When hiring an agency for visas, study abroad, or immigration, first check whether it is registered with immigration authorities
Original: eternity4719 · source details
Original author: eternity4719 · Chinese source: · English adaptation: parveen0029. Translation and grade notes ↗
Bibliographic titles are retained in their original language.
Source author's views and grades; not individually verified by this site.
Cost and benefit at a glance
- Check the cost Cost ↓
- There is no cost. Simply ask whether the agency is registered, and keep any written documentation on hand.
- Then the source benefit Benefit ↓
- In 2018, China abolished the licensing requirement for private immigration agencies, meaning no prior approval is needed to open such agencies. Since then, their numbers have risen…
In plain terms
Starting September 15, 2026, agencies handling visa applications, study abroad programs, or immigration must register with immigration authorities. Promises such as “guaranteed approval,” “100% success rate,” or “we’ll prepare all your documents” are explicitly prohibited. If you make errors while filling out forms yourself, you may simply receive a visa denial this time. However, if you submit false documents and are found guilty of fraud, this will leave a permanent mark on your immigration record.
This guide's cartoon · show illustration
Enlarge illustrationOriginal illustration with Chinese lettering; the English dialogue is below. Humour is a reading aid, not evidence.
English dialogue
- I've packed everything!
- Even the emergency contacts?
Cost: what it takes
There is no cost. Simply ask whether the agency is registered, and keep any written documentation on hand.
Benefit: what the source reports
In 2018, China abolished the licensing requirement for private immigration agencies, meaning no prior approval is needed to open such agencies. Since then, their numbers have risen sharply, but many operate without proper oversight, violating laws and harming applicants’ rights; authorities even struggle to track how many exist. Effective September 15, 2026, these agencies must register with local immigration authorities within 15 days of establishment, with existing agencies required to comply within 90 days. Prohibited activities include: (1) publishing false information or using exaggerated or misleading claims to attract clients; (2) providing or helping clients submit false documents for visas, residence permits, passports, or other immigration paperwork; (3) leaking, selling, or illegally sharing personal data; and (4) organizing or aiding cross-border illegal activities. Foreign firms and organizations are also barred from offering such services within China.
Conditions, limits and disagreements
Agencies that openly advertise “guaranteed approval,” “100% success rate,” or “we’ll handle all paperwork” are already breaking the law. Should they be investigated, this will directly affect your immigration history. Errors made while applying on your own may result in a single visa denial, but submitting false documents carries far graver consequences. Providing policy guidance or basic information without charging fees does not count as immigration agency services.
Original references
Original bibliographic titles and links are preserved; some titles are in Chinese.
国务院 (2026). 关于出境入境管理的规定（国令第 841 号）. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202607/content_7077173.htm（第七、八、十、十二、十三条）；United States Code, Title 8, §1182(a)(6)(C)(i) Misrepresentation. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1182（康奈尔大学法律信息研究所转载）
Medical, legal, financial and policy conditions vary by person, place and time. Policy material primarily concerns mainland China; check the cited document and current local requirements.