From the beginning of June 2022, Shanghai authorities will reopen and gradually resume the normal working of the Entry and exit Administration of the Public Security Bureau, as well as the district-level PSBs in Shanghai. These are the bureaus that manage the foreigner’s work and residence permit applications. Appointments at the exit-entry bureaus and the foreign expert bureaus must be made via the government online portal for visa submissions and verification of the original documents required for the work permit. Due to the high volume of applications and urgent requests at present, demand will be high for the limited number of appointments available.
Furthermore, from the June 6, 2022, the PU invitation letter will no longer be issued from most mainland Chinese cities for foreigners planning to work in China and apply for a Z-visa at the overseas Chinese Embassies or Consulates. This new policy applies to foreigners holding a valid Work Permit Notification letter, foreigners visiting relatives in China for reunion purposes and dependant spouse and children accompanying the foreign employee to China.
For further information on immigration in China, please contact the Sterling Lexicon immigration team.