If you plan to go to Song Jiang Wushu School with a tourist visa, you will usually be able to stay for 90 days. If you want to stay longer, you will have to apply for a student visa or a visitor visa. As far as I know, the school currently does not have permission for an official student exchange program. That said, this might change faster than I update this page.
So, if you want to stay in China for more than 90 days, I recommend contacting Mr. Li Chen and asking him what the school can currently offer.
Click here for more information about wushu training at Song Jiang Wushu School – China.
More: Visa Requirements
Contact Mr. Li Chen, tell him how long you plan to stay, and ask if they are currently able to help you get a visa for more than three months. Most schools would send you an invitation, but I am not sure if this currently works.
You should also ask the Chinese embassy in your country what is required to visit a martial arts school without an official student exchange program. This is only necessary if you want to stay longer than 90 days.
Then contact the Chinese embassy and ask about the visa requirements. Most Chinese embassies will issue a tourist visa for 90 days. However, from time to time you may only receive a 30-day visa—for example, in some countries during the Olympic Games.
You might also be able to extend your 90-day visa for another 90 days while you are in China, but this depends on Chinese immigration laws, which change quite often. Ask the embassy for the latest information.
If you want to stay longer, you will need to apply for a student visa or a visitor visa. As far as I know, the school still does not have an official student exchange program. For the past few years, only the biggest universities have had this privilege, but this might change in the future. Please contact Lichen for the most up-to-date information.
Remember to ask Li Chen to register you as soon as you arrive in Yun Cheng. This must be done within 48 hours. You will have to go to the police office, where they will record your name and passport number. You must do this if you stay in Yun Cheng for more than just a few days.
Advice: Visa Requirements
Some schools will tell you that you can stay for a full year. I know that many of them will charge you a one-year school fee when you arrive, and after three months you will have to leave because they cannot extend your visa. Of course, they will not return the money. So avoid paying in advance.
The only way to be sure you can stay for one year is to go to China with a one-year visa. You might be able to extend your tourist visa while you are in China, but you should not count on it. Always ask the embassy for detailed information about visa extensions and status changes. Chinese immigration laws change very fast, and visa requirements differ for citizens of different countries.
Another way to obtain a visitor visa is to go to China to visit someone. Maybe a Chinese friend can help you, or, if you are persistent, you can try to persuade the school. The problem is that Li Chen is in charge of the foreign student program, and every time he wants to do something, he has to ask the headmaster—and that can be a slow process.
Another option is to join a different student exchange program and then visit other schools and places while you are in China.
Don’t forget to register at the Yun Cheng Police Office when you arrive.
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