China's green cards for foreigners

[TaiShang]

"On many occasions such as buying a plane ticket and checking into a hotel, the staff did not recognize the green card and some of them even did not know the existence of such a card. Moreover, it can't be used for Alipay, an online payment service, and online car-booking services," said Rona.

Alipay requires citizenship ID. Green Card does not make you a citizen, but a resident. Perhaps consider Green Card as permanent residency with no access to the country's political management.

Well of course. The fact that he gained Permanent Residency is huge already.

Getting Chinese citizenship won't happen unless his ancestors came from China originally.

Besides, China does not, rightfully, recognize dual citizenship. Probably only those overseas Chinese who are willing to throw away their former citizenship would be granted a citizenship status by China.

Of course, Taiwan's status is very different, as it is not considered a foreign entity. Hence, we enjoy many rights without having to access to Green Card (GC does not apply to Taiwan).

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

China issues 1,576 'green cards' to foreigners
2017-02-07 08:43 | Global Times | Editor: Wang Fan
Experts urge easing of requirements for permanent residence

A total of 1,576 foreigners were granted Chinese permanent residence in 2016, which is widely regarded as the world's hardest-to-get "green card," an increase of 163 percent from the previous year.

Observers said that the surge is closely related to the pilot programs launched in Chinese metropolises in recent years and reflects China's push to tap into more international talent to increase the country's global competitiveness.

China has made some progress in easing its residence and entry policies for foreigners since September 2015, which has helped attract more talent from overseas, as well as boost international exchanges and the economy.

One year after new measures were implemented, Shanghai saw a six-fold year-on-year increase in the number of permanent residence applications from foreigners and their families, the Xinhua News Agency reported. The number of such applications in Beijing last year increased 426 percent from that of 2015.

Currently, approximately 600,000 foreigners are believed to be living in China.

While acknowledging the significant progress in attracting international talent to China, some experts said that the regulation on Chinese green card could be further relaxed and some requirements need to be made more specific.

Rare commodity

The green card, which looks like a Chinese identity card, is famous for being difficult to obtain and rare to have. The card, which has a validity of 10 years, can be used as a form of identification by foreigners in lieu of their passport for purposes such as buying a train ticket or booking a hotel room.

To qualify for a green card, a candidate has to either be a "high-level foreign expert helping with China's economic, scientific and technological development or social progress," make an outstanding contribution to the country, invest over $500,000 in China or have direct relatives who are Chinese nationals.

China began to allow permanent residence in 2004, but from 2008 to 2014, only 7,356 foreigners were granted permanent residence cards, based on recommendations from ministries or provincial governments.

Limited benefits

After six months of completing a plethora of paperwork and waiting, Turkish national Noyan Rona, chief representative of Turkish Garantibank Shanghai, received his permanent residence card in Shanghai in 2012. He told the Global Times that he was thrilled to get the green card as it is an acknowledgement of his contribution to the city and with the card, it is very convenient for him to use an entry machine at border crossings.

However, Rona acknowledged that the Chinese green card is not as useful as he had expected.

Rona said that the green card didn't grant him the same rights as Chinese citizens and the use of the card at present is very limited - only customs recognizes the card and exempts him from filling out forms.

"On many occasions such as buying a plane ticket and checking into a hotel, the staff did not recognize the green card and some of them even did not know the existence of such a card. Moreover, it can't be used for Alipay, an online payment service, and online car-booking services," said Rona.

But Lu Miao, executive secretary-general of the Beijing-based think tank Center for China and Globalization (CCG), told the Global Times that "The rapid increase in the number of green cards shows China is pushing to attract more international talent and make it easier for them to become permanent residents. It will also help in attracting more overseas students." She added that China is mulling to establish a new department to promote immigration.

Miao suggested that the threshold for green card should be further relaxed. For example, "the requirement of working in China for four consecutive years" should be reduced to three years.

At present, 15 Chinese cities allow a 72-hour visa-free entry for nationals of certain countries. Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang offer 144-hour visa-free stays for international transit passengers from certain countries.


********

If you don't have the appropriate technical skills or talent,
or don't have direct relatives who are Chinese nationals,
or have lots of money, don't even bother to apply.
You won't get it.

Overseas Chinese have a different card, I think.
.

I think anyone who can assimilate in Chinese society must be given citizenship, and who can contribute.

Like I see tonnes of Russians in China, and russian-chinese kids actually look pretty much chinese. They should be given citizenship.

Population is always a strength.

 

[jhungary]

China issues 1,576 'green cards' to foreigners
2017-02-07 08:43 | Global Times | Editor: Wang Fan

Experts urge easing of requirements for permanent residence

A total of 1,576 foreigners were granted Chinese permanent residence in 2016, which is widely regarded as the world's hardest-to-get "green card," an increase of 163 percent from the previous year.

Observers said that the surge is closely related to the pilot programs launched in Chinese metropolises in recent years and reflects China's push to tap into more international talent to increase the country's global competitiveness.

China has made some progress in easing its residence and entry policies for foreigners since September 2015, which has helped attract more talent from overseas, as well as boost international exchanges and the economy.

