This information is for students participating in the JI Summer Program in China. Students CANNOT apply for their visa until they receive the required documents from the IPE office.The fees and processing times are quotes for U.S. passport holders. The JI Visa Information packet will be provided to all students admitted to the program. Information about obtaining the visa for your reference is provided on this page.

Students who do not hold a U.S. passport should refer to the Chinese Embassy website for applicable information:
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/default.htm

Visa Application & Admission Notice from the Joint Institute

After you are admitted to the JI Summer Program in China, the JI staff will provide you with an Admission Notice and a Visa Application for Study in China. When you receive these documents, you should check them documents closely to make sure there are no errors. If you find any errors, please contact Stacie Edington via e-mail at sjed@umich.edu immediately.

Visa Type

You will apply for an F Visa. The F visa is sometimes called the Business Visa. You need the F Visa because you will study in China for less than 6 months. Please see this quote from the Chinese embassy for verification:

"(X )Visa is issued to an alien who comes to China for study, advanced studies or intern practice for a period of more than six months. An alien who comes to China to study, short-term advanced studies or intern practice for a period of no more than six months shall apply for a (F) Visa."
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84243.htm

Beacuse you are applying for an F "Business" visa, it is recommended that you check 'Business' as the 'Major Purpose of Your Visit to China'.

Number of Entries

You must decide whether to apply for a Single, Double or Multiple Entry visa. If you plan to leave China at any time you will not be allowed to return to China unless you have obtained a double or multiple entry visa (double entry visas allow you to return only once).

Please note that visiting Hong Kong and then returning to the mainland of China is considered re-entry. If you plan to do this then you must obtain a double or multiple entry visa.

Your visa is good for your entry into China from the date you receive it. It is also good for 90 days after the stated date for the end of your program in your invitation letter from the JI Summer Program.

Obtaining the Visa by Applying directly at the Chinese Embassy (Option 1)

One way to obtain your visa is to visit the consulate office nearest to your home to apply for the visa directly (the nearest office for Michigan residents is in Chicago). You can visit the Chinese Embassy website to find out where the Embassy nearest you is:
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/t84229.htm

In order to apply at the Chinese Embassy, you will need:

1. Your valid & actual passport which must have at least six (6) months of remaining validity with at least one blank visa page in it.
2. One completed Visa Application Form (Q1) with one passport photo (black & white or color is acceptable).
3. An invitation letter from the UM-SJTU Joint Institute
4. An invitation issued by the authorized Chinese institution (Visa Application for Study in China, Form JW202, provided by Shanghai Jiao Tong University)
5. Payment of the application fee ($130 for single, double or multiple entry visas). Additional fees apply for same day processing (see below). You may pay by Visa, MasterCard, Money Order, Cashier's Check, or Cash. Personal checks are not acceptable. Please make the check or money order payable to the Chinese Embassy.

The regular processing time is 4 working days. You may pay for express service: $30 for 1 working day processing (applications presented before 11:30 am may be picked up between 2:30 pm-3:00 pm on the same day) or $20 for 2-3 working days processing will be charged. You do not need an appointment for your visit to the Chinese Embassy. The visa will be stamped into your passport. Please be check your visa carefully before departing the embassy.

Information about obtaining a visa by applying directly at the Chinese Embassy is available online at:
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84243.htm

Obtaining the Visa through a Mail-In Visa Service (Option 2)

If you do not have the means or desire to visit the Chinese Embassy yourself, you can use visa service to obtain your visa. The visa service will charge a processing/handling fee for this service. One service that UM faculty, staff, and students have used in the past is Expert Visa Services:
http://www.expertvisa.com/services.htm This service may by used by students who live in the Chicago embassy region. Students outside of this region may want to consider using the Visa to China Service that was recently recommended to us by another UM office: http://www.uschinavisa.com/.

There are many other visa services available. Please make your own decision regarding whether to use a service and what service you will use.

In order to apply through a Visa Service you will need:

1. Cover Sheet (provide by Visa Service)
2. Valid U.S. Passport
3. 1 U.S. Passport Quality Photograph
4. One completed Visa Application Form (Q1) with one passport photo (black & white or color is acceptable)
5. An invitation issued by the authorized Chinese institution (Visa Application for Study in China provided by Shanghai Jiao Tong University)
6. Official Invitation from the Chinese Government or Government Recognized Organization (Admission letter from the UM-SJTU Joint Institute & Visa
7. Application for Study in China provided by Shanghai Jiao Tong University)
8. Payment of Fee (Credit card, check, money order) - This fee will include the visa application fee ($130 for single, double or multiple entry visas) plus the processing fee charged by the visa service (For example, a $28 processing fee would be charged by Expert Visa).

You must send these items via express courier (such FedEx) to the address provided by the visa service. The items will be returned to you via courier at the address you provide. Depending on the visa service, the cost for the return shipping may or may not be included in the processing fee. Note: You must send your passport because once the visa is granted it will be stamped into your original passport. Photocopies of passports are NOT accepted. When you receive you return shipment, check the visa carefully for accuracy.

If you choose to use Expert Visa, the fee schedule and the documents are available for download.