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The Criteria for Approval of
Foreign Summer and Intersession Programs established by ABA-approved Law Schools
was revised in August 2010. Specific
information must be disclosed to prospective students from the initial point of
contact. The complete ABA statement
is available on their website:
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/foreign_study.html
Part VIII, Disclosures
requires the following information:
1.
Dates, Location(s), description of the program, and anticipated enrollment
The
University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Summer Law School at Peking University
(PKU) will take place May 18 - June 9, 2013 (including travel dates; coursework
begins on Monday, May 20 and ends with the final exam on Saturday, June 8.)
The program features 4.5 hours of transferable ABA-approved law school
credit and is a comprehensive survey of Chinese law, political and legal
institutions. Classes are taught in
English by leading PKU faculty and features lectures and discussions primarily
in the morning coupled with field trips to legal institutions and tours to
cultural and historic sites in the afternoons.
The academic program is a single broad survey of Chinese law.
We anticipate enrollment of approximately 40 students in 2013; the
maximum capacity is 45 students.
2. The
nature of the relationship with the foreign institution, if any, other than the
provision of facilities and minimal services
In
Spring 1994, UMKC’s Professor Patrick A. Randolph, Jr. served as a Visiting
Professor at the Peking University Department of Law in Beijing.
Since that time, he continued to travel to China regularly and
established very strong ties with the law faculty at PKU.
The UMKC Summer Study in China at Peking University premiered in Summer
1999, with PKU law faculty Dean WU Zhipan serving as Co-Director, and Professor
LOU Jianbo serving as Associate Director of the program.
In 2002, Professor Randolph and Professor Lou co-authored the book
Chinese Real Estate Law, and in 2003 they co-founded the Peking
University Center for Real Estate Law and continued to serve as Co-Directors
until Professor Randolph’s death in October 2012.
Professor Randolph was the first - and only - foreign director of a
research center at PKU.
Most of the program’s lectures are taught by faculty from Peking
University Law School and one class will be taught by the program’s Director.
All classes are conducted in English.
Field trips and cultural tours are
coordinated by staff members of the PKU Overseas Exchange Center (OEC).
Student housing is in the PKU-operated Zhongguanyuan Global Village
Hotel.
3.
The number of students who
participated in the program the previous year from the sponsoring law school(s)
and the number from other schools (if the program is open to other students)
Twenty-two
students were enrolled in the UMKC China Summer Law program in Summer 2012.
Of those twenty-two students, five were from UMKC, five were from Lewis &
Clark Law School, two were from St. Thomas University School of Law, and two
were from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
In addition, students from Charlotte School of Law, Florida Coastal
School of Law, George Mason University School of Law, St. John’s University Law
School, the University of Alberta Faculty of Law, the University of Iowa School
of Law, and the University of Louisville - Brandies School of Law attended the
Summer 2012 program.
4. If
the program is not limited to students from U.S. law schools, the countries
likely to be represented and the expected number of students from those
countries
In
prior years, we’ve had student participants from law schools in Austria, Canada,
New Zealand, and Singapore. It is
likely that one or more foreign students will enroll again this year.
5. Description of each course and number of credit hours
The
academic program is a single broad survey of Chinese Law conducted over three
weeks for a total of 4.5 ABA-approved credit hours.
The program is currently expected to include the following classes:
·
China and the Rule of Law
·
Chinese Contract Law
·
Chinese Criminal Law
·
Chinese Real Estate Law
·
Currency Manipulation
·
Dispute Resolution - Arbitration and Mediation
·
Family Law
·
General Introduction of the Intellectual Property
Laws of China
·
History and Political System of China
·
Introduction to the Legal System of the People’s
Republic of China
·
Law of Business Organizations
·
Principles of Chinese Civil Law (including Torts)
·
The Sino-American Relationship
·
Trial Practice and Rules of Evidence
In addition, field trips to the Supreme Court, a district court, and two
law firms are included as part of the curriculum.
6. Schedule of classes with days and times for each class
Tentative class schedule:
Monday, May 20, 2013
8:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Introduction to the Legal System of the People’s
Republic of China
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
8:30 AM - 12:15 PM
The Sino-American Relationship
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
8:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Chinese Contract Law
Thursday, May 23, 2013
8:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Family Law
Friday, May 24, 2013
8:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Law of Business Organizations
Monday, May 27, 2013
1:30 PM - 5:15 PM
Principles of Chinese Civil Law
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
8:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Chinese Criminal Law
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
departure at 8:00 AM
morning field trip to Zhonglun W&D Law Firm,
followed by an afternoon field trip to the Supreme People’s Court of the
People’s Republic of China
Thursday, May 30, 2013
8:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Trial Practice and Rules of Evidence
afternoon field trip
departure at 12:20 PM
field trip to Jones Day law firm
Friday, May 31, 2013
8:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Currency Manipulation
Monday, June 3, 2013
1:30 PM - 5:15 PM
Dispute Resolution - Arbitration/Mediation
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
8:30 AM - 12:15 PM
History and Political System of China
afternoon field trip
departure at 12:50 PM
field trip to observe a criminal trial at a Chinese
district court
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
8:30 AM - 12:15 PM
General Introduction of the Intellectual Property
Laws of China
Thursday, June 6, 2013
8:30 AM - 12:15 PM
China and the Rule of Law
Friday, June 7, 2013
8:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Chinese Real Estate Law
Saturday, June 8, 2013
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Final Examination
7. Requirements for student performance and grading method
All
students participating in a UMKC-sponsored study abroad program are subject to
the policies of the UMKC School of Law Honor Code (available at:
law.umkc.edu/pdfs/honor-code.pdf);
the UM System’s Code of Conduct
(available at:
http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/rules/collected_rules/programs/ch200/200.010_standard_of_conduct);
the code of conduct at the host
institution; and the laws of the host country.
For specific information about the host country, including an overview of
its legal system, visit the U.S. Department of State’s website:
http://www.state.gov
Attendance is mandatory in all classroom and field trip sessions.
An unexcused absence is grounds for failure.
Chronic tardiness is not acceptable.
Students arriving late to class will receive a 1/3 grade reduction per
infraction; three tardy violations constitute grounds for failure of the course.
There will be a written examination at the end of the course on the
morning of Saturday, June 8, 2013.
All students will be given an exam number to maintain anonymity in grading.
All visiting students’ home schools require a letter grade for transfer
of credit. UMKC retains sole
authority to evaluate student performance for ABA-approved credit.
8.
Enrollment limitations on any courses offered and criteria for enrollment,
including prerequisites
Class
size is limited to a maximum of forty-five students.
Registration is open to all US and foreign law students in good standing
who will have completed at least one full year of law school study by May 2013.
The University of Missouri System requires each study abroad participant
to enroll in the UM HTH Worldwide Health Insurance Plan.
HTH specializes in study abroad and the UM System has worked with them to
create a comprehensive plan fitting our specific needs.
Their website is filled with services such as doctor searches,
country-specific health information, drug comparisons between countries, claim
instructions, and many other features.
The cost is approximately $45.00 per month.
Program participants may enroll on-line at
www.hthstudents.com
In order to enroll in the UMKC plan, participants should enter BJA-2348 in the
“group access code” box.
Failure to enroll in the UMKC plan
through HTH Worldwide (including Medex) will render a student ineligible to
study abroad and credits will not transfer.
A completed and signed Assumption of Risk and Release form, Emergency Contact
Information form, Registration form, Health Information form, photocopy of
current passport or driver’s license, and $250 deposit must accompany the
student’s application for enrollment consideration.
