Measures cut back bureaucracy, streamlining work permit process

Officials of Tianjin Binhai New Area believe they have created a winning formula with the successful setting up of a comprehensive service window in the entry-exit hall of its public security bureau for top professionals from abroad, officials said.

They said the new window, which began operating this month, had made things much more streamlined and far more convenient for foreigners in the Binhai area to get their work permits.

The initiative allows them to apply for their work permit, residence permit and permanent residence at one time at one service window, cutting out many bureaucratic procedures previously in place.

The new area aims to promote administrative reform in an innovative way and attract more leading international professionals through the implementation of the service window.

UK citizen Desmond O' Shea has been working as an art teacher at the Tianjin Economic Technological International School for 17 years.

He was the first foreigner to receive a work and residence permit through the new service window.

O'Shea said his work permit and residence permit was about to expire and he submitted the application for their renewal to the Tianjin foreign affairs bureau online. His application was accepted and approved by the bureau within five days.

On June 1, he went to the Binhai New Area public security bureau entry-exit hall to submit the documents, and received his new work and residence permit within minutes.

The processing - including document examination, formal approval and making the permits - took less than 30 minutes.

"The service window is much more convenient for me and other foreigners. The procedures are much easier and faster than previously," O' Shea said.

According to employees of the Binhai entry administration department, once the complete materials are handed over, work and residence permits can be processed within minutes.

A staff member at Tianjin Maple Leaf International School, in charge of handling 80 foreign teachers' work and residence permits, said that previously, she needed to submit application materials at the office hall and after more than 15 days, she had to go to another office hall to fetch the permits.

As foreign teachers' work and residence permits need to be renewed every year, in the past, she spent lots of time running to different windows in governmental departments. The new comprehensive service window is a relief, she added.

In addition, previous procedures required the applicants' passports to be lodged with the public security department for many days, which sometimes brought inconvenience to their lives and travels.

"They needn't worry about the problem anymore. I believe more foreigners would like to work in the new area in the future," said a human resources staff member of Tianjin Senmu Precision Machinery Co.

On the day it opened, 25 foreign experts received their work permits and residence permits at the new window.

An estimated 13,000 foreigners apply for work and residence permits every year in Tianjin and the Binhai New Area accounts for nearly 50 percent of the total.

Li Jian, deputy director of foreign affairs office at the Tianjin foreign expert affairs bureau, said, "Tianjin will continue to introduce preferential policies and convenient services for foreigners."

"We hope to attract more financial and scientific research professionals from abroad to take part in the construction and development of the Binhai New Area."  

UK citizen Desmond O' Shea receives a work and residence permit through the new service window in Tianjin Binhai New Area. He Peilin / For China Daily