INTESOL Course

This article was last updated 20th November 2023

Be sure to check at each stage for any updates to the procedures.

For any questions please get contact with your Gold Star recruiter, or contact us here or speak with the HR department at your school.

Important note about your passport:
Your passport must have at least 1 year validity and 2 blank pages and have no damage such as creased pages or water damaged pages. If your passport does not meet these criteria your work visa could well be rejected, so please apply for a new passport.

 

Visa Agents

-Consider using a visa agent to assist with the process. They can offer free advice or take care of the entire process for a fee. Some suggested visa agents:
VisaRite
Hive
MyChinaVisa
ChinaEntryVisa
NationalApostille

Google China visa agents in your area for more options

 

1) Get Criminal Background Check notarised and authenticated

Apply for a Criminal Background Check, also known as an Identity History Summary Check. This is an official statement stating that you do not have a criminal record. This document will be valid for the purpose of the China visa application for six months from its issue date.

There are two options: a) federal level check (FBI) b) state level check . Check with your school which is required, usually a federal level check if preferrable.

Procedure for criminal background check from the FBI:
NOTE: submitting your fingerprints electronically via the post office service is significantly quicker than submitting via mail:
-Visit the FBI page here for instructions
-Confirm your nearest post office which is authorised to submit your request by entering your zip code here. You may also choose an FBI-approved Channeler or if you are already in China, refer to the US embassy page.
-Submit your request here. IMPORTANT: check the box requesting a hard copy of the results
-They will email you your results within 24 hours and send the hard copy by mail within 7 days
-Get your Criminal Background Check document authenticated by the US Department of State. Make sure to inform them the document is intended for China.

Procedure for criminal background check from state level:
-Go to your home state website and request a criminal history check
-Get the document authenticated by the Secretary of State from the state where you live. You can see a list of sample documents and below that links to the state offices here or at the bottom of this page and also on the Chinese embassies page here.
-Make sure to inform them the document is intended for China.

We have also heard Accurate Biometrics offers a very good service for getting your criminal background check.

 

2) Get degree diploma notarised and authenticated

1- Obtain from the registrar of the University an official true copy of your degree diploma. The registrar should then execute an affidavit attesting to the validity of the document before a notary public.
2- Take the document, with the notarial certificate to the State Notary Public Administrator (scroll down to bottom half of the page) for authentication. Make sure to inform them the document is intended for China. Check this website for samples for each state.
3- A diploma authenticated in some states must be further authenticated by the US Department of State. These states include Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming, Washington DC, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Island.

Please see this guide for more details on the process.

 

3) Get TEFL certificate notarised and authenticated (if required)

Check with your school whether you need to get your TEFL certificate notarised and authenticated. In some cases, if you have sufficient teaching experience for example, you do not need a TEFL certificate for the work visa application.

The process is the same as for your degree diploma, it needs to be notarised in the state or country where it was issued.

 

4) Documents do NOT need to be notarised by Chinese embassy anymore

-On 7th November 2023, China joined the Hague Convention, meaning that your documents do NOT need to be notarised at the Chinese embassy anymore.

 

5) Medical Check Certificate

You may be required to provide this, however, you may not. Please check with your school to ask if it is required.
-Book an appointment with your local doctor
-Download and print this form and take it to the doctor’s with you
-You might not have to have the blood test, chest x-ray or ECC tests done, please check with your school
-Make sure the doctor writes ‘healthy’ and signs at the bottom of the form
-Doctor must stamp over your photo on the top right of the form and at the bottom of the form
-The health check certificate is valid for 6 months from date it was issued


6) Email notarized and authenticated documents to your school in China

The school will use the documents to process the Work Permit Notification letter that you need to apply for the work visa.

 

7) Apply for China Work Visa at the Chinese embassy / consulate

-Visa applications should be made via http://cova.mfa.gov.cn. For questions email the embassy in DC at visaoffice.dc@vip.163.com

-List of Chinese embassies and consulates and here in The US.  The embassy in Washington DC is now dealing with the all matters for the Consulate in Houston, as the Consulate in Houston is currently closed.

-Be sure to check for updated announcements from the Chinese embassy on procedures.

 

8) Book flight

-Confirm the target arrival date with your school before booking the flight.

-You can book a direct flight or a transit flight to China.

 

9) Complete the online Customs Health Declaration form on day of your flight

-According to this announcement from the Chinese embassy on 30th August 2023, no COVID testing is required for entering China and you do not have to declare any test result on the customs form.

 

Complete the Customs Health Declaration form on your phone on the day of your flight –

https://htdecl.chinaport.gov.cn – then click “declare” (sometimes you have to reload the page multiple times for it to load properly)

-You need to upload the name and phone number of a contact person in China
-You also need to upload an address in China (can use your school address)

 

10) Arrival at the airport

IMPORTANT: When you arrive at the airport you may need to provide the name, email address, phone number and address of a contact person from your school in China.

-Get to the airport at least 3 hours before your flight.

Things to bring:
-Passport
-All your original notarized documents (degree, TEFL, criminal background check)
-Phone with WeChat installed (recommended but not required)
-Name, phone number, email address and address of a contact person in China
-Pen
-Download a VPN, if you wish, for use in China as they are hard to get once you arrive

 

11) No quarantine on arrival in China

-From 8th January 2023 quarantine is no longer required on arrival in China.

 

Procedures may vary so be sure to check at each stage.

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