they can easily change your L visa to X visa to exempt from the procedure of a student visa. And with an approved Foreign Student Visa Application Form (JW101 or JW202) issued by the Chinese authorized unit or the Ministry of Education,  you can try to apply a Student visa in Hong Kong.

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