Passport

ALL awardees traveling to China MUST have:

A valid passport. Your valid passport must have at least six (6) months of remaining validity and at least one blank visa page in it. Instruction for applying for a passport can be found at: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

This application process is the responsibility of the AWARDEE. Interested IREE applicants are STRONGLY encouraged to start passport application process PRIOR to award announcement date (mid-March 2010). A U.S. passport is valid for 10 years. P.R.C. passport application takes up to 2-4 weeks, and visa application takes about 5-10 days. Advance planning is STRONGLY recommended.

Chinese Visa

ALL awardees traveling to China MUST also have:

Chinese visa to enter China. Business Visa (F Visa) is issued to an alien who is invited to China for a visit, an investigation, a lecture, to do business, scientific-technological and culture exchanges, short-term advanced studies or internship for a period of no more than six months. Instruction for applying for Chinese visa can be found at: http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84247.htm

A Chinese visa is a permit issued by the Chinese visa authorities to an alien for entry into, exit from, and/or transit through China. The Chinese visa authorities may issue a Diplomatic, Courtesy, Service, or Ordinary Visa to an alien according to his/her status, purpose of visit to China, and passport type.

IREE awardees should apply for BUSINESS Visa (F Visa). To apply for F Visa, the IREE Program Director will send you an official letter of acceptance and host invitation letter to be enclosed in your visa application package.