Visiting students must also submit a letter of good standing from their
home school’s Dean or Registrar.
It is the student’s responsibility, per the assumption of Risk and
Release form, to stay informed of conditions in the country to which he/she is
traveling to.
9. A
statement that acceptance of any credit or grade for any course taken in the
program, including externships and other clinical offers, is subject to
determination by the student’s home school.
The
decision to accept transfer credits and grades is the responsibility of each
academic institution. Overseas study
programs in general do not count towards school residency or accelerated
graduation requirements. All
students are advised to consult with their home school’s Dean or Registrar prior
to application to ensure acceptance of credit for the overseas program,
externship and/or Independent Study paper.
Transcript request information will be provided to visiting students
after completion of the program.
Individual students are responsible for submitting their own transcript requests
with appropriate fees. Acceptance of
any credit or grade for any course taken in the program, including externships
or papers, is subject to determination by the student’s home school.
10. Descriptive biography of the program director
Professor Patrick A. Randolph, Jr.
was the
founder of the UMKC China Summer Law Study program and served as its Academic
Director and on-site Co-Director from 1999 - 2012.
He was highly regarded for his expertise in real estate and development,
particularly his knowledge of Chinese real estate laws.
He was a professor of real estate law at the University of
Missouri-Kansas City School of Law from 1980 - 2012 and served as Of Counsel at
Husch Blackwell LLP in Kansas City.
He received his B.A. from Yale University and his J.D. from the University of
California-Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law.
Professor Randolph was a past Chair of the Property Law Section of the
American Association of Law Schools and also chaired the Missouri Bar Property
Law Committee. He served six years
on the governing council of the ABA Section on Real Property, Probate and Trust
Law and was Co-Chair of its Joint Committee on E-Commerce and Electronic
Transactions. He was a Missouri
Commissioner on Uniform State Laws - a delegate to the National Conference of
Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL), and has been on the drafting
committees for several Uniform Laws.
He was a fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL), a fellow
of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys (ACMA), and a fellow of the
American Law Institute. He was a
frequent speaker throughout the United States on real estate topics, and was
also the founder, managing editor and website manager of the DIRT internet
discussion group on real estate law.
Over the years, Professor Randolph lectured at more than 20 Chinese law
schools. He began his work in China
as a visiting professor in the Peking University Department of Law in Beijing in
1994. In 2003, he co-founded the
Real Estate Research Center at Peking University where he served as the first
and only foreign director of a research center at the university.
He was the author of Friedman on
Leases (published by the Practising Law Institute), co-author (with program
Associate Director, Professor Lou Jianbo) of
Chinese Real Estate Law (published by
Kluwer Law International) and was the Editor-in-Chief of the ABA Section on Real
Property, Trust and Estate Law’s publication,
Quarterly Report on Developments in Real
Estate Law.
Professor Randolph received numerous awards for his work, including
recognition by Who’s Who Legal USA and
Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers.
Realtor magazine named Pat
Randolph as one of the twenty-five most influential people in American Real
Estate Law, the only academic selected for this recognition.
In January 2006, the Beijing Municipal Government awarded Professor
Randolph the Great Wall Friendship Prize, its highest award given to a
foreigner, in recognition of his many contributions to the Chinese legal system.
In September 2008, Professor Randolph received the China National
Friendship Prize, awarded by the Chinese Central Government at a gala ceremony
which took place at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
The National Friendship Prize, set up in 1991, is China's highest award
for foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China's economic
and social progress.
Professor Timothy E. Lynch
will serve as Academic Director and on-site
Co-Director in Summer 2013.
Professor Lynch received his B.A. at the University of Chicago, M.B.A. for the
Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, and J.D. from Harvard Law
School. He specializes in the areas
of international capital markets, private international law, public
international law, international trade, and derivatives.
Prior to his career in academia, he served as an officer in the United
States Navy and was a two-time recipient of the Navy Achievement Medal; taught
English in Yokohama, Japan; interned in the International Relations Department
of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights in Cairo, Egypt; interned in the
Conflict Resolution Program at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia; was an
associate at Coudert Brothers in New York City; was the Executive Manager of the
Abu Dhabi Public Works Department in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; was
Founder, Director and President of the Avicenna East-West Student Exchange
Initiative in San Diego, California; and a staff attorney at the Indiana Legal
Services, Inc. in Bloomington, Indiana.
He lived abroad for more than five years with his work in Australia,
Japan, Egypt, and the UAE. Professor
Lynch obtained a joint research fellowship appointment at the Maurer School of
Law and the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University - Bloomington to
launch his academic career and was a visiting assistant professor at Indiana
University Maurer School of Law before joining the faculty at the University of
Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.
His most recent publications are Gambling
by Another Name; The Challenge of Purely Speculative Derivatives (published
by the Stanford Journal of Law, Business & Finance, 2012) and
Derivatives: A Twenty-First Century
Understanding (published by the Loyola University Chicago Law Journal,
2011).
11. Descriptive
biographies, including academic credentials and experience, of each faculty
member responsible for teaching a course or any portion of a course
Professor Timothy E. Lynch teaches
Currency Manipulation and will serve as Academic Director and on-site
Co-Director in Summer 2013. His bio
appears in the previous section.
Associate Director Dr. LOU Jianbo
teaches Principles of Chinese Civil Law
(including Torts) and has also previously taught
Law of Business Organizations and
co-taught Chinese Real Estate Law with
Professor Randolph. Dr. Lou is the
co-author (with Professor Randolph) of
Chinese Real Estate Law (published by Kluwer Law International) and the
co-founder and co-director (with Professor Randolph) of the Center for Real
Estate Law at Peking University.
Dr. Lou received his LL.B. and LL.M. degrees from Peking University, and
his Ph.D. from the University of London. He
was the former Director of Chinese Legal Studies and a Lecturer in Chinese
Commercial Law at Cambridge University in England, and was also a Senior
Visiting Fellow at the Center for Commercial Law Studies at Queen Mary College,
the University of London; a Visiting Senior Fellow at the National University of
Singapore, and a Visiting Lecturer at Tsinghua University, the Chinese
University of Politics and Legal Science, the University of Missouri-Kansas City
School of Law, and Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.
Dr. Lou is currently an Associate Professor at the Center for Real Estate
Law and a Research Fellow at the Financial Law Center at Peking University Law
School, and a senior attorney at the law firm of Lehman, Xu & Lee in Beijing.
Dr. FAN Shiming teaches The
Sino-American Relationship. Dr.
Fan received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees from Peking University.
He is an Associate Professor at the School of International Studies at
Peking University, focused on Sino-American relationships and the politics of
international communications. Dr.
Fan was formerly a Visiting Research Fellow at Harvard University and a Visiting
Professor at Nihon University and Niigata University in Japan.
Dr. GE Yunsong teaches
Chinese Contract Law. Dr. Ge
received his LL.B. from Nanjing University and his LL.M. and Ph.D. degrees from
Peking University. He is an
Associate Professor, the Assistant Dean for Research Affairs, and the Deputy
Director for the Center for the Law of Nonprofit Organisations at Peking
University Law School. Dr. Ge is a
member of the Peking University Law
Journal’s Editorial Board, and a member of the Advisory Council at the
International Center for Not-for-profit Law based in Washington, DC.
Professor GONG Wenxiang teaches The
History and Political System of China.
Professor Gong received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Peking University.
He is a Professor and the Executive Dean of the School of Journalism and
Communication at Peking University.
Dr. GUO Li teaches
Introduction to the Legal System of the People’s Republic of China.
