CW: We hear that there are changes in the current rules surrounding F visas. What have you've heard? To be frank, the Shanghai visa policy for F visas is still the same as before, due to preparation for the 2010 Expo, so there aren't any written changes to the rules since the Olympic period. We can only say that now there's a chance to get short and long-term F visas.

CW: What do you think happened that they're allowing more F visas? China still needs foreign investment to come in, right?

CW: True. So how do you hear about changes to visa standards like this? Sometimes by practice and sometimes through connections. But as I mentioned before, the rules are still the same. It's just that now there are more ways to obtain a visa than during the Olympics.

CW: Ever get tired of trying to keep up with all these changes? Sometimes, but we keep updating our website to make sure people stay informed.

CW: What do the changes in current visa rules mean for expats in Shanghai? It's hard to tell because the rules change quickly depending on government regulations.

CW: So any good suggestions? If you're working in Shanghai, try to get the residence working permit even if the application is more complicated than for a F visa. F visas are fine, but if you plan to stay longer, try to set-up your own business–it's not very expensive, check out www. PathToChina.com. Then, apply for a residence permit.

CW: Why? Because residence permits are not usually affected by changes to visa rules.

CW: Can you give CW readers some tips on ways to make their visa process easier? Oh yes, there are so many tips and tricks. For example, once you have your visa and work permit and want to apply for a 12-month residence permit, you can expect to pay RMB800. But, an 11.8 month residence permit only costs RMB400.

CW: Good to know!

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