Miss M: How did I come to China from Russia without a PU letter
Today, Expat Help invited one client, Miss M (pseudonym) to share her story about coming to China from Russia without a PU letter. How could she successfully get the visa and enter China during the pandemic? Let’s read her story.
A PU letter is an invitation letter issued by China Foreign Affairs Office, which is used for applying for entering-China Visa. Since September 28, 2020, only foreigners who hold one of the three types of residence permits (work, reunion, and private affair) can enter China. All other foreigners need their PU letters for the visa application. However, there are also some exceptions. Read Miss M’s story and then you will get more info. If you have more questions, contact us via the website link and QR code at the end of the article.
*It will take about 5 minutes to finish reading.
*阅读此篇文章预计花费5分钟。
【Story Sharing】
How did I come to China from Russia without a PU letter
by Miss M
There are a few ways to go to China since the pandemic started, but most of them include getting a PU letter. Apparently, it’s possible (to get the visa) even without (a PU letter). This story is about my personal experience and happened in July-September 2021.
First of all, I needed to get vaccinated by any Chinese vaccines. We don’t have them in Russia, so we went to Minsk, Belarus. The vaccine itself was not expensive at all, around 200 RMB for two shots plus the certificate. I’ve heard some people did it even for free. The second shot should be done after 3 weeks.
Next step, collecting documents and applying for a visa. I applied in Vladivostok for a M visa, 90 days, single entry. The list of the documents was pretty the same as before, passport, invitation letter (not PU), photos, vaccination certificate, and a questionnaire. It took me one week and cost me around 700 RMB.
After that, I bought a ticket. Now people outside China can use only direct flights to get to China, (so for me) it’s either Aeroflot flight Moscow to Shanghai or AirChina Moscow to Beijing.
To get on the plane you have to get the health code. For that, you need to pass numerous health tests. First, a PCR exactly one week before your flight. There is a list of clinics where you can do the test on the consulate website. Note that it’s important to do it exactly one week before and not in the same lab as other tests.
Second, two days before the flight you go to a Lab in Moscow (there is only one option, they send you all the info by e-mail). There is another PCR and a blood test to check your antibodies. You get the results in the next 24 hours then can apply for a health code.
You need to upload your test results, passport page, flight ticket, vaccination info, health check blank. Then you just check the code and wait for it to change color. I’ve got mine (health code) red first, because I forgot to upload the health check blank. The next morning it turned green. The last test is at the airport, also a PCR. Easy as that!
Just to be sure to get the code I actually did more tests before, because if your antibodies are higher than needed you might be asked for another PCR and an x-ray of your lungs. I did those in advance.
Everything was smooth at the airport and I got on my flight. After the arrival I got called by my Aeroflot staff to outside, where doctors checked my temperature and took another PCR which felt terrible by the way. I thought the nurse will touch my soul with those sticks.
After custom procedures, the staff organized everyone into small groups and escorted to our quarantine hotels. Happy end!
Many thanks for Miss M’s story sharing, and best wishes to her future life in Shanghai!
We can see that though the procedure of applying for a Chinese visa and entering China is a little bit complicated during the pandemic, there are still some ways to come to China (even you don’t have the PU letter), as long as you are well prepared. So, if you also want to enter Shanghai, just as Miss M, feel free to click the button ‘Contact Us‘ above. Or scan the QR code below to contact our experts. They are willing to give you more advice. We are looking forward to seeing you!
More Photos by Miss M
