Jump to content

Applying for a Chinese Green Card


Randy W
 Share

Recommended Posts

Edit March, 2018 - requirements given to us in 2018 by the PSB are listed in Post # 18 of this thread http://candleforlove.com/forums/topic/47314-applying-for-a-chinese-green-card/?p=637654

Edit June, 2020 - This topic includes a discussion (and links) of how to get a US Police Report and a link to a discussion on how to get a China residence permit.

 

 

 

One of the requirements for getting a Chinese green card is to obtain a "No Criminal Record" certification from the U.S. government.

 

The only snag that I see in that is that it appears that a trip to the U.S. might be necessary, just for the fingerprints.

 

Criminal Record Checks - U.S. Dept. of State

 

Identity History Summary Checks - FBI

 

U.S. citizens should be able to obtain fingerprint cards from their local police departments or at FBI.gov. U.S. embassies and consulates do not generally provide this service. Fingerprint Identification: An Overview.

 

 

From the FBI link -

Who May Request a Copy of an Identity History Summary (or Proof That an Identity History Summary Does Not Exist)

Only you can request a copy of your own Identity History Summary.

 

Individuals typically make this request for personal review, to challenge the information on record, to satisfy a requirement for adopting a child in the United States or internationally, or to satisfy a requirement to live, work, or travel in a foreign country (i.e., police certificate, letter of good conduct, Identity History Summary check, etc.).

 

This will need to go through the document certification process, to be certified by the Dept. of State (I assume the Federal Dept. of State) and the Chinese Embassy. I haven't yet looked at this closely, but I believe it will have to go through the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., since it is a Federal document.

 

Another requirement is five years of residence (at least nine months of every year), which I'll reach as of Dec. 9.

 

How to Apply for a Chinese Green Card

 

They tell me that I'll also be eligible for a three year residence permit/visa, so that might be the more expedient way to go for now, especially since I'll need a new visa anyway, even if I do decide to go for the green card this year (my passport and current residence permit visa both expire in Feb., 2015).

 

For right now, I need to go get a new passport, and then renew the visa. We'll see what happens after that.

Edited by Randy W
fix links (see edit history)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

These are the handwritten instructions we got from the PSB last year.

 

gallery_1846_708_393514.jpg

 

 

and this is what we got this year. I won't try to translate these to any degree, except to say that Section 1 is for the souse, while Section 2 is for any children.

 

The number 10 item on this list is for a deposit of 200,000RMB to have been held in a bank for one year - that would most likely be a killer, since i don't intend to leave that kind of money parked in a bank anywhere for that period of time. But we believe that our investment in the house is sufficient for that purpose.

 

gallery_1846_708_1253590.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

. . . and the fingerprints apparently can be done anywhere, as long as they're somewhat professional -

Criminal Record Checks and Fingerprinting

Search Google for "Criminal Record Checks and Fingerprinting China", or try this link for a decent write-up

http://www.gochengdoo.com/en/blog/item/3107/the_fastest_criminal_background_check_for_us_americans_in_china_a_guide

  - or -

http://www.tourguizhou.com/china-criminal-background-check/

Edited by Randy W (see edit history)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...

. . . and the result ?

I had to get a Q1 visa, since I just happened to be in the U.S. when my residence permit expired. My new residence permit is the plain old 3 year kind - NOT a green card.

The Q1 was issued by the Chinese consulate in Houston

gallery_1846_676_7851.jpg

 

The residence permit was issued here in Yulin, good for three years, unlimited stays, and unlimited entries.

gallery_1846_676_547904.jpg

 

Now I'm ready for another trip to the U.S., which I expect to go on at the end of March.

Edited by Randy W (see edit history)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

An article on some upcoming changes, if anyone is still interested in getting an actual green card - at the nanfang.com web site

Foreigners Over the Age of 60 Can Now Work in Shanghai… with Some Exceptions

...but only if you're a senior executive of a company

Quote

Last June, Shanghai expats were allowed to apply for permanent residence permits after living in the city for just four years, provided of course that they were in a high tax bracket. This allowance was also extended to the personal servants of eligible applicants.

Also in June, green card restrictions were lifted for foreign deputy professors, researchers or other professions that had worked for at least four years and lived in China for three, with good tax records.

