Last year the government made big changes for granting foreigner visas for China. The new foreigner visa grading system will classify you as either an A, B or C-listed foreigner. Your grade will affect your legal status living and working in the country.

At one time China’s borders were relatively open, attracting a lot of bad apples, as reported in this eChinacities article. However, China has since made great strides to regulate who gets the “privilege” to reside in the Middle Kingdom.

There is an estimated 200,000 - 2 million illegal aliens living in China that the government would apparently like to sweep out. Instead of building a wall like US President Donald Trump suggested to curb illegal immigration from Mexico, however, China has opted for an ABC grading system. Phew!

So let’s push all political correctness aside for a second and find out: How valuable of a foreigner are you?

ID Cards

The first part of the plan is to give foreigners ID cards, just like the Chinese. You’ll no longer have to bring your passport everywhere you go, not that anyone really does that anyway. Instead you’ll just need a plastic card that fits easily into your purse or wallet. Along with your photo, your ID card will also sport a unique number and your A, B or C ranking (see below for more details on that).

On one hand, the pros are obvious. Having an ID card will make your life much easier when purchasing things like train tickets or checking into a hotel. China has also extended its e-channel border crossing service to foreigners with ID cards, showing a willingness to further integrate expats into society.

On the other hand, there is one big con. A cynic could suggest that main reason the government is so kindly giving IDs to foreigners is to better track their every step. And, of course, don’t be surprised if fines or other consequences arise for those not carrying their IDs when pulled over for a random police inspection.

Grading System

In first-tier cities, the foreigner visa grading system is already in place. For those living elsewhere, it should be implemented by mid-2017. From that point on, just like celebrities, all foreigners will be classified as A, B or C-listed. A point system will determine your ranking. Though the government hasn’t officially stated what factors are used in the ranking criteria, the Beijinger and the New York Times both speculated on the system.

Based off their info along with our own assessment at eChinacities, this is how the rankings will work:

Salary (RMB per month)	0 to 10,000	6 points
	10,000 to 30,000	12 points
	30,000+	16 points
Education	Masters, MBA, PhD, etc.	5 points
	Degree from low ranked university	6 points
	Degree from world top-200 ranked university	12 points
	Degree from world top 50-ranked university	16 points
Years of work experience in China	0 to 2 years	6 points
	2 to 5 years	12 points
	5+ years	16 points
Chinese language fluency	HSK I or below	6 points
	HSK V to VI	16 points
	HSK II to IV	12 points
Age	Under 25 or over 60	6 points
	25 to 45	16 points
	46 to 60	12 points
Residency	First-tier cities	6 points
	Second-tier cities	12 points
	Third and fourth-tier cities/rural areas	16 points
0 to 60 points Grade C; 60 to 85 points Grade B; 85+ points Grade A

 

Why are they doing this?

The same New York Times article stated that: “Class A will include top professionals, [along with] innovative and creative talent... Class B will include other professionals who fit with China’s economic development plans and could fill short-term gaps, especially in management and technical areas… There will be limits in international trade, sports, culture and education. Class C will include unskilled or service industry workers. These should be strictly limited.”

In short, the government is looking to attract more professional foreign talent while simultaneously limiting the amount of lower-skilled foreigners entering the country.

What can I do to improve?

If you’re worried about where you rank and whether it will affect your long-term plans in China, here are some tips on how you can increase your grade:

• You may be able to use the salary ranges to get a raise from your boss. For example, if you’re making RMB 29,000 per month, present the facts to your boss to let him/her know that adding an extra grand to your salary each month could be enough to secure your presence in the country. Hey, it’s a long shot, but give it a try.

• If you need an extra 5 points, consider doing a Masters or getting an MBA while living in China. Check out this eChinacities article on best universities for foreigners in China.

• Brush up on your Mandarin. HSK II is very basic, as you only need a vocabulary of 300 words and a few simple grammar points. Just a few months of studying should be enough to raise you from level I to II (adding six points to your score). Making the transition from HSK IV (1,200 word vocab) to V (2,500 word vocab) is a bit harder, but doing so will add another four points to your mark.

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Keywords: foreigner visa china China visa grading