How to Check Your Work Permit Classification and Visa Application Status via WeChat

Tom Arnstein | Sep 22, 2017 2:35 pm | 1 comment | 10692 reads

On Thursday, the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs launched their newfangled WeChat platform, allowing visa applicants to check the status of their applications as well as a nifty calculator that spits out your work permit classification. The account will also be used to send out notifications and news from the Foreign Experts Bureau, according to HiTouch via Expat Life.

READ: A Look at the New China Work Permit

Unfortunately, the system is currently only in Chinese but an English version should be released in the near future. To check the status of your application, follow these steps:

1. Follow the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs' official WeChat account (ID: wgrlhfw) by extracting the QR code below:

2. Click "企业服务" (Business services), followed by "进度查询" (Service inquiry).

3. Input your application processing number in the box below.

4. The mini-app will then display which point your application is currently at as well as the dates during which it was processed.

The mini-app also allows you to calculate your work permit score and your classification (alternatively, you can use our online system, which we created when the new system was announced last year). This new rating was implemented in November 2016 and divides China's working expat population into three categories:

A: High-end professionals (85 points and above)
B: Professional personnel (60-85 points)
C: Ordinary applicants (below 60 points)

These categories are determined by your age, salary, level of education, experience in your area of expertise, annual length of employment, and Chinese level. To determine your score, simply:

1. Click "我" Me, followed by "我属于" My classification.