China will provide easier access to the country and authorization
to stay to high-profile foreign visitors who are regarded as
helpful in China's development drive.
Such foreigners can request an F-category visa to China under the
new policy, which allow them to enter China an unlimited number of
times within a period of two to five years. With each entry, they
can stay in China for up to a year.
The Z category visa, under the new ruling, goes further than the F
visa. It allows foreigners to enter China freely for the period of
two to five years, and further allows them to stay in China for any
length of time within the period.
F-category applicants can appeal to Chinese embassies abroad or
related departments inside China. Z-category applicants must
request their visa authorization after entering Chinese
territory.
The new regulations co-drafted by nine ministry-level departments
and released yesterday, elaborate the seven categories of foreign
citizens who will enjoy preferential access and domicile
privileges.
Foreign experts who have been invited to China by ministry-level
departments to direct high-tech projects or very important
engineering projects can take advantage of the new policies.
Other beneficiaries include foreigners employed by major domestic
universities as research experts and have at least the academic
title of associate professor.
Those who have been invited by Chinese enterprises to take
vice-managerial or higher positions, or professionals in important
technical fields are also included.
Investing more than US$1 million in China's western region, or US$3
million in other regions, qualifies foreigners for the special
treatment as well.
Spouses and children less than 18 can enjoy the policy if their
parents qualify in any of the above categories.
Along with this new practice, China is expected to provide green
cards to foreigners in the future, to ease their entry and living
in China, official sources said.
(China
Daily July 11, 2002)