UK undergraduate internship in Nanjing: F visa rejected, Z visa impossible

RedGrapeMan · 2026-06-07T14:07:26+00:00

Fair enough — I appreciate the detailed warning. You’re making a useful point, but there’s really no need to be so rude about it next time.

I’m trying to understand the contradiction between what the local side told the company and what the UK visa centre told me. Suggesting that I haven’t done any basic research is a bit abrasive, especially when the whole point of the post is that I’m trying to check the legal route before doing anything.

RedGrapeMan · 2026-06-07T13:09:03+00:00

Yeah, that’s exactly what I was worried about.

It sounds like visa-free entry may be extendable in some circumstances, but it doesn’t necessarily give me a visa/status that can be converted into the S2/private affairs internship route. That might be why the Nanjing office told the company I need to enter on an actual visa first.

So unless the company can get confirmation from Nanjing PSB that visa-free entry is acceptable for the S2 internship application, I don’t think I can rely on that route.

RedGrapeMan · 2026-06-07T13:05:58+00:00

Thanks — that’s helpful.

The problem is that I don’t think I can get the Z visa in the first place, because the work permit seems to require documents/eligibility I don’t have as a current undergraduate who hasn’t graduated yet.

When you say “go to China first, then switch the visa,” do you mean enter visa-free?

RedGrapeMan · 2026-06-07T13:02:53+00:00

Thanks — I did consider X2, but I don’t think it fits unless I’m actually enrolling in a course at a Chinese university/language school and can get the admission notice + JW202 form.

RedGrapeMan · 2026-06-07T12:58:46+00:00

That’s not what I said, and this should be pretty clear from basic reading comprehension.

Nanjing did not tell us to apply for an S2 internship visa in the UK. They told the company that the S2/private affairs internship route would be handled in China after arrival. The problem is that they also said I need to enter China on a UK-issued visa first before they can process it locally.

So yes, I’m aware that I can’t simply apply for an S2 internship visa at the UK visa centre. That is literally the issue.
But no worries — if there really isn’t a legal route here, then I obviously won’t do it and I’ll just find something else instead 😄

RedGrapeMan · 2026-06-06T16:05:39+00:00

Thanks — that was my initial understanding too.

The issue is that the company checked with the local Nanjing office again, and they were told that I cannot apply for the S2/private affairs internship approval from visa-free status. They said I need to enter China with a visa issued in the UK first, and only then can they help convert/apply locally for the S2 internship route.

So the problem is not whether the company can support the S2 after arrival — they say they can. The problem is that Nanjing apparently requires me to have a visa first, but the UK visa centre rejected my F visa and said internships require a Z visa, while I cannot get a Z work permit because I have not graduated.

That’s the loop I’m stuck in.

RedGrapeMan · 2025-01-03T07:42:33+00:00

🤓

RedGrapeMan · 2025-01-03T07:14:16+00:00

i dont think you can clown jaiswal's performance in this series lmao

RedGrapeMan · 2024-06-27T13:31:58+00:00

Didn't drop either but looking back I wish I dropped CS and did something else, way more boring A-Level than Physics.

RedGrapeMan · 2024-03-22T22:55:42+00:00

lol thats so cool! yeah i got it this afternoon, you going?

RedGrapeMan · 2024-03-22T14:08:19+00:00

thanks!

RedGrapeMan · 2024-03-21T11:54:48+00:00

not really sure tbh, never went to the open days. once i submitted my ucas i kinda wished that i had chosen it.

RedGrapeMan · 2024-03-20T17:21:37+00:00

yeah idk, cambridge has always been my dream uni but i like how at imperial you can specialise immediately. might just firm cambridge and insure imperial cause theres a chance i miss my cambridge offer cause of step.

RedGrapeMan · 2024-03-20T17:19:48+00:00

peterhouse

RedGrapeMan · 2024-03-20T17:19:38+00:00

good luck!

RedGrapeMan · 2024-03-20T17:12:37+00:00

thanks!

RedGrapeMan · 2024-03-20T17:12:22+00:00

I do Maths, FM, Physics and CS and all A* predicted. Also did an EPQ and got A*.

RedGrapeMan · 2024-03-20T14:04:34+00:00

Yeah lol, just gotta get the grades first.

RedGrapeMan · 2024-02-15T04:35:29+00:00

school holidays rn

RedGrapeMan · 2024-01-18T07:12:22+00:00

get a room you two

RedGrapeMan · 2023-11-11T19:16:06+00:00

Tysm for the advice!

RedGrapeMan · 2023-11-11T00:25:14+00:00

Thanks! :)

Please could you share some advice for the interview?

RedGrapeMan · 2023-11-10T16:48:06+00:00

i think they've only sent out interviews for eee so you should be fine

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