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Visa extension requirements for Kunming.

Posted in: Forums > Living in Kunming • 25 posts • Newest

• • atomic
    November 9, 2012
    151 posts
  • I thought I'd start this thread so that everyone could write down the red tape they had to produce to get a visa extension in Kunming. Hopefully it will save someone some of the pointless time wasting I seem to have to go through every time.

    I have an L class visa, I'm married to a Chinese national and we own a small apartment in Kunming.

    My original L class 90 day visa was issued by the Chinese consulate in Sydney, Australia. This involved me filling out a piece of paper sticking on a passport photo and handing over my passport, which I then picked up - with visa a week later.

    Last week I went in to the visa office in Beijing Lu to get a 90 day extension. Ended up going back and forth 3 times to get some new piece of paper, which they had neglected to tell me I needed on the previous trip. Would have been 4 times if I hadn't decided to bring the originals in with me just in case they decided they needed more copies.

    If you are in similar circumstance to me you will need the following:

    1. Copy of face page and visa page of your passport plus original.
    2. Copy of your 'Registration voucher of residence for visitors from overseas' ( this is issued to you when you report to your local police station within 24 hours of arrival) plus original.
    3. Copy of the filled in pages of your Household Register plus original.
    4. Copy of your wife's/husbands Chinese ID card plus original. Your partner's Chinese passport cannot be used instead.
    5. Copy of the filled in pages of your marriage book plus original.
    6. Filled in visa application form with standard colour passport photo firmly affixed.

    Most of this paperwork has been presented to them many times before and it is all in their computer files, but they still need you to present new copies every time.

    They don't have a copy machine for use in the office and there's no copy shops close by, so don't forget to get copies made before you go in.

    The cost is 160rmb for the 90 day extension. A 1 year extension costs 400rmb. You pay when you pick up, so don't forget to ask how much it costs, because they won't tell you if you don't ask and if you don't have enough cash on you when you go to pick up, they won't give you your passport back on a promise to pay the rest later. I believe the cost of the visa will also vary depending on the nationality of your passport.

• • tigertiger
    November 10, 2012
    1511 posts
  • Thanks for posting the info.
    I am sure this will save a number of us from scratching heads and doing return journeys.

• • AlPage48
    November 10, 2012
    395 posts
  • Well, actually there is a copy shop near by. Just go up to Tudong Lu and turn left. It's a few shops from the corner. We found this out last time we went for a VISA renewal. They also wanted a copy of the last entry stamp.

    They do have a copier in the office, and the previous staff would make the copies. They've changed all the personnel in the office now and they WILL NOT make a copy, even for a fee. You line up for an hour to be the next customer only to find out they want more info. Get it and line up for another hour, etc.

    They've taken inefficiency to new heights!

• • tallamerican
    November 10, 2012
    152 posts
  • I just went through the process 1 week ago. Luckily there was young man working that day and his english was excellent. My wife and i had copied almost everything but she did forget our household registration. She ran home and got copies on way. My wife is chinese so i was able to actually get a one year resident permit. Nice because i can now stay for 1 year without having to worry about 90 day maximum stays. Before we left they gave my wife a detailed list of what i need next year to renew my resident permit. You give them all the paperwork and your passport and you return 1 week later to pick up your passport and 1 year resident permit which looks just like a visa. At this time you pay for service which was 400 rmb in my case. Atomic was accurate in what paperwork you need for the process.

• • ghostpayroll
    November 19, 2012
    6 posts
  • sounds like visa's are always an issue. anywhere you go.

• • Yuantongsi
    November 19, 2012
    339 posts
  • I was also curious why the PSB ask for copies of the same documents year after year,so I asked our Admin people to ask last time they were in the PSB visa office, the answer is:

    "They have too many files in their storage area and they can't be bothered to look for the ones you presented last year" end quote.

• • Liumingke1234
    November 19, 2012
    650 posts
  • They really need to go digital. Have the documents accessible digitally.

• • Niconanhai
    November 19, 2012
    22 posts
  • Hello,
    We will come to Kunming in 6 weeks and plan to stay for 4 months.
    I also have a 90 day visa so i need extension for 30 days.
    I am also married to a Chinese wife, and we own a apartment in Anning.

    The information about getting extension is very helpful, however i have one question.

    What exactly is:
    Copy of the filled in pages of your Household Register plus original.

    The rest should not be a problem, so i hope to get an extension.

    Thanks for this information.

    Nico

• • Long-Dragon
    November 19, 2012
    43 posts
  • Public Security Bureau Visas and Permits Office New Location
    This office has moved to 118 Tudong Lu. They placed a map and address in English at the old location. From the old Beijing Lu office, go south towards Tudong Lu, turn right, walk about 1000 meters. You will pass Baita Lu and the Daoist temple. On the way you will see a copying making place and a photo taking machine near the new office. Visa and residence permit forms and directions are on the third floor.

• • blobbles
    November 19, 2012
    400 posts
  • Long-Dragon: I think if you are heading South from the old Beijing Lu office, you need to turn left in order to go towards Baita Lu, not right (which will take you towards XinJun Lu and Jinbi square!).

• • Yuantongsi
    November 19, 2012
    339 posts
  • 户口本 household registration.

