Admissions Information—Things to Know before Coming to China

Application for Visas to Enter China

1.International students shall apply for visas to enter China at China’s embassies or consulates in their home countries.

For information on China’s embassies or consulates in your countries, please visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China: http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/

2. Types of Visas: Since non-study visas cannot be converted to residence permits in China, to avoid unnecessary complications, students must ensure that they apply for an X1 or an X2 Visa for entry.

(1) Students planning to study in China for more than six months must apply for the X1 Visa.

The X1 Visa is issued to persons who apply for long-term study in China. The X1 Visa is valid for 30 days after students enter China with it. Within 30 days of arrival, students must apply for residence permits at the International Students Office, which cannot be converted into any other type of visa.

(2) Students planning to study in China for less than 180 days may apply for the X2 Visa.

The X2 Visa is issued to persons who apply for short-term study in China. The validity period of the X2 Visa is indicated on the visa page, which specifies the number of days you can stay from the date of entry. The maximum stay is no more than 180 days. Students entering with the X2 Visa are not required to obtain residence permits.

Note: The X2 Visa becomes invalid immediately upon exiting China (China’s borders).

3. Documents Required for Visa Application

(1) Valid passport

Note: The duration of study must be within the validity period of the passport. If the study duration exceeds the passport’s expiration date, please apply for and bring a new passport for enrollment.

(2) Admission letter of IMU (original document)

(3) The Visa Application for Study in China (JW201/JW202 Form)

4. When you retrieve your passport and obtain your visa to enter China, please ensure that the embassy returns your original admission letter and JW201/JW202 form to you. These are important documents required for applying for residence permits at the Public Security Bureau after you arrive in China.

Banking Services

1. Foreign Currency Exchanges

All banks in China offer currency exchange services. You can exchange foreign currency for RMB at banks near your school and open an RMB account. The Bank of China offers the widest range of currencies for exchange. For more information, please visit the website of Bank of China: http://www.boc.cn/ http://www.boc.cn/

2.Bank Card Application

Bring your passport, admission letter, and JW201/JW202 form to the Mingzhu Branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) or the Mingzhu Branch of Bank of China in Hohhot to apply for a bank card. Some banks require you to have residence permits before you can apply for a bank card, which may lead to delays in card issuance and remittances. IMU thus recommends you to bring approximately RMB 6,000 to 10,000 (to cover living, accommodation, dining, and transportation expenses for one month in Hohhot).

Note: When applying for a bank card, make sure to ask the teller for a receipt with your name, account opening bank, and other relevant information.

3. Bank Withdrawals

Banks impose daily withdrawal limits on credit and debit cards. So before coming to China, please confirm the daily withdrawal limit of your credit/debit card with the issuing bank.

Documents to Bring

It is recommended that students keep two copies of important documents and to have relevant documents translated into Chinese before traveling abroad.

Below is the list of documents that students need to bring when coming to China:

• Valid passports and visas

• Admission letter of IMU (original document)

• The Visa Application for Study in China (JW201/JW202 Form, original document)

• Tuition fees

• 2-inch passport photos with a white background (at least 5 photos)

Physical examination and blood test results or reports (original documents in English, if available)

Passports, visas, marriage certificates, and birth certificates of family members (if applying for a visitor visa)

Luggage Tips

Hohhot features a typical continental climate of the Mongolian Plateau, with distinct seasonal changes, a large annual temperature range, and significant daily temperature fluctuations. Spring is dry and windy, with dramatic temperature changes; summer is brief, hot, with little rainfall; autumn sees rapid cooling and frequent frosts; and winter is long and cold, with little snow. It is thus advisable to bring clothing suitable for all four seasons.