Yiwu Issued 25,700 Foreigner Visas and Residence Permits in 2011

FAs living in Yiwu has become increasingly convenient, the county-level city has become a second home to many expats in China. In 2005, the Ministry of Public Security authorized Yiwu to directly handle its foreigner visas and residence permits. This was the first time that China allowed a county-level city to handle the acceptance, approval, production and issuing foreigner visas and residence permits.

In 2011, Yiwu issued a total of 25,700 foreigner visas and residence permits – for the first time exceeding the total sum of those issued in Ningbo and Hangzhou. In January 2012, the Yiwu International Trade Service Centre entered its “soft opening”. The centre includes 98 officials from the Yiwu Public Security Bureau, the Labour and Social Insurance Bureau , the Commerce Bureau, the Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, the Industry and Commerce Bureau, the National Security Bureau, and the Civil Aviation Bureau that are here to service foreigners. Yiwu’s Exit-Entry Administration office has also moved to inside the centre. The centre can help you handle foreign business investments, visa applications, matters regarding national security construction project approval, foreign employment permits, as well as provide translation and legal services.

via Yiwu Issued 25,700 Foreigner Visas and Residence Permits in 2011 – Yiwu News – Yiwu City in Pulse | eChinacities.com.