• • HFCAMPO
    November 19, 2012
    442 posts
  • For 400 RMB you can get a 1 year residence permit so I do NOT know why anyone would waste their time or money for a 90 day. Even if you will not stay longer then 90 days I suggest you get the 1 year. Last week I travelled in the outskirts of Chuxiong and the bus was stopped at a checkpoint to inspect documents of foreigners only. My wife asked the policeman and he told her it is part of the new Congress. Police know the 1 year residence permit and they do Not hassle you when you have one.

• • Niconanhai
    November 19, 2012
    22 posts
  • Hello Campo,

    Getting a one year visa would be perfect as we come back to Kunming also in 2014.
    I can get a one year visa every year and don't have to worry about getting a 90 day visa in Holland.
    Also a bit cheaper.

    However, i don't know exactly what a household registration is, is it a proof that you own a house?

    My wife thinks it is the same as the family book, but as they are mentioned both is the first post i assume they are different documents.

• • Liumingke1234
    November 19, 2012
    650 posts
  • The household registration has to do with your wife not YOU. Your wife's

    户口本 has to be brought in so they can see it. She has to make copies of some of the pages(I forgot which ones). It has nothing to do with YOU owning property. This visa is given to foreigners who are married to Chinese nationasl. Like HFCAMPO said, it cost as of now 400 RMB. It's a 1 year multi-entry visa.

• • Niconanhai
    November 20, 2012
    22 posts
  • Thank you for the info.
    We will try to get a one year visa when we get to Kunming.

    Best regards,

    Nico

• • tallamerican
    November 20, 2012
    152 posts
  • Keep seeing 1 year resident permit referred to as visa. It is not a visa, visa only allows you to stay for 90 days at a time. On the form it asks if you want a visa or a resident permit. If you are married to chinese national resident permit is good for 1 year and you do not have to leave during that entire time. As HFCAMPO says if married to chinese national for cost of 400rmb cannot see any reason why would not get resident permit versus visa.

• • Long-Dragon
    November 20, 2012
    43 posts
  • Blobbles, You are correct. You turn left on from Beijing Lu on to Baita Lu.
    On the residence permit the price could vary depending on the nationaliy of the spouse. Generally Americans pay the most for these mainly, I think, because the Americans make the Chinese pay more for something simular in the USA. The residence permit is usually the last step in any series of the procedures to stay in China for one year. I have found it to be one of the easier ones to get after all the other steps. They actually have English instructions of what you need to do and on the form. I believe my earlier posts detailed one of those sets of changing procedures to get to the residence permit. In this series some of the documents from your home country can be expensive to get. The authentication documents can run into well over 6500rmb in your home country.

    I am greatly looking forward to maybe someday being able to get the so-called Chinese "Green Card" under the new regulations coming out.

• • tallamerican
    November 20, 2012
    152 posts
  • @Long-Dragon, 1 year resident permit for americans is 400rmb.

• • Long-Dragon
    November 20, 2012
    43 posts
  • TallaAmerican, they charge me 800rmb every year but I am not married to a chinese citizen. I just live and work here as a Foreign Expert. Maybe it went down this year.

• • Ouyang
    November 20, 2012
    163 posts
  • I believe 800 RMB is if you get it for 365 days. Less than 365 days is 400 RMB. Since I don't feel comfortable waiting until the last minute(though the office said it's ok to wait until the last day...) that means for 400 RMB it's usually 365 days minus a week or so.

• • tallamerican
    November 20, 2012
    152 posts
  • @Ouyang, You are right mine is for a few days less than 1 full year. The officer who helped me changed the date to less than 1 year without explaining to me why, guess he wanted to save me money. Interesting?

• • Long-Dragon
    November 21, 2012
    43 posts
  • Thanks so much. One can save money here I hope. This brings up the other thread on the upcoming new "green" card rules as if you folow this cheapre way you might have residence for less than one full year and not qualify.
    My question on this, is it a good idea to have the residence permit for less than one full year when you consider that maybe in the future you will need full ten years of residence to get the 10 "green " year card. We all know how bureauracies work with the rules and regulations.They will say "Your permits were for 364 days each time not 365, so you have not lived in China for 10 years."

• • Lucc83
    March 4, 2013
    3 posts
  • I am new to Kunming. I am married to a Chinese and here on an extended holiday with my wife. I'm trying to extend my stay pass the 60 days granted so it is wonderful to have found this tread. I have some questions I hope some kind souls can help us with.:

    Is there a procedure to get the household registration done? Do they recognize foreign marriage certificates?

    Is the visa, is it a 1 year extended visa? Or is it a multi-entry visa such that we have to leave the country and return again?

• • AlPage48
    March 4, 2013
    395 posts
  • We keep using our foreign marriage certificate so they must recognize them.

• • Soffenoffe
    March 5, 2013
    2 posts
  • I'm curious about 90 day tourist visa extensions, is it something available only to those with family where they apply for the extension? I used to think that only 30 day extensions were possible, but last summer after having come to China to visit my brother I was informed at the Beijing Lu visa office that since my brother was studying in Kunming, they could've given me a longer visa extension, but now it was too late as I had already extended my visa twice when out traveling. Didn't really matter as I later got a student visa, but still, would've been good to know that earlier. If one comes to China to visit a girlfriend or boyfriend, is the same generous extension offer available I wonder, or do you have to get hitched first?

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