One year after new measures were implemented, Shanghai saw a six-fold year-on-year increase in the number of permanent residence applications from foreigners and their families, the Xinhua News Agency reported. The number of such applications in Beijing last year increased 426 percent from that of 2015.

Currently, approximately 600,000 foreigners are believed to be living in China.

While acknowledging the significant progress in attracting international talent to China, some experts said that the regulation on Chinese green card could be further relaxed and some requirements need to be made more specific.

Rare commodity

The green card, which looks like a Chinese identity card, is famous for being difficult to obtain and rare to have. The card, which has a validity of 10 years, can be used as a form of identification by foreigners in lieu of their passport for purposes such as buying a train ticket or booking a hotel room.

To qualify for a green card, a candidate has to either be a "high-level foreign expert helping with China's economic, scientific and technological development or social progress," make an outstanding contribution to the country, invest over $500,000 in China or have direct relatives who are Chinese nationals.

China began to allow permanent residence in 2004, but from 2008 to 2014, only 7,356 foreigners were granted permanent residence cards, based on recommendations from ministries or provincial governments.

Limited benefits

After six months of completing a plethora of paperwork and waiting, Turkish national Noyan Rona, chief representative of Turkish Garantibank Shanghai, received his permanent residence card in Shanghai in 2012. He told the Global Times that he was thrilled to get the green card as it is an acknowledgement of his contribution to the city and with the card, it is very convenient for him to use an entry machine at border crossings.

However, Rona acknowledged that the Chinese green card is not as useful as he had expected.

Rona said that the green card didn't grant him the same rights as Chinese citizens and the use of the card at present is very limited - only customs recognizes the card and exempts him from filling out forms.

"On many occasions such as buying a plane ticket and checking into a hotel, the staff did not recognize the green card and some of them even did not know the existence of such a card. Moreover, it can't be used for Alipay, an online payment service, and online car-booking services," said Rona.

But Lu Miao, executive secretary-general of the Beijing-based think tank Center for China and Globalization (CCG), told the Global Times that "The rapid increase in the number of green cards shows China is pushing to attract more international talent and make it easier for them to become permanent residents. It will also help in attracting more overseas students." She added that China is mulling to establish a new department to promote immigration.

Miao suggested that the threshold for green card should be further relaxed. For example, "the requirement of working in China for four consecutive years" should be reduced to three years.

At present, 15 Chinese cities allow a 72-hour visa-free entry for nationals of certain countries. Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang offer 144-hour visa-free stays for international transit passengers from certain countries.


********

If you don't have the appropriate technical skills or talent,
or don't have direct relatives who are Chinese nationals,
or have lots of money, don't even bother to apply.
You won't get it.

Overseas Chinese have a different card, I think.
.

Many of those foreigner Chinese is actaully Chinese Expat, those who have migrated to some places else (like US, Canada, UK and Australia) many of Chinese I know who have already migrated to US, UK and Australia flock back to China, but after renouncing their citizenship, the only way to get back to China is to apply for Residence Permit or Card.

Chinese Permenant Residence program is the same as Australia, the only different is it takes longer, A LOT Longer. For employment based, you need to be a manager or something in a company that can apply for this program. They have a SOL based company sponsorship program much like the same in Australia, but again, the only different is that you must be in that group to apply for permenant residence permit, that is not a point test.

People from Hong Kong and Macau have a different status, Hong Kong and Macau citizens of Chinese origin are Chinese Citizens, but without the same right as a Chinese Citizens in China, people who have residence account (户籍) can enjoy benefit in China, Both Hong Kong and Macau citizens are Chinese Citizens without Accounts. Used to be quite easy to get tho a long time ago, you need to bribe the local chief to put your name in it. Well, that's what my mother did during/after WW2 anyway.

Overseas Chinese does not have any right in China, given if you did not process any sort of Chinese Citizenship before or had renounced your citizenship. Overseas Chinese does not have any card, you need to apply for a visa like everybody else.

Look at this page for more info.

https://www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/visa/refusal.htm

Even regular Chinese have very limited access to the country's political management.



I think anyone who can assimilate in Chinese society must be given citizenship, and who can contribute.

Like I see tonnes of Russians in China, and russian-chinese kids actually look pretty much chinese. They should be given citizenship.

Population is always a strength.

It is written in Chinese Law that a Chinese Citizens much be of one or more Parent of Chinese descents. You cannot applies for Citizenship (in fact, there are no avenue to apply for Chinese Citizenship) if you do not process a "Chinese Parent" and the definition of Chinese are written in People Congress law regarding Chinese Nationality. Notice that Chinese Citzenship and Chinese Nationality is two different thing. There are no assumilation on any level, either you are, or you are not.

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

It is written in Chinese Law that a Chinese Citizens much be of one or more Parent of Chinese descents. You cannot applies for Citizenship (in fact, there are no avenue to apply for Chinese Citizenship) if you do not process a "Chinese Parent" and the definition of Chinese are written in People Congress law regarding Chinese Nationality. Notice that Chinese Citzenship and Chinese Nationality is two different thing. There are no assumilation on any level, either you are, or you are not.

I am very well versed with current laws.

