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?