Dr. Guo received his LL.B. from Peking University, LL.M. in International
and Comparative Law from Southern Methodist University Law School, LL.M. in
International Finance from Harvard University Law School, and LL.D. from Peking
University Law School. He is an
Associate Professor at Peking University Law School and a former Visiting
Professor at Cornell University Law School.
Dr. GUO Yu has previously taught
Dispute Resolution - Arbitration and Mediation.
Dr. Guo received her LL.B. from Fudan University, LL.M. in Maritime Law
from Shanghai Maritime University, LL.M. in International Commercial Law from
Cambridge University, and Ph.D. from Peking University Law School.
Dr. Guo is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Maritime Law
Research Center at Peking University Law School.
Dr. JIN Jinping teaches
Family Law. Dr. Jin received her
B.A., LL.M., and Ph.D. degrees from Peking University Law School.
She was a visiting scholar at the University of Missouri-Kansas City
School of Law in 2003, at Yale Law School in 2005, and at Michigan Law School in
2006. She was a CASS Post-Doctoral
Fellow from 2004 - 2006. Dr. Jin is
currently an Associate Professor, Assistant Dean, the Director of the Center for
NPOs Law, the Vice Director of the Center for Civil Society Studies, and the
Vice Director of the Center for Real Estate Law at Peking University Law School.
Dr. LIU Yan teaches Law
of Business Organizations. Dr.
Liu received her B.A., LL.M. and Ph.D. degrees from Peking University Law
School. She
was a Research Fellow at the Center of Commercial Law Studies at Queen
Mary College, the University of London; a Research Fellow at the Institute of
Advanced Legal Studies, the University of London; a Visiting Scholar at the
University of Leiden in the Netherlands; and a Visiting Scholar at the
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.
Dr. Liu is currently a Professor of Law at Peking University Law School.
Dr. LIU Yinliang teaches
General Introduction of the Intellectual Property Laws of China.
Dr. Liu received his B.S. from Yantai University, his M.S. from Peking
University, and his Ph.D. from Peking University Law School.
He has been a Visiting Professor at Temple University in the USA and
Paris I University in France, and was an Associate Professor at the Institute of
Intellectual Property at China University of Political Science and Law prior to
joining the faculty of Peking University as an Associate Professor.
Dr. SHAO Jingchun teaches
China’s Foreign Investment Law and Practice.
Dr. Shao received his LL.B., LL.M., and LL.D. degrees from Peking
University Law School. He has been a
Visiting Fellow at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy; a
Visiting Professor at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan; and a Visiting
Professor at Hong Kong Shue Yan College in Hong Kong.
Dr. Shao is currently an Associate Professor and the Director of
International Economic Law Studies at Peking University Law School, and also
serves as an Arbitrator for the China International Economic and Trade
Arbitration Commissions. In
addition, Dr. Shao serves as a professor to the Senior Judges Training Center of
China in Beijing, teaching Private International Law and International
Investment Law.
Professor WANG Shizhou teaches
Chinese Criminal Law and Trial
Practice and Rules of Evidence.
Professor Wang received his LL.B. and first LL.M. degrees from Law Faculty of
Peking University, and his second LL.M. degree from the University of California
at Berkeley Law School. He spent two
years as an Alexander-von-Humboldt Research Fellow at the Max-Planck-Institute
of Foreign and International Criminal Law in Freiburg and at the University of
Augsburg in German, and an additional year at the University of London as a
British Academy K C Wong Research Fellow.
Professor Wang has been a Visiting Professor at Stanford University’s
Bing Overseas Program and Huaquiao University. He assisted with the drafting of
the Chinese Anti-Security Fraud Regulation, provided legal consultative opinions
for Chinese Security Law and Copyright Law, participated in the preliminary work
for the drafting of the Chinese Criminal Code of 1997, and is the Director of
the Chinese Criminology Association.
Professor Wang was also the winner of the Humboldt Research Award in 2009.
Professor Wang is a Professor and LL.D. Supervisor at Peking University
Law School.
Dr. WEI Zhi previously taught
General Introduction of the Intellectual Property Laws of China.
Dr. Wei received his LL.B. from Southwest Institute of Political Science
and Law, his LL.M. from Renmin University Law School, and his Ph.D. from München
University in Germany. He serves as
an Arbitrator of the Beijing Arbitration Commission.
Dr. Wei is an Associate Professor at Peking University Law School.
Dr. WU Zhipan teaches China
and the Rule of Law and has also previously taught
Banking and Finance. Dr. Wu
received his LL.B., LL.M., and Ph.D. degrees from Peking University.
He has been a Visiting Scholar and Lecturer at Hong Kong Shun Yan College
and a Visiting Scholar at Harvard University School of Law.
Dr. Wu served as Vice Dean of Peking University Law School from
1994-1996, Dean of Peking University Law School from 1996-2001, and Assistant
President of Peking University from January 200-2002.
He is the Executive Vice-President of Peking University and has held that
position since 2002. Dr. Wu is also
a Professor of Law, LL.D. Supervisor, and the Director of the Financial Law
Institute at Peking University Law School.
In addition, he is the President of the Research Association of China’s
intellectual Property in Universities and Colleges; President of the Research
Association of China’s Economic Laws; Expert Counsel of China’s Supreme People’s
Court; Advisor for the Drafting Committee of China’s Commercial Bank Law of the
People’s Bank of China; Expert for the CSRC Listing Division; Member of the
Legal Education Directory Commission of the Ministry of Education; Expert
Advisor for Beijing Municipal People’s Procurator, Haidian District People’s
Court, and Haidian District People’s Procuratorate; Standing Director of the
Institute of Law of China and of the Institute of China’s Civil and Economic
Law; Coordinate Professor of Nan Kai University; and Vice-Chairman of the
National Committee of Legal Education of the National Law Academy, China.
Dr. XU Defeng teaches
Chinese Contract Law. Dr. Xu
received his LL.B., J.M., and Ph.D. degrees from Peking University Law School.
Prior to joining the faculty at PKU Law School, he spent two years as a
post-doctorate researcher at Renmin University Law School.
He was a Visiting Researcher at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität and
obtained his LL.M. there. He was
also awarded a German Chancellor Fellowship by the Humboldt Foundation.
Dr. Xu is an Associate Professor at Peking University Law School.
12. Name, address,
telephone, email and fax number of an informed contact person at (each of) the
sponsoring law school(s)
For questions regarding the substance of the course you may contact the Academic
Director, Professor Timothy Lynch, at (816) 235-2390 or email lynchte@umkc.edu.
For registration or administrative matters, please contact the Senior
Program Coordinator, Nancy Kunkel, at (816) 235-1647 or email
umkclawoverseas@umkc.edu. Their fax
number is (816) 235-5276. The
mailing address for either Professor Lynch or Mrs. Kunkel is:
UMKC School of Law
5100 Rockhill Road
500 East 52nd Street, LAW 2-200
Kansas City, MO 64110
13. Complete
statement of all tuition, fees, anticipated living costs, and other expected
expenses
A
student budget estimate is provided for all potential students as part of their
information and application packets.
Estimated costs for the 2013 program are:
Program fee
$3,395
Food (average $20/day)
$ 420
Passport & visa*
$ 370
Local transportation/Laundry/Personal Items/Leisure**
$ 600
Insurance***
$ 45
Optional weekend in Xi’an
$ 500
Roundtrip airfare to Beijing****
$1,875
TOTAL
$7,205
*passport application fee is $110 plus first-time applicants execution
fee $25, visa application fee is $140, visa agents fee plus shipping averages
$95
**personal leisure costs may vary considerably more or less,
depending upon the individual’s spending habits
***enrollment in the UMKC HTH insurance plan is mandatory for
all participants
****airfare casts may also vary substantially, depending on
choice of airlines, point of departure, routing, itinerary, and timing of
purchase. Some may find airfare at
significantly higher or lower rates than the estimate.
