Source: The State Council – The People’s Republic of China
19, When will my visa start to take effect? And when will it expire?
Unless otherwise specified, a visa is valid from the date of issue. A visa expires if one of the following situations occurs:
(1) The visa has passed 24:00 (Beijing Time) on the date of entry, namely the ‘Enter Before’ date given on the visa page;
(2) The number of entries has been used up;
(3) The visa has been revoked or cancelled by the authorities of the Chinese government.
(4) Other circumstances governed by the Chinese laws
20, Can I change my itinerary after I’ve got my visa?
Unless otherwise specified on the visa, you may change your itinerary but must make your entry to China before the visa expires. The Chinese Embassy or the Chinese Consulate General do not take the responsibility for the expiry of your visa due to the change of your travel plan.
21, What does “Duration of Each Stay” mean? What should I do if I need a longer duration for my stay?
The Duration of Each Stay refers to the maximum number of days a visa holder is permitted to stay in China after each entry, namely, the maximum number of days a visa holder can stay in China from the day of entry. If you hold an ordinary visa and need to extend your stay after arrival in China, you will have to apply for an extension at the public security authorities (however approval is not guaranteed) before your duration of stay runs out.
Holders of D visa, J1 visa, Q1 visa, S1 visa, X1 visa, and Z visa must register with the public security authorities for residential formalities within 30 days of entry. It will lead to illegal overstay if a permitted stay runs out but no required formalities have been processed accordingly. It is a breach of Chinese laws and regulations if someone stays longer than the visa permits while visiting China. As a result, he or she may face fines or other means of penalties. Therefore, you are advised to make sure your stay is within the permitted duration of stay.
22, After I get the visa, can the validity period, duration of stay and number of entries be altered?
No. They cannot be changed. Therefore, it is essential that before you apply for a visa you make proper arrangement. While filling out the application form, you must complete all relevant items truthfully. While collecting your visa, you must check all the contents of the visa. If an alteration must be made, then you will have to submit a new visa application with supporting documents and pay for the application again.
23, What are the things foreign citizens should pay attention to while in China?
Foreign citizens must abide by the laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China after they enter China, and must not conduct any activities other than covered by the purpose of the visit as stated in application, or activities not approved by the authorities of the Chinese government. If foreign citizens are seeking employment in China, they need to apply for work permits from relevant authorities. They would face penalties if they breach relevant laws and regulations.
24, Can I enter China as soon as I get a visa?
After you obtain a visa, you should be able to enter China through a port open to foreign citizens. However, it is up to the border control staff members to make decisions on whether or not to allow the visa holder to enter China according to individual cases.