I am talking about changing those laws.

I met online one beautiful beautiful Russian couple living in China, who run their own business. And not only are they beautiful, I would say they are extremely proud of China, and thankful to it as well. They would easily take Chinese citizenship. But current laws disallow them from anything such.

I think such people should be allowed.

Anybody who is contributing to the Chinese economy, by earning 2-3 times the median wages of China must be allowed.

 

[AndrewJin]

Well of course. The fact that he gained Permanent Residency is huge already.

Getting Chinese citizenship won't happen unless his ancestors came from China originally.

Such law should be preserved permanently.

The process of gaining permanent residency for HIGH-quality experts/investors should be faster. However, the criteria of "HIGH-quality" should never be downgraded.

Low-quality labor is not desired.

 

[mike2000 is back]

Getting Chinese citizenship won't happen unless his ancestors came from China originally.

Good policy, now some liberals or even PDF members will call China racists I guess.

 

[salarsikander]

Good policy, now some liberals or even PDF members will call China racists I guess.

If only UK had the same criteria as China, we would not see it being flooded with cheap labour and immigrants bringing down the level of society

 

[AndrewJin]

Good policy, now some liberals or even PDF members will call China racists I guess.

We are not part of the Trump-led West.
Why should we follow your political correctness?

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

Such law should be preserved permanently.

The process of gaining permanent residency for HIGH-quality experts/investors should be faster. However, the criteria of "HIGH-quality" should never be downgraded.

Low-quality labor is not desired.

Good congrats. You are dooming your country to the path of Japan, and that too at a much earlier age.

Your so called technological revolution, that you yourself have claimed has been embraced by germany and japan, is leading to secular stagnation of the GDPs of those countries.

Japan's economy is basically flat.

And germany's is only growing due to immigration, or else it will also be like Japan's.

 

[TaiShang]

Such law should be preserved permanently.

The process of gaining permanent residency for HIGH-quality experts/investors should be faster. However, the criteria of "HIGH-quality" should never be downgraded.

Low-quality labor is not desired.

Most likely it will be the case. Besides, most of those quota will go to overseas Chinese. In fact, I have seen the images of Green Card holders and there were Chinese overseas nationals amongst them.

Also, higher quota must be allocated to neighboring countries, especially those from Confucius sphere.

Good policy, now some liberals or even PDF members will call China racists I guess.

What they call does not really matter.

This is just a rules-based system that will take personal quality, advancement, tangible achievements and traits into account, but nothing else.

 

[AViet]

Well of course. The fact that he gained Permanent Residency is huge already.

Getting Chinese citizenship won't happen unless his ancestors came from China originally.

My mother claims her ancestors came from China since before Christian era, does it count?

And the Turkish guy can claim his ancestors came from China too, since many Turkic tribes migrated from China to the West in various historical movements.

 

[mike2000 is back]

If only UK had the same criteria as China, we would not see it being flooded with cheap labour and immigrants bringing down the level of society

Lol True to some extent. However, even if by miracle we adopted such a policy(which will never happen obviously) then you can be sure members from the developing world here and around the world would be ranting everywhere about the west being racists/evil/anti Muslim, white supremacists etc etc. . Funny thing is any other non Western country can adopt such a policy without any outcry from these same people. It's an irony even to me.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

My mother claims her ancestors came from China since before Christian era, does it count?

And the Turkish guy can claim his ancestors came from China too, since many Turkic tribes migrated from China to the West in various historical movements.

Specifically they need one parent who is a Chinese national.

If they don't have that, but they can prove their ethnicity some other way, they might get a few bonus points on their application. Which is a lot better than nothing.

 

[AndrewJin]

My mother claims her ancestors came from China since before Christian era, does it count?

And the Turkish guy can claim his ancestors came from China too, since many Turkic tribes migrated from China to the West in various historical movements.

Even she can prove her blood, if she is not considered of "high-quality", then she still could not get it.

Chinese blood+ extremely high achievements = highly welcome

Lol True to some extent. However, even if by miracle we adopted such a policy(which will never happen obviously) then you can be sure members from the developing world here and around the world would be ranting everywhere about the west being racists/evil/anti Muslim, white supremacists etc etc. . Funny thing is any other non Western country can adopt such a policy without any outcry from these same people. It's an irony even to me.

It is the west who preach such theories, then they should be responsible for all the repercussions. I don't think one needs high IQ to comprehend this point. And please stop mentioning an unrelated country here, nobody cares about them in this section. Quite a drama queen to show off one's vulnerability here.

 

[AViet]

Your mom would have a greater chance (if she could provide some specifics, some tangible evidence) than the other person because the other person cannot really point out a specific near-past generation.

But, if the argument is thousands years old, it would not hold any credibility and evidential value.

Thank for reply. I was just joking. But the definition of "Chinese ancestors" are so complicated, because there have been so many Chinese migration to neighbouring since ancient times.

I read Chân Lạp Phong Thổ Ký (真臘風土記) by Chu Đạt Quan (周达观), who wrote the book in 1296, when he visited the Khmer Kingdom. Even at that time, he saw many Chinese men already there and married to local women.