Q&A on exit-entry concerns during COVID-19
ShanghaiEye invites officers from Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration Bureau and other relevant administrations to hold an online Q&A now on all you need to and want to know about the relevant measures regarding the exit-entry during the COVIC-19.
Here is the full text of what you need to know.
Q1. How can foreigners become familiar with the entry-exit policies of Shanghai?
Huang Yichen, Director of Legal Division, Exit-Entry Administration Bureau (EEAB) Shanghai:
You are recommended to follow the news bulletins posted on the website of the Shanghai Municipal Government, or “上海发布” — the city’s official WeChat account. You can also get to know the policies via the official WeChat account of the Entry-Exit Administration Bureau (EEAB) and China Immigration Administration. You can scan the QR code below to follow the EEAB’s WeChat account to get the latest on COVID-19 as well as the updated exit-entry policies and tips on how to protect yourself during the epidemic.
Q2: Are there any hotlines besides the online consultation?
Huang Yichen, Director of Legal Division, Exit-Entry Administration Bureau (EEAB) Shanghai:
You can call the hotline 28951900 (9am-5pm MON-FRI) if you have some concerns on the exit-entry policies during COVID-19. This hotline also provides emergency help services on weekends and holidays. The EEAB will also take notes of some of your concerns if the questions asked are not exit-entry related and share them with the relevant administrations before giving you feedback. You’ll be cared for during your stay in Shanghai.
Q3: What do foreigners entering and leaving the residential complex need to pay attention to?
Huang Yichen, Director of Legal Division, Exit-Entry Administration Bureau (EEAB) Shanghai:
All people should follow the notice released by the municipal government on further strict implementation of various epidemic prevention and control measures. The city government has issued guidelines for the management of epidemic prevention and control in residential areas (villages). All residential areas should set up check points. All entering personnels should get their temperature checked and registered. People with abnormal temperatures should be reported and transferred. Therefore, people should cooperate at checkpoints. People who refuse to cooperate will be appropriately punished by the police according to law. For those coming from the epicenter, they should be quarantined for observation for 14 days during which no one is allowed to go out.
Q4: As a newly recruited international student in the spring semester, do I have to be quarantined at home for 14 days after arriving in Shanghai?
Lin Tao, Associate Senior Physician, Deputy Director of Disease Control & Prevention, Pudong, Shanghai:
(1) You don’t have to be quarantined for medical observation if you haven’t been in close contact with patients confirmed or suspected to be infected with COVIC-19 within 14 days before entering China. Just keep checking your health, like taking your own temperature daily.
(2) If you are confirmed or suspected to have contracted COVIC-19 pneumonia within the 14 days before entering China, then you’ll have to be quarantined while under medical observation for 14 days. (The quarantine period starts from the last day you had contact with someone who is a confirmed or suspected case.)
(3) You’ll also be put into quarantine while under medical observation for 14 days if there’re any confirmed or suspected cases on the transportation you took when coming to China.
Q5: Will visas be issued during the epidemic?
Cai Baodi, Director of the Foreigners’ Certificates Division, EEAB Shanghai:
The EEAB will be in full service to provide extensions and issuance of visa and temporary stay or residence permits to ensure foreigners’ legitimacy to stay in Shanghai during the epidemic prevention and control period. Foreigners should exit China before their visa, temporary stay or residence permit expires, and those who need to stay in China should go to the EEAB to extend visas, temporary stay or residence permits.
Q6: How can the foreigners living in Gubei, Changning District reserve and buy face masks online?
Sheng Hong, Director of Gubei Civic Center, Changning District, Shanghai:
(1) You may reserve and buy face masks either by registering online (pls scan the QR code below to log onto the “Face Masks’ Reserving and Pre-order System, Changning”) or register offline with your certificates.
(2) When registering offline at the community committee, make sure you bring the property ownership certificate, or your rent contract, and of course, your passport. Then you can buy the face masks at the designated pharmacies after making reservations successfully.
Q7: I have a foreign friend who is coming to Shanghai soon. He plans to stay in a hotel. Can he check in online?
Ye Jun, Director of Foreigner Administration Division, EEAB Shanghai:
For foreign guests, the hotel reception will check in for them so it is unnecessary to check in online.
Q8: For foreigners, how to distinguish the different news on COVID-19 that appear online?
Huang Yichen, Director of Legal Division, Exit-Entry Administration Bureau (EEAB) Shanghai:
Please double-check the news if you have doubts. You can turn to the 24-hour hotline 12345 for help, which provides services in both Chinese and English. Do not believe in rumors, do not spread rumors, and do not intentionally start a rumor.
Q9: What if a foreigner’s visa and residential permit is about to expire during the epidemic?
Huang Yichen, Director of Legal Division, Exit-Entry Administration Bureau (EEAB) Shanghai:
According to the law and due to the current epidemic, foreigners who are not able to leave the border in time or renew their visas or residential permits, immigration management authorities may mitigate or waive overdue penalties.