The article linked to from within this article, Getting a Chinese Green Card Will Now Be Easier Than Ever

is from 2014.

Edited by Randy W (see edit history)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 7 months later...

. . . and more attention paid to upgrading the green cards

in the Global Times (this seems to also have been picked up by a number of other sources)

China launches reform of ‘green card’ for foreigners

By Leng Shumei Source:Global Times Published: 2017/4/17 22:48:40
Quote
The foreigner's permanent residence card, known as the Chinese "green card," will be renamed as "foreigner's permanent residence identity card," highlighting its function as identity authentication, the Xinhua News Agency reported Monday.
 
A chip with identity information will be embedded in the card, making it machine-readable, same as the Chinese residents' identification cards, said Xinhua.
 
The reform also aims to provide foreigners easier access to public services in China, and the work is expected to be finished before June, according to Xinhua.
 
The permanent residence certificate is a legal identification document for foreigners in China, but not many foreigners have it and the society has a low awareness of it, an official from the MPS was quoted as saying.
 
Moreover, the current certificate cannot be read by machines in the same way as the identity cards of Chinese residents, bringing inconvenience to holders in the use of the card, the official said.
 
According to the official, local governments will allocate funds to upgrade facilities and train staff in railway stations, airports, banks, hotels as well as other related units to make sure the reform will be completed by the second quarter of this year.
 
. . .
 
According to Rona, the existing certificate is incompatible with many systems such as the train ticket purchase and online payment systems because it lacks a 13-digit number as the Chinese identification cards have.
 
. . .
 
The country issued a total of 1,576 permanent residence certificates to foreigners in 2016, an increase of 163 percent over the previous year, according to Xinhua.

 

 

Edited by Randy W (see edit history)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If only they could also allow those of us with residence permits through marriage to get this Chinese ""foreigner's permanent residence identity card" as well. Would make life a lot easier.

Randy, I seem to recall you saying that after 5 years on your residence permit in Yulin you will be able to apply for a ......something or another......? What is it that again?

Edited by Randy W (see edit history)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/23/2017 at 3:16 PM, dan1984 said:

If only they could also allow those of us with residence permits through marriage to get this Chinese ""foreigner's permanent residence identity card" as well. Would make life a lot easier.

Randy, I seem to recall you saying that after 5 years on your residence permit in Yulin you will be able to apply for a ......something or another......? What is it that again?

Check with your PSB - after 5 years living in China with your wife you are probably eligible.

Green card == "foreigner's permanent residence identity card" (same thing)

I posted the instructions we got from our PSB earlier in this thread - http://candleforlove.com/forums/topic/47314-applying-for-a-chinese-green-card/?p=617362

Now that I'm over 62, I can get a 3 year residence permit (which is just a visa in your passport) much more easily than the green card. I won't know what the deal is now, though, until this residence permit is up for renewal next year.

The green card is apparently more useful now, like the article says, but it's processed in Beijing and can take 3 to 6 months.

Edited by Randy W (see edit history)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/23/2017 at 4:41 PM, Randy W said:

 

On 4/23/2017 at 3:16 PM, dan1984 said:

If only they could also allow those of us with residence permits through marriage to get this Chinese ""foreigner's permanent residence identity card" as well. Would make life a lot easier.

Randy, I seem to recall you saying that after 5 years on your residence permit in Yulin you will be able to apply for a ......something or another......? What is it that again?

Check with your PSB - after 5 years living in China with your wife you are probably eligible.

Green card == "foreigner's permanent residence identity card" (same thing)

I posted the instructions we got from our PSB earlier in this thread - http://candleforlove.com/forums/topic/47314-applying-for-a-chinese-green-card/?p=617362

Now that I'm over 62, I can get a 3 year residence permit (which is just a visa in your passport) much more easily than the green card. I won't know what the deal is now, though, until this residence permit is up for renewal next year.

The green card is apparently more useful now, like the article says, but it's processed in Beijing and can take 3 to 6 months.

Thanks for breaking that all down, Randy. I'll check out the instructions you posted in the other thread, and also look forward to seeing how things shake out next year once you go in for the residence permit renewal. Who knows, by the time next year rolls around, they could have a totally new procedure in place. When I renewed my residence permit last June, much to my surprise it was a 2 year residence permit this time, so I'm good through June 2018.

Edited by Randy W (see edit history)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...