Early reservations are highly recommended due to the ongoing increases in
jet fuel costs and subsequently higher passenger fares.
The student budget estimate is also forwarded to the Coordinator of the
UMKC Student Financial Aid Office.
14. Description and location of classrooms and administrative offices
The
classrooms are located in the Yingjie Exchange Center building on the Peking
University campus. The Yingjie
Exchange Center is on the northeast portion of PKU campus, just a few blocks
west of the Zhongguanyuan Global Village Hotel.
Most classes will take place in Meeting Room #8 on the 2nd
floor. Classrooms are
air-conditioned and have adjustable lighting.
Seating is typically four chairs per table in standard classroom-style
seating. Electrical outlets require
an adaptor and electrical cord for usage with student laptop computers.
The administrative offices are also located on the 2nd floor
of the Yingjie Exchange Center.
Students will be provided with emergency contact information for Professor
Lynch, the Overseas Exchange Center staff, and several Chinese student
assistants on-site.
15. The extent to
which the country, city, and facilities are accessible to individuals with
disabilities
Public access accommodation in China is not equivalent to US standards.
Persons with disabilities should discuss any concerns with the UMKC
course director. Travelers with
disabilities should review the U.S. Department of State’s website at
www.travel.state.gov for links to the Country Specific Information for
China, and at
www.travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_4971.html for
additional information and resources.
16. Circumstances
under which the program is subject to cancellation, how cancellation will be
communicated to the students; what arrangements will be made in the event of
cancellation, and information about any prior cancellations, if any
UMKC
reserves the right to cancel for insufficient enrollment or under extraordinary
circumstances such as natural disaster, war, political instability or emergency.
In such an event you will receive notice via email regarding the
circumstances, and a full refund, including the deposit, within twenty (20) days
after the cancellation. If
requested, the program director will use best efforts to arrange for the student
to enroll in a similar program.
In 2003, the program was cancelled due to SARS.
Prior to the cancellation we kept the enrolled students apprised of the
situation, as it developed, via email.
We relied very heavily upon the official warnings of the three most
authoritative oversight organizations - the Centers for Disease Control, the
World Health Organization, and the U.S. State Department - with daily monitoring
of developments from each of their websites.
We also consulted with the UMKC offices of the Provost, Chancellor, and
International Academic Programs, the UM Board of Curators, and program directors
and staff from other U.S. schools with planned China (or other Asian) summer
study programs. In addition, we
maintained email correspondence with faculty and staff at Peking University
(PKU) for first-hand accounts and observations of the situation in Beijing in
general, and at PKU in particular.
When the U.S. State Department issued a Travel Advisory, our students were given
the option of cancelling and receiving a full refund.
Although the majority of our students opted to stick with the program
(and additional students from other cancelled programs clamored to sign up), as
the situation continued to deteriorate with more and more confirmed SARS cases,
the U.S. State Department ultimately issued a Travel Warning and on April 17,
2003 we cancelled the program. All
of the registered students were notified of the cancellation via email, a notice
was posted on our website, and full refunds were issued for all enrolled
students.
17. State Department Travel Information
US
Department of State website:
www.travel.state.gov
Travel
Warning website:
travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html
Travel Warnings are issued when long-term, protracted
conditions that make a country dangerous or unstable lead the State Department
to recommend that Americans avoid or consider the risk of travel to that
country. A Travel Warning is also issued when the U.S. Government’s ability to
assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or
consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff.
Current Travel Alerts website:
travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1766.html
Travel Alerts are issued to disseminate information
about short-term conditions, either transnational or within a particular
country, that pose significant risks to the security of U.S. citizens. Natural
disasters, terrorist attacks, coups, anniversaries of terrorist events,
election-related demonstrations or violence, and high-profile events such as
international conferences or regional sports events are examples of conditions
that might generate a Travel Alert.
International Travel website:
travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html
The State Department’s Office of American Citizens Services and
Crisis Management (ACS) administers the Consular Information Program, which
informs the public of conditions abroad that may affect their safety and
security. Country Specific Information, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings are
vital parts of this program.
ACS supports the work of our overseas embassies and
consulates in providing emergency services to Americans traveling or living
abroad. We also assist in non-emergency matters of birth, identity, passport,
citizenship, registration, judicial assistance, and estates. ACS can facilitate
the transfer of funds overseas to assist U.S. citizens in need, repatriate the
remains of loved ones who have died overseas, assist victims of crime, and help
U.S. citizens who are detained in foreign prisons. In other words, ACS is here
to assist you and your family whenever and wherever we can.
ACS also administers a repatriation loan program to bring home
destitute Americans. We operate a 24-hour Duty Officer Program and Crisis
Response Teams who work on task forces convened to deal with natural or man-made
disasters.
China-Specific
Information website:
travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1089.html
China
Country Specific Information
Recent Embassy Notices for American Citizens
for the most current list, check the website:
beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/acsnotice.html
July 06, 2012
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: The People’s Republic of China was established on October 1, 1949,
with Beijing as its capital city. With well over 1.3 billion citizens, China is
the world's most populous country and the world’s fourth-largest country in
terms of territory. Although political power remains centralized in the Chinese
Communist Party, China is undergoing profound economic and social changes.
Modern tourist facilities are available in major cities, but many facilities in
smaller provincial cities and rural areas may be below international standards.
Read the Department of State Background
Notes on China
www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/18902.htm
for additional information. (Note:
Background Notes are no longer being updated or produced and have been replaced
with U.S. Relations With China. See
www.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/china/189475.htm for the most recent
version.)
SMART TRAVELER ENROLLMENT PROGRAM (STEP) / EMBASSY LOCATION: If you are going to live in or visit China, please take the time to
tell our Embassy and Consulates about your trip. If you enroll, we can keep you
up to date with important safety and security announcements. It will also help
your friends and family get in touch with you in an emergency. Here’s the link
to the Smart Traveler Enrollment
Program.
https://step.state.gov/step/
Local embassy information is available below and at the Department
of State’s list of embassies and consulates.
http://www.usembassy.gov/
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing China
http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/
No. 55 An Jia Lou Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600
Telephone: (86) (10) 8531-4000
Emergency after-hours telephone: (86) (10) 8531-4000
The Embassy consular district includes the municipalities of
Beijing and Tianjin and the provinces/autonomous regions of Gansu, Hebei, Henan,
Hubei, Hunan, Inner Mongolia, Jiangxi, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong,
Shanxi, and Xinjiang.
The U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu
http://chengdu.usembassy-china.org.cn/
Number 4, Lingshiguan Road, Section 4, Renmin Nanlu,
Chengdu 610041
Telephone: (86)(28) 8558-3992
Emergency after-hours telephone: (86) (10) 8531-4000
This consular district includes the provinces/autonomous region of
Guizhou, Sichuan, Xizang (Tibet) and Yunnan, as well as the municipality of
Chongqing.
The U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou
http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/
Number 1 South Shamian Street, Shamian Island
Guangzhou 510133
Telephone: (86)(20) 8518-7605
Emergency after-hours telephone: (86) (10) 8531-4000
This consular district includes: the provinces/autonomous region of
Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, and Fujian.