Q10: Hi, as a foreigner who’s planning on coming to Shanghai, do I need to register at the local community?
Lin Tao, Associate Senior Physician, Deputy Director of Disease Control & Prevention, Pudong, Shanghai:
All of the residential communities in Shanghai are conducting strict control on personnels living inside including carrying out health checks, maintaining living environment hygiene and releasing protection tips on virus prevention during epidemic control. All foreigners entering and coming back to the city, like Chinese citizens, are asked to register at their communities. You may also register your info through a health app. You’ll be guided on what kind of measures you should take to protect your own health.
Q11: If the visa expires next month, is it necessary to apply at the EEAB on Minsheng Road for an extension?
Cai Baodi, Director of the Foreigners’ Certificates Division, EEAB Shanghai:
Applicants can go to the nearest Exit-Entry Administration authorities to submit an application. If the existing visa has not expired yet, it is recommended not to rush to submit an application in the near future.
Q12: Any matters needing attention from foreigners when entering or exiting the EEAB building?
Huang Yichen, Director of Legal Division, Exit-Entry Administration Bureau (EEAB) Shanghai:
During the period of prevention and control of COVID-19, to fully guarantee foreigners’ legal right of temporary stay or residence in Shanghai, the EEAB will continue to provide visa extension services and offer temporary stay or residence certificates. When entering or exiting the EEAB building, please put on your face masks and cooperate when being asked to have your temperature checked.
Q13: Can foreigners do it through their companies?
Cai Baodi, Director of the Foreigners’ Certificates Division, EEAB Shanghai:
For institutions such as colleges, scientific research institutes, enterprises and institutions that have more foreigners, they can contact in advance and arrange a time for handling the certificate. The EEAB will allow the institutions to handle the certificates on behalf of their employees according to their situation.
Q14: Is it possible to apply for a residence permit through online reservation?
Cai Baodi, Director of the Foreigners’ Certificates Division, EEAB Shanghai:
In order to effectively avoid large crowds, the EEAB will arrange bookings and provide application services accordingly. For example, applicants can apply for an extension of residence permits online. International students applying for residence permits for the first time can also apply online.
Q15: What if my company or school hasn’t reopened yet and my visa is about to expire? What should I do?
Cai Baodi, Director of the Foreigners’ Certificates Division, EEAB Shanghai:
For foreigners who aren’t able to provide relevant application materials as they can’t go back to work or school yet, and those who were laid off by their original company but need more time to deal with the follow-up procedures, the EEAB will issue them special stay permits.
Q16: If my visa is expired and my outbound flight has also been cancelled, what should I do?
Cai Baodi, Director of the Foreigners’ Certificates Division, EEAB Shanghai:
The EEAB will offer special stay permits for foreigners who currently can’t leave the country due to the cancellation of their outbound flights. (usually valid for one month).
Q17: Amid the epidemic, where can foreigners register for temporary residence besides at a local police station?
Ye Jun, Director of Foreigner Administration Division, EEAB Shanghai:
In order to implement epidemic prevention and control, which includes preventing big gatherings, large numbers of people moving around, and reducing risks of infection, it is highly recommended that foreigners register for temporary residence online instead of heading to the local police station. (Website: https://gaj.sh.gov.cn/crj/homeZ) Or scan the QR code below.
Q18: How can foreigners living in the Lianyang, Pudong residential area reserve and buy face masks online?
Please register online by scanning the QR code below. The platform serves in both Chinese and English.
Q19: If a foreigner urgently needs to leave the country, can his visa be processed faster?
Cai Baodi, Director of the Foreigners’ Certificates Division, EEAB Shanghai:
We can provide special services for foreigners who urgently need to leave the country as long as they show their plane tickets and the relevant documents.
Q20: As universities reopen, international students are likely to enter the country at the same period of time. According to the regulations, international students need to go to the EAAB to apply for a residence permit for study purposes. Is there a convenient policy to avoid a large number of foreign students gathering at the EEAB to apply for documents?
Ye Jun, Director of Foreigner Administration Division, EEAB Shanghai:
In view of the present situation, we have launched the “Green Passage”. Also, a university staff member can collect all the students’ documents and go to the EEAB to submit the applications for them. This can prevent a mass gathering of people.
Q21: During this time of the epidemic, our universities have taken strict control measures. With this in mind, will the EEAB punish them for overstaying their visas?
Ye Jun, Director of Foreigner Administration Division, EEAB Shanghai:
We will waive or mitigate the penalty if the visa is overdue due to the outbreak. I also hope that universities can report this first to us so that it’s on record. Furthermore, I urge the relevant students to come to the EEAB as soon as possible after the ban is lifted so that we can handle it.
Q22: Hi! Can you please tell me how I can add the EEAB on WeChat?
Huang Yichen, Director of Legal Division, Exit-Entry Administration Bureau (EEAB) Shanghai:
You can find our WeChat public account by searching “shgacrj”. The account includes prevention tips in public, exit and entry questions, the changes of entry and exit policies during the period of prevention and control of the epidemic, and other relevant information.
