It is easier for overseas Chinese to return to China to live in China and the threshold for China’s green card is lowered

It is easier for overseas Chinese to return to China to live in China. The threshold for China’s green card is lowered Qu Yunhai, deputy director of the Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security of China, said on the 24th that China will expand residence permits...

Qu Yunhai, deputy director of the Exit-Entry Administration of the Ministry of Public Security of China, said on the 24th that China will expand the number of recipients of residence permits and lower the threshold to facilitate overseas Chinese to obtain Chinese green cards and return to China to reside.

China News Agency reported that Qu Yunhai said that in recent years, China's public security organs have been taking active measures to provide entry, stay and residence convenience for foreign Chinese, because "the large and widely distributed foreign Chinese group is an important force in promoting China's social and economic development and gaining international support."

He said that to make it easier for overseas Chinese to return to China to reside, the first step is to appropriately expand the subjects for which residence permits are issued. Since June 1, 2010, the Ministry of Public Security of China has launched a policy to expand the categories of residence permits issued to foreigners, and has added residence permits for visiting relatives, seeking refuge, purchasing a house (householding for family members), supporting, and fostering. Foreign Chinese who have entered the country legally and meet the conditions can apply for the above-mentioned residence permit.

According to statistics, from June 2010 to the end of 2011, a total of 36,000 residence permits for family visits, 187 residence permits for seeking refuge, 3,068 residence permits for house purchase, 348 residence permits for support, and 28,000 residence permits for foster care were issued. And "most of the recipients are foreign Chinese."

The Entry-Exit Administration Bureau is also gradually lowering the "green card approval threshold." Qu Yunhai said that on August 15, 2004, with the approval of the State Council, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs promulgated and implemented the "Measures for the Approval and Management of Foreigners' Permanent Residence in China", which is China's "green card system." This measure focuses on introducing high-level talents and investors that China needs, and also provides convenience for foreign Chinese to apply for "Chinese Green Cards."

He pointed out that in addition to applying for a "China Green Card" based on investment and employment status, foreign Chinese can also apply for a "Green Card" for family reunification, mainly for unmarried children under the age of 18 who live with their parents, foreign spouses of Chinese citizens, and elderly foreign Chinese who are over 60 years old and live with close relatives in the country, as long as they meet certain conditions such as living security and length of residence.

Qu Yunhai said that according to statistics, from August 2004 to July 2012, the Ministry of Public Security of China approved a total of 3,275 people to obtain "green cards", including those approved in the name of family reunification. A total of 1,663 people, including 1,204 couples reunited, 433 parents and children, and 26 relatives, accounting for 50.8% of the total; "Green Cards" were issued to 621 high-level overseas talents under the "Thousand Talents Plan".

In addition, the convenience measures implemented by the Chinese public security organs such as port visa processing, visa extension, changing visa types and increasing the number of visa entries also benefit the foreign Chinese. He said that these policies have facilitated foreign Chinese to visit relatives, sightseeing and visits in China, and enhanced the sense of belonging of foreign Chinese.