Before you use an agency for a visa, study abroad, or immigration, ask whether it has filed with the immigration authority

From September (9) 15, 2026, an agency that handles visas, study abroad, or immigration has to file with the immigration authority. Drumming up clients with exaggerated claims, and providing or helping to provide false materials, are both expressly forbidden. If you hear "guaranteed to pass," "visa guaranteed," or "we will prepare the materials for you," be careful.

Cost

No money. Ask a further question about whether it has filed, and keep the written papers.

Benefit

In 2018 the entry permit for private entry-exit agencies was cancelled (opening an agency no longer requires an approval document first). After that the number of agencies grew quickly, and there was also the problem that "the true number of agencies is unclear, some agencies handle business in violation of the rules, and the lawful rights and interests of people exiting and entering are harmed." The authorities could not even count how many there were. From September (9) 15, 2026, this kind of agency is managed by filing. An agency shall report to the immigration authority where it is located within 15 days from the day it is established. Those already operating have to complete the filing within 90 days from the day the rule takes effect. Several kinds of conduct are expressly forbidden. The first is "publishing false information, or soliciting clients by exaggerated publicity, misleading publicity, or similar means." The second is "providing or assisting in providing false materials, and assisting others in handling, in violation of the rules, visas, stay or residence documents, passports, or other exit-entry documents or procedures." The third is "leaking, selling, or illegally providing ... personal privacy or personal information." The fourth is "organizing or assisting others in cross-border illegal or criminal activity." Overseas enterprises and institutions must not provide this kind of agency service inside China.

Notes

An agency that keeps "guaranteed to pass," "visa guaranteed," or "we will prepare the materials for you" in its mouth is already doing something that is expressly forbidden. Once it is found out, the person who bears the consequences is the applicant. An unintentional mistake when you fill in the form yourself is generally a refusal this time. That is the author's experience. If false materials are used and it is found to be fraud, the consequences are much heavier. Take the United States as an example. Its immigration law says that a foreigner who applies for a visa by fraud or by a willful misrepresentation of a material fact "shall be inadmissible." Policy advice and information lookup that are not done to make money do not count as agency services.

Sources · 1

1. 国务院 (2026). 关于出境入境管理的规定（国令第 841 号）. gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202607/content_70771…（第七、八、十、十二、十三条）；United States Code, Title 8, §1182(a)(6)(C)(i) Misrepresentation. law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1182（康奈尔大学法律信息研究所转载）