The U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai
http://shanghai.usembassy-china.org.cn/
Westgate Mall, 8th Floor, 1038 Nanjing Xi Lu,
Shanghai 200031
Telephone: (86)(21) 3217-4650
Emergency after-hours telephone: (86) (21) 3217-4650
This consular district includes Shanghai municipality and the
provinces of Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
The U.S. Consulate General in Shenyang
http://shenyang.usembassy-china.org.cn/
No. 52, 14th Wei Road, Heping District,
Shenyang 110003
Telephone: (86)(24) 2322-1198
Emergency after-hours telephone: ((86) (10) 8531-4000
This consular district includes: the provinces of Heilongjiang,
Jilin, and Liaoning.
The U.S. Consulate General in Wuhan
http://wuhan.usembassy-china.org.cn/index.html
New World International Trade Tower I
No. 568, Jianshe Avenue
Hankou, Wuhan 430022
Telephone: (86) (027) 8555-7791
Emergency after-hours telephone: (86) (10) 8531-4000
[Please note that consular services are provided only during
quarterly outreaches in Wuhan. Contact the Embassy in Beijing for other consular
and emergency services.]
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: BEFORE YOU GO: To enter China, you need a visa as well as six months' validity
remaining on your passport. If you do not have a valid passport and the
appropriate Chinese visa, you will not be allowed to enter China, you will be
fined, and you will be subject to immediate deportation. U.S. citizens traveling
to China may apply for up to a one-year multiple-entry visa. Check your U.S.
passport before applying for a visa to make sure that it has one year or more
validity remaining; otherwise, you may be issued a visa for less than the time
you request. The Chinese Embassy and consulates general in the United States do
not always issue maximum validity visas even if requested to do so. A
multiple-entry visa is essential if you plan to re-enter China, especially if
you plan to visit either Hong Kong or Macau and return to China. Visit
the website of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China for the most
current visa information.
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/
Many regions, such as the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and other
remote areas, require special permits for tourist travel. Permits are not always
granted, as during certain times the PRC may not allow foreigners to enter an
area it deems restricted. The easiest way to apply for the appropriate permit is
through a local Chinese travel agent. Permits usually cost approximately RMB
200, are single-entry, and are valid for a maximum of three months. The TAR
remains a sensitive area for travel, and even when travel to Tibet is allowed,
usually only Lhasa and part of Shan Nan are open to foreigners. If you do enter
a restricted area without the requisite permit, you could be fined, taken into
custody, and deported for illegal entry. A Border Travel Permit (bianfangzheng)
is required for travel in and around the TAR and the Nepal border area.
Applications for the permit are made at the Public Security Bureau’s office in
Lhasa. To learn more about specific entry requirements for restricted areas,
check with the Visa Office of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in
the United States by telephone (202) 338-6688 between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday, fax (202) 588-9760, or e-mail
chnvisa@bellatlantic.net.
China no longer restricts tourists with HIV from
visiting, but will not issue them residence permits. Please verify the
restrictions with the Embassy of the
People’s Republic of China http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/
before you travel.
For information about U.S. customs regulations, please
read our Customs Information page.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1468.html
The Embassy of China’s website
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/ also
has a list of other available services and frequently-asked visa questions with
links to their consulates general in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York,
and San Francisco.
UPON ARRIVAL: Once you are in China, the PRC expects
you to comply with the requirements of your visa. For example, if you are on a
tourist visa, you are not allowed to work; if you are on a work visa, you
typically cannot become a full-time student. It is difficult to change or renew
your visa within China. Visitors cannot change tourist (L) and exchange (F)
visas to other visa types. Entry and exit requirements are strictly enforced.
Police, school administrators, airline and train officials, and hotel staff may
check your visa to make sure you have not overstayed. You will typically not be
allowed to check into a hotel or travel by plane or on some trains if your visa
has expired, and you may be taken into custody. If you intentionally or
inadvertently violate the terms of your Chinese visa, including staying after
your visa has expired, you may be charged a RMB 500 fine per day up to a maximum
of RMB 5,000, experience departure delays, and face possible detention.
Whether you are traveling to or living in China, you
must register with the police within 24 hours of your arrival in the country.
Even foreigners with residence permits are required to register after each
re-entry. If you are staying in a hotel, the staff will automatically register
you. However, if you are staying in a private home with family or friends, you
should take your passport to the local police station to register. Failure to do
so could result in fines and detention. Chinese law requires that you carry a
valid U.S. passport and Chinese visa or residence permit at all times. If you
are visiting China, you should carry your passport with you, out of reach of
pickpockets. If you live in China and have a residence permit, you should carry
that document and leave your passport in a secure location, except when
traveling.
Some parts of China are off limits or accessible only
if you travel with an organized tour. You should always use common sense and
avoid unlawful entry to sensitive areas, including military zones or bases and
places where there is current civil unrest. If problems arise, the U.S. Embassy
has limited ability to provide assistance. The Chinese government will not
usually authorize the travel of U.S. government personnel to Tibet or areas
where there is civil unrest, even to provide consular assistance to U.S.
citizens.
LEAVING CHINA: You must have a valid visa not only to
enter China, but also to leave China. If your visa has expired while you are in
China, immigration authorities will not permit you to exit the country until you
receive a new visa. You must apply for an extension from the Entry/Exit
Bureau http://www.bjgaj.gov.cn/eng/
before attempting to leave the country. The time it takes to get a visa
replaced varies depending on where you are in China; however, in Beijing, it can
take at least one week from the date of application, regardless of your
previously-scheduled departure date. You should not expect the Chinese visa
renewal or replacement process to be expedited to meet your travel schedule.
If your passport is lost or stolen in China, you will need to
replace both the U.S. passport and the Chinese visa, which can take at least a
week, before you can depart China. You should report the loss or theft of your
passport immediately. Regulations vary from place to place. For instance, if you
lose the passport in Beijing, the local authorities will require you to file a
police report at the local police station before they will issue a replacement
visa in your new passport, while in Shanghai you must report the loss to the
Entry/Exit Bureau. In Chengdu and Chongqing, the local authorities will require
you to file a report first with your local police station and then with your
local Entry/Exit Bureau.
If you are a U.S. Legal Permanent Resident, make sure
you have up-to-date U.S. residence documentation, especially your valid
Permanent Resident Card ("Green Card"), to avoid delays when leaving China or
re-entering the United States.
TRANSITING CHINA: In general, if you are travelling through China en route to another
country, you do not need a visa, as long as you stay in China less than 24 hours
and do not leave the airport. If, however, you are a transit passenger and have
more than one stopover in China, you must exit the transit lounge at the first
stop to apply for an endorsement in your passport that permits multiple stops in
China. As long as you have a ticket that continues on to an international
destination, the endorsement should be routine.
If Shanghai Pudong airport is your international transit point, you
may stay in Shanghai for 48 hours if you have a valid passport, a visa for your
destination, and an onward plane ticket. Make sure you get an endorsement stamp
at the immigration desk before you leave the airport.
DUAL NATIONALITY: China does not recognize dual nationality. If you are a dual
national, you should strongly consider which passport you will use to enter and
exit China. The ability of the U.S. Embassy or Consulates General in China to
provide you with consular protection is not afforded under the U.S. – China
Consular Convention if you do not use your U.S. passport to enter China.
Chinese authorities generally consider a child born in
China to be a Chinese citizen if one parent is a Chinese national, even if the
child is issued a U.S. passport while in China. In such cases, prior to
departing China with your child, you should contact the local Public Security
Bureau and/or Entry-Exit Bureau for information on obtaining a travel document.
