Student visa papers at the Chinese embassy in the United States: the table row by row

For an X1 visa, the embassy notice asks higher education students for a Confirmation Form for Study in China (Form JW201 or Form JW202) and a photocopy of the Admission Letter issued by a school or other entity in China. For an X2 visa, it asks for an Admission Notice from a school or other entity in China and, if applicable, an Information Form for Foreign Students' Short-term Visit (Form DQ).

The notice is titled "Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application" and is marked "Updated September, 2025". It is issued by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States. Its process section describes applications made through the New China Online Visa Application System (the New COVA System), which the notice says launched at the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. on September 30, 2025.

Check the consular jurisdiction first

The notice lists the states in the embassy's consular jurisdiction: Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Delaware, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas and Puerto Rico. The notice asks the applicant to confirm that they live in one of these states before submitting the application.

If you live elsewhere, look for the notice of the mission that covers your state. This is a suggestion, not a rule from the notice: other missions may publish different procedures.

The application process

The process section gives three steps, numbered as the notice prints them:

1. Visa applicants need to log on to the New COVA System (click to redirect) to fill in the forms and upload materials for preliminary review.
2. After the application form shows "Passport to be submitted" status, the visa applicant or agent submits the passport, the application info-page with barcode and other original documents as required to the Visa Office within office hours.
3. Important Tips for online COVA visa form filling: visit http://consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/ and click [Guidance on Visa Application] to review.

Step 3 is written as a plain address here, not as a link. The notice prints it as text.

Documents to upload online

The notice splits the papers into two lists. The first list is uploaded online. Its items are numbered 1 to 7:

1. Passport bio-page and blank visa page. "Passport remaining validity must be more than 6 months with at least 2 blank visa pages."
2. The latest Chinese visa or the Chinese residence permit.
3. The Proof of Residence (e.g., driver's license, utility bill, bank bill).
4. If the applicant is a foreigner in the US, a photocopy of green card, visa, I20, or I94 to prove legal residence in the US.
5. If the applicant was of Chinese nationality and this is the first Chinese visa application after naturalization in a foreign country, the bio-page of the Chinese passport and the naturalization certificate.
6. If the applicant's name has been changed and this is the first Chinese visa application after the name change, the name change document.
7. For a visa application by a minor of Chinese origin born in the US, follow the guidance.

Originals to present on site

The second list is presented on site as originals. Its items are numbered 1 to 6:

1. Passport original used for visa application.
2. Application info-page showing "Passport to be submitted" status and the barcode of the application form.
3. Old passport containing previous Chinese visa or residence permit which is still within validity.
4. If the applicant was of Chinese nationality, the latest Chinese passport.
5. For Q1 or S1 visa application, the original certification showing the relationship of immediate family members between applicants and inviting individual, for verification.
6. Other original documents that the consular officials asked to be submitted on-site.

The X1 row

The notice describes X1 as "Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of more than 180 days." It sets out two groups.

For foreign higher education institution students, the notice lists:

• A. Confirmation Form for Study in China (Form JW201 or Form JW202)
• B. Photocopy of the Admission Letter issued by a school or other entities in China

For foreign elementary, junior/senior high school students, the notice lists the Confirmation Form for Elementary Stage Students Study in China. It also states: "For foreign elementary, junior/senior high school students who reside in China for family reunion purpose, application for X1 visa is not compulsory."

The Form JW201 guide on this site explains the form in more detail: /guides/jw201-form-explained/

The X2 row

The notice describes X2 as "Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of no more than 180 days." It lists:

1. Admission Notice issued by a school or other entities in China.
2. Information Form for Foreign Students' Short-term Visit (Form DQ, if have).

Item 2 carries the words "if have" in the notice. The notice does not give a further condition for it beyond those words.

The two rows side by side

Row	Stay the notice gives	Papers the notice lists
X1 (higher education)	"more than 180 days"	Form JW201 or JW202; photocopy of the Admission Letter
X1 (elementary, junior/senior high)	"more than 180 days"	Confirmation Form for Elementary Stage Students Study in China
X2	"no more than 180 days"	Admission Notice; Form DQ (if have)

Questions people ask

Which X1 form does a higher education student need?

The notice lists the Confirmation Form for Study in China as Form JW201 or Form JW202, with a photocopy of the Admission Letter.

Does a school pupil in China for family reunion need an X1 visa?

The notice says that for foreign elementary, junior/senior high school students who reside in China for family reunion purpose, application for X1 visa is not compulsory.

Which papers does an X2 applicant list?

The notice lists an Admission Notice from a school or other entity in China, and Form DQ if the applicant has it.

Sources

• Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application (Updated September, 2025), Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States (Ministry of Foreign Affairs mission)

Checked 11 October 2026

This page is an unofficial summary. It is not published by or affiliated with the Ministry of Education, the China Scholarship Council, the National Immigration Administration, any embassy or any university, and it is not legal advice. The official text and the current notice of the office handling your case prevail if they differ.