What should foreigners do if their visas expire during the epidemic? What should foreigners do if they overstay in China during the epidemic?

As we all know, due to the impact of the new coronavirus, many foreigners have to continue to stay in China. This is a common phenomenon of people being stranded, especially in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. So what should foreigners do if their visas expire during the epidemic? Let's take a closer look!

What to do if foreigners' visas and residence permits expire during the epidemic

According to my country's Exit and Entry Administration Law, foreigners should leave the country before their visas and residence permits expire. Those who need to continue to stay in China should go to the exit and entry administration department of the public security agency to apply for visas, residence permits and extension procedures. According to relevant laws and current practices, for those who are unable to leave the country on time due to epidemic prevention and control and are unable to apply for visas and residence permit extensions in a timely manner, immigration management agencies may, in accordance with laws and regulations, mitigate, reduce or exempt overstay penalties.

During the epidemic prevention and control period, the national public security organs' exit and entry management departments will continue to provide visa extension and residence permit processing services for foreigners to ensure the legal stay and residence of foreigners. For those in urgent need, relevant documents will be processed on an expedited basis. In order to effectively avoid the gathering of people, the public security organs' exit and entry management departments will arrange appointment services for document processing based on actual conditions. Foreigners can contact in advance and arrange the processing time reasonably. For institutions such as universities, research institutes, enterprises and institutions that receive a large number of foreigners, the exit and entry management departments will allow agents to process documents or provide other necessary conveniences for document processing based on the needs of the application.

What should foreigners do if they overstay their visas in China during the epidemic?

The prevention and control period can be automatically extended by two months.

At a press conference held by the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council on the afternoon of March 1, Liu Haitao, Director of the Border Inspection and Management Department of the National Immigration Administration, responded that the National Immigration Administration has issued a special flexible policy. During the epidemic prevention and control period, if the stay period of foreigners in China has expired, it can be automatically extended for two months. During the extended period, there is no need to apply for an extension, and they can still legally stay in China or leave the country normally.

At the same time, because of some special anti-epidemic work, local public security exit and entry management departments provide 24-hour expedited visa processing services for Chinese and foreign personnel involved in medical assistance, drug development, academic exchanges and other anti-epidemic work. Foreigners who come to China to participate in epidemic prevention and control exchanges and cooperation or engage in important commercial and scientific research activities and come to China for urgent matters but do not have time to obtain a visa in advance can apply for a port visa at the port of entry.

Now is still the prevention and control period of the epidemic. In order to effectively reduce the flow and gathering of people and reduce the risk of cross-infection, the National Immigration Administration has also launched the "Internet + Government Affairs" service measures. Foreigners in China, like Chinese citizens, can enjoy online applications, mailed applications, and instant inquiry services for domestic and overseas entry and exit policy adjustments on the official website of the National Immigration Administration.

How can foreigners staying or residing in China cooperate with epidemic prevention and control?

Foreign friends should enhance their awareness of self-protection, try not to go to crowded places, take scientific preventive measures, actively cooperate with their communities, units and reception agencies to implement epidemic prevention and control measures, consciously abide by relevant laws and regulations, and obey the prevention and control management measures taken by public security organs, immigration management agencies, health and other departments. If you have fever accompanied by cough, dyspnea and other symptoms of acute respiratory infection, you should report to the community, health or immigration management agency in time, and actively cooperate with diagnosis and treatment and epidemic investigation. Immigration management agencies at all levels will further cooperate with relevant departments to carry out prevention and control service consultation for foreigners in China, assist medical and health institutions in screening and treatment, and help solve the difficulties and problems encountered during their stay.

How do foreigners enter and exit the country during the epidemic?

Foreigners can still enter and exit the country normally, but they should check the policies of the port and destination in advance.

At present, except for some ports that are temporarily closed, most of the border inspection and visa agencies at ports are still operating normally. The visa-free transit policy for foreigners has not been adjusted. Foreigners can enter and exit normally with valid entry and exit documents, but it is recommended to inquire about the opening status of specific ports before traveling. In view of the fact that some countries and regions have implemented corresponding entry control measures in response to the epidemic, if you need to leave the country, it is recommended to understand the regulations and practices of the destination country or region on entry of personnel in advance to avoid costs and time losses due to inability to enter. If you are going to a country or region that allows entry, you should arrive at the exit port in advance and leave enough time to accept inspections by relevant departments; if you have fever accompanied by symptoms of acute respiratory infection such as cough and difficulty breathing, you should not travel internationally. You should immediately go to a designated hospital for diagnosis and treatment, and truthfully report your recent activities and close contacts to the local competent authorities so that the relevant departments can quickly take screening measures.