Information about dual
nationality
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html
and the prevention of
international child abduction
http://travel.state.gov/abduction/abduction_580.html
can be found on our website.
THREATS TO SAFETY AND SECURITY: For most visitors, China remains a very safe country. Petty street
crime and business disputes between U.S. and Chinese partners are the most
common safety concerns for U.S. citizens in China.
Some parts of the country are restricted or you may need a special
permit to travel there. Please keep in mind that you are a guest in a foreign
country where U.S. laws do not apply. You are subject to Chinese law and legal
procedures.
Security personnel carefully watch foreign visitors and
may place you under surveillance. Hotel rooms, offices, cars, taxis, telephones,
Internet usage, and fax machines may be monitored onsite or remotely, and
personal possessions in hotel rooms, including computers, may be searched
without your consent or knowledge.
Violent crime is not common in China, but violent demonstrations
can erupt without warning and in past years there have been some fatal bombings
and explosions which could pose a random threat to foreign visitors in the
area. The vast majority of these local incidents are related to disputes over
land seizures, social issues, employment disputes, environmental problems, or
conflicts involving ethnic minorities. Some incidents have become large-scale
and involved criminal activity, including hostage taking and vandalism.
Stay up to date:
*
By bookmarking our Bureau of
Consular Affairs website
http://travel.state.gov/, which
contains the current Travel Warnings
and Travel Alerts
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_1168.html
as well as the Worldwide
Caution
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_4787.html
*
Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/travelgov
and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/travelgov
as well.
*
Downloading our free Smart
Traveler IPhone
App http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/smart-traveler/id442693988?mt=8
to have travel information at your fingertips.
*
You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the United States and
Canada, or call a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries. These
numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through
Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
*
Take some time before traveling to improve your personal security—things
are not the same everywhere as they are in the United States. Here are some
useful tips for traveling safely
abroad.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html
CRIME: When visiting China, you should always
take routine safety precautions and pay attention to your surroundings. Petty
theft remains the most prevalent type of crime encountered. Pickpockets target
tourists at sightseeing destinations, airports, markets, and stores. Make sure
you guard your passport and wallet, as most incidents tend to involve items kept
in back pockets, backpacks, or bags/purses swung over a shoulder or set down in
a taxi, another vehicle, a restaurant, or a shop.
Narcotics-related crimes and use are also on the rise
in China. Chinese law enforcement authorities have little tolerance for illegal
drugs, and they periodically conduct widespread sweeps of bar and nightclub
districts, targeting narcotics distributors and drug users. Expatriates from
various countries have been detained in such police actions.
Con artists targeting visitors are also common in
popular tourist sites. A common scam involves younger Chinese “English
students,” often women or a couple, offering a local tour and an invitation to
tea at a nearby restaurant. When the bill comes, the restaurant owners force
victims to pay an exorbitant bill before they can leave the premises.
Taxi drivers, especially at airports, sometimes target
arriving travelers, refusing to use the meter or claiming they are a limousine
and can charge higher fares. Always have the name of your destination written in
Chinese to show the driver, and get a receipt when you arrive at your
destination. It is a good practice to keep valuables such as purses, camera
bags, and computer cases next to you or in your lap rather than in a
less-accessible area of the taxi. Ask the driver to remove the bags from the
trunk before you get out of the taxi and before you pay, so he cannot drive away
with your luggage.
Do not buy counterfeit or pirated goods, even if they
are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if
you purchase them, you may also be breaking local law. Some U.S. citizens report
that items purchased, even at state-owned or museum stores, believed to be
antiques or genuine gems are later determined to be reproductions.
Counterfeit currency is a significant concern in China.
Cab drivers and businesses have given many people, not just tourists,
counterfeit currency. Carrying small bills or using exact change, particularly
in taxis, can help protect you. Some merchants will switch a large bill with a
counterfeit bill and return it to you, claiming that you passed them the
counterfeit bill. If you must pay with RMB 100 bills, it may be useful to note
the last few serial numbers before paying in case they get switched. There have
been cases of people receiving counterfeit bills from free-standing ATMs. Use
only ATMs at financial institutions or those recommended by your hotel.
Political protest is not legal or permitted in China
and is rarely encountered by foreigners. Travelers who have attempted to engage
in political protest activities in public places have been deported quickly, in
some cases at their own expense, usually before the U.S. Embassy is aware of the
situation.
Participating in unauthorized political activities or
protests against Chinese policy in China, may result in lengthy detentions and
may impact your eligibility for future visas to visit China. Foreigners engaging
in pro-Falun Gong or pro-Tibetan activities have been detained or immediately
deported from China, usually at their own expense, after being questioned.
Several reported they were subject to interrogations and were physically abused
during detention. In addition, some alleged that personal property, including
clothing, cameras, and computers, was not returned.
U.S. citizens have been detained and expelled for distributing
religious literature. Chinese customs authorities have enforced strict
regulations concerning the importation of religious literature, including
Bibles. If you bring religious literature with you, it should be a "reasonable
amount” for your personal use only. If you attempt to bring larger quantities,
the literature will likely be confiscated and you may be fined, detained, or
deported.
VICTIMS OF CRIME: If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime abroad,
you should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate
(see the Department of State’s list
of embassies and consulates http://www.usembassy.gov/).
We can:
-
Replace a stolen passport.
-
Help you find appropriate medical care if you are the victim of
violent crimes such as assault or rape.
-
Put you in contact with the appropriate police authorities, and
if you want us to, we can contact family members or a friend on
your behalf.
-
Help you understand the local criminal justice process and
direct you to local attorneys, although it is important to
remember that local authorities are responsible for
investigating and prosecuting the crime.
The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in
China is “110”; however, very few English speakers staff this hotline. Please
note that the local police can be reached only by calling “110” from the
location where the crime occurred. Remember that if your passport is stolen, you
must not only apply for a new passport at the U.S. Embassy or consulate but must
also apply for a new visa. To receive the new visa, Chinese visa officials may
require that you file a police report about your stolen passport at the police
station nearest to where the theft occurred. You may also be directed to file a
report at the local Entry/Exit Bureau as well. If someone steals your passport,
save yourself possible inconvenience by filing the police report right away.
Please see our information
on victims of crime
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1748.html,
including possible victim compensation programs in the United States.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in China, you are subject to its laws even
if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly
different than our own. There are also some things that might be legal in the
country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. For example, you can
be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual
conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign
country is a crime prosecutable in
the United States
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1467.html.
If you break local laws in China, your U.S. passport will not help
you avoid arrest or prosecution. It is very important to know what is legal and
what is not wherever you go.
China gives the police the authority to detain and
deport foreigners for a wide variety of reasons, including engaging in
prohibited religious activities and soliciting prostitutes. If you do not have
your passport with you, you may be taken in for questioning. China has strict
laws against driving under the influence of alcohol that can lead to immediate
detention on a criminal charge.
If you are arrested in China, the U.S.-China Consular
Convention requires Chinese authorities to notify the U.S. Embassy or nearest
Consulate General of your arrest within four days. If you hold the citizenship
of another country, including China, and entered China using a passport of that
country, Chinese authorities are not required to notify the U.S. Embassy or a
U.S. consulate of your arrest and they will not permit U.S. consular officers to
visit you. Typically, the police will not allow anyone other than a consular
officer to visit you during your initial detention period, including your family
or even an attorney. Bail is rarely granted in China, and you can be subject to
detention for many months before being granted a trial.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: North Korea: China shares a lengthy border with the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea or DPRK), a country with which the
United States does not maintain diplomatic or consular relations. If you cross
into North Korea, even inadvertently, you will become subject to North Korean
law. For further information about travel to North Korea, consult the North
Korea Country Specific Information webpage:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_988.html
and the Travel Warning
for North Korea:
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_5137.html.
