has anyone with a residence permit (work visa or study visa) left china and returned over the last month? any hassle? and anyone know if its true or not that visa is no longer multi entry?

My gf and I came back about 2 months ago on my residence permit (and it only had 2 weeks left on it at the time) and there was no hassle. I'm on a RP for work, and she is on one as a student, but I don't think they distinguish between them, as neither of us had any trouble.

One important distinction is that the permit is not a visa, so the rules are quite different. Currently they are cracking down on multi-entry biz visas, but residence permits should (in theory) allow unlimited re-entry and re-ext.

Seems to me that this is just some misinformation my colleagues and i have received.

Bit of a concern as two of us have to leave the country next week.

If it were for real, im sure there would have been a bit more of a fuss within the expat community by now.

cheers

Let us know how you get on.

It would be nice to have a fact thread on visas instead of, "I heard that...". "The fact ma'am, just the facts."

I agree, but it really does seem that the PSB's Visa department is "learning as they go" and their own interpretation of the rules are also changing.

Resident Permits allow you to come and go from China, but only while they are still valid. These permits must be renewed by the PSB that issues them.

I have a residence visa and my Business requires that I am travelling in and out of China on a regular base, at least one to two times per month. No problem. I think you have received some false information.