After years of running his own company in Shanghai, our British client wanted greater certainty about his long-term future in China. So he set his sights on Chinese permanent residence — the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card, better known as the Five-Star Card.
It turned out to be a closer call than anyone expected. Here is how his case unfolded, and what it shows about applying for permanent residence in China.
Client Background
When we first assessed his case, his income met the salary requirement being applied to his employment-based permanent residence route. On paper, he looked eligible.
But before the application was submitted, a change in the income threshold put his eligibility in doubt.
The Challenge
The assessment benchmark changed during the preparation period. Under the higher threshold being applied to his case, the client fell short by tens of thousands of yuan.
When the applicable benchmark was subsequently adjusted again, the case needed a fresh review. The key question was which documented 12-month income period could support an eligible application.
How We Helped
Our team followed the changes affecting the application and reassessed the client's position when a new opportunity emerged.
We reviewed his actual income records against the applicable assessment period. By identifying an appropriate 12-month period supported by his existing records, we established a viable submission window.
This involved reviewing documented income and application timing. We then organised the supporting materials and followed the case through submission, review and final issuance.
The Result
The client successfully received his Chinese permanent residence identity card, also known as the Five-Star Card, after a nine-month process.
A case that had appeared to fall short became eligible through a careful reassessment of the income evidence and submission window.
What This Case Shows
When an eligibility benchmark changes, an earlier assessment may no longer tell the full story. Reviewing the relevant income period and supporting records can be just as important as checking the headline annual salary figure.
China's employment-based permanent residence route sets its salary bar as a multiple of the local average wage, so the threshold moves as average wages are updated each year. If your income sits close to the line, the timing of your application — and which 12-month period your records support — can make all the difference.
Preparing for Chinese permanent residence? Contact Alice for an assessment of your circumstances, income records and application timing.
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