Natural gas: U.S. citizens who rent apartments with gas appliances
should be aware that, in some areas, natural gas is not scented to warn
occupants of gas leaks or concentrations. In addition, heaters may not always be
well vented, allowing excess carbon monoxide to build up in living spaces. Fatal
accidents involving U.S. citizens have occurred. If you plan to live in China,
you should ensure all gas appliances are properly vented or install gas and
carbon monoxide detectors in your residence. These devices are not widely
available in China, and if possible, you should purchase them prior to your
arrival.
Cell phones: In China, most people use cell phones for
calls and SMS messaging. Telephones and SIM cards are widely available, and
minutes can be purchased at many convenience stores. Vendors require
identification from anyone purchasing a SIM card, and the purchaser’s identity
is registered with the government.
Internet access: The Internet is used widely throughout
China. Most hotels, even in remote areas, offer Internet access, often for a
fee. Low-cost cyber cafes or Internet bars are widely available and are often
open 24 hours a day. You may have to show your passport and have your photo
taken before you can log on. Many websites are blocked, including social
networking sites such as Facebook, and you can expect that your Internet
activity may be monitored.
Contracts: Anyone entering into a commercial or
employment contract in China should first have it reviewed by legal counsel,
both in the United States and in China. The U.S.
Foreign Commercial Service
http://export.gov/china/ can
assist you in identifying and vetting business contacts and opportunities. Many
U.S. citizens have reported difficulty getting their contracts enforced by
Chinese courts, and others have reported being forced out of profitable joint
ventures and being unable to secure legal recourse in China. If you are the
subject of a court order requiring you to pay a settlement in a legal case,
failure to make this payment may result in an exit ban which will prohibit your
departure from China until payment is made.
Commercial Disputes: If you become involved in a civil business
dispute in China, the Chinese government may prohibit you from leaving China
until the matter is resolved under Chinese law. There are cases of U.S. citizens
being prevented from leaving China for months and even years while their civil
cases are pending. In some cases, defendants have even been put into police
custody pending resolution of their civil cases. Some local businesspeople who
feel that they have been wronged by a foreign business partner may hire "debt
collectors” to harass and intimidate the foreigner in hopes of collecting the
debt. Foreign managers or company owners have in some cases been physically
detained as leverage during dispute negotiations. The U.S. Embassy and
consulates general have no law enforcement authority in China and cannot
recommend a specific course of action, give legal advice, or lobby the Chinese
government regarding a private citizen’s commercial dispute. The Embassy and
consulates general can provide a list of local attorneys who can be hired to
provide counsel. For information on commercial contracts and disputes and for
general assistance to U.S. exporters, please consult the U.S.
Commercial Service website
http://export.gov/china/ for
China.
English/Secondary School Teachers: English teachers in China
frequently report having contract disputes, which can result in termination,
lost wages, having school authorities confiscate their passports, forced
eviction from university housing, and even threats of violence. It is important
to research the school at which you will be teaching to make sure that you have
the proper visa to legally teach English in China. Do not accept a one-way
airline ticket from a school to teach English in China, as some U.S. citizens
have reported that the school never provided their airfare back home. If you do
have a dispute with your school, you may wish to consult with or hire a local
attorney; seek assistance from the police if your safety is threatened.
Prospective teachers are encouraged to read the Teaching in China Guide
http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/acs_teach.html on
the U.S. Embassy's American Citizen Services website.
Social Insurance: China has recently instituted a
social insurance system to which foreigners who work in China must contribute.
When you sign an employment contract, you must apply for a social insurance
number, and it is important that your employer work with you to comply with the
new regulations. Please check the official website
http://www.lm.gov.cn/SocialSecurity/content/2011-10/09/content_675748.htm
for updated information.
Air Quality in China: Air pollution is a significant
problem in many cities and regions in China. Pollutants such as particle
pollution and ozone are linked to a number of significant health effects, and
those effects are likely to be more severe for sensitive populations, including
people with heart or lung disease, children, and older adults. While the quality
of air can differ greatly between cities or between urban and rural areas, U.S.
citizens living in or traveling to China may wish to consult their doctor when
living in or prior to traveling to areas with significant air pollution.
The Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection
provides its own air quality data for cities throughout China. You can view the
information at
http://english.mep.gov.cn.
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the U.S. Consulates in
Chengdu, Guangzhou, and Shanghai make air quality data available to the U.S.
citizen community. View these data from the following links:
*U.S. Embassy Beijing air quality data:
http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/070109air.html
*U.S. Consulate in Chengdu air quality data:
http://chengdu.usembassy-china.org.cn/air-quality-monitor4.html
*U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou air quality data:
http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/guangzhou-air-quality-monitor.html
*U.S. Consulate in Shanghai air quality data:
http://shanghai.usembassy-china.org.cn/airmonitor.html
Typhoons: The southeast coast of China is subject to
strong typhoons and tropical storms, usually from July through September. For
current information about typhoons and tropical storms, please consult the Joint
Typhoon Warning Center in Honolulu
http://www.usno.navy.mil/JTWC/
and the National Weather Service's
Central Pacific Hurricane Center
http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/cphc/.
Earthquakes: China is a seismically-active country, and
earthquakes occur throughout the country. Notable earthquakes include one in
Qinghai in 2010 in which 3,000 people were killed and a major quake in Sichuan
in 2008 when more than 87,000 people perished. U.S. citizens should make
contingency plans and leave emergency contact information with family members
outside of China. Check here for information about earthquake
preparedness
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/prepare/,
and general information about natural disaster preparedness is available from
the U.S. Federal Emergency Management
Agency
http://www.fema.gov/earthquake.
ACCESSIBILITY: While in China, individuals with
disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what
they find in the United States. Standards adopted for making roads and buildings
accessible to persons with disabilities are subject to the Law on the
Handicapped, which calls for their "gradual" implementation; however, compliance
with the law is lax. Even in newer areas of large cities, sidewalks often do not
have curb cuts, making wheelchair or stroller use difficult. Many large streets
can be crossed only via overhead pedestrian bridges not accessible except by
staircase. Although some sidewalks have special raised “buttons” or strips to
help those who are blind or have restricted sight to follow the pavement, they
are unreliable. While most public buildings have elevators, they are often
locked, and the responsible official with the key must be located before they
can be used.
In major cities, public restrooms in places visited by tourists
usually have a least one handicap-accessible toilet. International signage is
used to identify handicap-accessible facilities. Free or reduced-entry fares on
public transportation is sometimes provided for a handicapped person and a
companion, although this is usually stated only in Chinese and is often
restricted to residents with special identification cards.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: The standards of medical care in China are not equivalent to those
in the United States. If you plan to travel outside of major Chinese cities, you
should consider making special preparations.
Travelers have reported difficulty passing through
customs inspection when arriving with large quantities of prescription
medications. If you regularly take over-the-counter or prescription medication,
bring your own supply in the original container, including each drug's generic
name, and carry the doctor’s prescription with you. Many commonly-used U.S.
drugs and medications are not available in China, and some that bear names that
are the same as or similar to prescription medications from the United States
may not contain the same ingredients or may be counterfeit. If you try to have
medications sent to you from outside China, you may have problems getting them
released by Chinese Customs and/or you may have to pay high customs duties.
Reuse of medical supplies such as syringes and needles
or poor sterilization practices are problems in China, contributing to
transmission of diseases such as hepatitis, which is endemic in China. To avoid
contamination, travelers should always ask doctors and dentists to use
sterilized equipment and be prepared to pay for new syringe needles in hospitals
or clinics.
In emergencies, Chinese ambulances are often slow to
arrive, and most do not have sophisticated medical equipment or trained
responders. In most parts of China, helicopter evacuations are not commercially
available. Many travelers choose to take taxis or other vehicles to the nearest
major hospital rather than wait for ambulances to arrive. Most hospitals demand
cash payment or a deposit in advance for admission, procedures, or emergencies,
although a few hospitals in major cities may accept credit cards.
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and a few other large
cities have medical facilities with some international staff. Many hospitals in
major Chinese cities have so-called VIP wards (gaogan bingfang). Most VIP wards
provide medical services to foreigners and have some English-speaking staff.
However, even in the VIP/foreigner wards of major hospitals, you may have
difficulty due to cultural, language, and regulatory differences. In China, it
is customary for patients’ families to help care for them in the hospital and to
supply their toiletries, paper supplies, and meals. Hospitals often refuse to
perform surgery or administer treatment without the written consent of the
patient’s family, even if they are not in China, and doctors frequently will
only tell the family members the patient’s diagnosis and prognosis, but will not
discuss it with the patient. Physicians and hospitals sometimes refuse to give
U.S. patients copies of their Chinese hospital medical records, including
laboratory test results, scans, and x-rays.
Mental health facilities or medications are not widely
available in China. If you are traveling to or studying abroad in China, before
you go, put a plan in place for managing your mental health.
In most rural areas, only rudimentary medical
facilities are available, often with poorly trained personnel who have little
medical equipment and medications. Rural clinics are often reluctant to accept
responsibility for treating foreigners, even in emergency situations.
If you elect to have surgery or other medical services
performed in China, be aware that there is little legal recourse to protect you
in case of medical malpractice. The U.S. Embassy and consulates general in China
maintain lists of local English-speaking
doctors and hospitals
http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/acs_health.html, which are
published on their respective American Citizens Services web pages.
Most roads and towns in Tibet, Qinghai, parts of
Xinjiang, and western Sichuan are situated at altitudes over 10,000 feet. If you
plan to travel in these areas, you should seek medical advice in advance of
travel, allow time for acclimatization to the high altitude, and remain alert to
signs of altitude sickness. Air pollution is also a significant problem
throughout China, and you should consult your doctor prior to travel and
consider the impact seasonal smog and heavy particulate pollution may have on
you.
You can find detailed information on vaccinations and
other health precautions on the CDC
website
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx.
For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World
Health Organization (WHO) website
http://www.who.int/topics/infectious_diseases/en/.
For the first time in 10 years, an outbreak of polio has been
reported recently in China. Although all cases have so far been in the Xinjiang
Uygur autonomous region, the CDC recommends that travelers to all parts of China
ensure that their polio vaccinations are up to date. Please consult
the CDC’s notice
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/in-the-news/polio-china.htm
about this polio outbreak.
Tuberculosis is also an increasingly serious health concern in
China. For further information, please consult the
CDC's information on TB
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2012/chapter-3-infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/tuberculosis.htm.
HIV is a significant concern in China. An estimated
quarter of a million people in China are living with HIV, most of who are not
aware of their status. The WHO website also contains additional health
information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health
information
http://www.who.int/countries/en/.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: You cannot assume your insurance will go with you when you travel.
It is very important to find out BEFORE you leave whether or not your medical
insurance will cover you overseas. You need to ask your insurance company two
questions:
-
Does my policy apply when I’m out of the United
States?
-
Will it cover emergencies like a trip to a
foreign hospital or a medical evacuation?
In many places, doctors and hospitals expect payment in
cash at the time of service and may not begin treatment without payment or may
discontinue treatment if you become unable to pay. Your regular U.S. health
insurance may not cover doctors’ and hospital visits in other countries. If your
policy does not cover you when you are abroad, it might be a good idea to take
out another one that covers you for the duration of your trip. For more
information, please see our medical insurance overseas page
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1470.html.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in China, you will encounter road conditions that differ
significantly from those in the United States. Rules, regulations, and
conditions vary greatly throughout China, but a general rule of thumb is that
traffic safety is poor and driving in China can be dangerous.
Traffic is chaotic and largely unregulated, and right-of-way and
other courtesies are usually ignored. The average Chinese driver has fewer than
five years’ experience behind the wheel and the rate of traffic accidents in
China, including fatal accidents, is among the highest in the world. Cars,
bicycles, motorbikes, trucks, and buses often treat road signs and signals as
advisory rather than mandatory. Pedestrians never have the right of way, and you
should always be careful while travelling in, or even walking near, traffic.
Child safety seats are not widely available in China, and most taxis and other
cars do not have seat belts in the back seats. Motorcycle and bicycle accidents
are frequent and often serious. If you decide to ride a bike or motorcycle, wear
a helmet.
You may not drive in China using your U.S. driver’s
license or an international license. If you have a resident permit, you can
apply for a PRC driver’s license, although regulations for obtaining a license
vary from province to province. Liability issues and the difficulty of passing
the driver’s test may make it preferable to employ a local driver.
If you are involved in a traffic accident, stay calm;
road altercations sometimes turn violent quickly. The safest course is to call
the police and wait for them. Even minor traffic accidents can become major
public dramas. In some instances bystanders have surrounded accident scenes and
nominated themselves to be an ad hoc jury. The parties involved in an accident
may offer money to the crowd in exchange for favorable consideration. If there
are no injuries and damage is minimal, the parties often come to agreement on
the spot. If no agreement is reached and the police are called, the police may
mediate or conduct an on-site investigation requiring those involved to come to
the police station to sign statements. Unresolved disputes are handled by the
courts. In cases where there are injuries, the driver whose vehicle is
determined to have inflicted the injury will often be held at least partially
liable for the injured person’s medical costs regardless of actual
responsibility for the accident. Many foreigners have been involved in incidents
where the victims appear to have purposely caused accidents and claimed to have
been injured in order to get payment for their supposed damages and medical
care. When foreigners are involved in an accident, the police will sometimes
hold their passports until the other parties are satisfied with the compensation
they receive.
Please refer to our Road
Safety page
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1179.html
for more information. Also, we suggest that you visit China’s national
tourist office
http://www.cnto.org/aboutchina.asp and national authority
responsible for road safety.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the
government of China’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for
oversight of China’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on
the FAA’s safety assessment page
http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/iasa/.
CHILDREN’S ISSUES: Please see our Office of Children’s Issues webpages on intercountry
adoption
http://adoption.state.gov/
and international
parental child abduction
http://travel.state.gov/abduction/abduction_580.html.
* * *
This replaces the Country Specific Information for China dated
April 24, 2012, to update the section on Special Circumstances.
China country-specific information
obtained from:
travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1089.html
18.
Refund policy in the event of student withdrawal as permitted in Section
VII, or program cancellation or termination.
The $250 deposit is non-refundable.
Due to the non-refundable nature of our accommodations arrangements and
host institution’s policies, cancellations received between April 1 and May 1,
2013 will incur a $500 per person penalty.
If cancellation occurs after May 1, there is a 100% penalty.
Penalties may potentially be waived if a qualified substitute is found to
fill the vacancy.
If the program is cancelled under extraordinary
circumstances such as natural disaster, war, political instability or emergency,
a full refund (including the deposit) will be issued to all enrolled students
within twenty days of the cancellation and the program director will, upon
request, use best efforts to arrange for the student to enroll in a similar
program.
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