Expats get wide range of services at new Pudong center_美文

Expats get wide range of services at new Pudong center

A service center catering to foreign residents has officially opened in Shanghai's Pudong New Area following a two-month trial period.

The Foreign Affairs Service Station, set up by Pudong district police and Lianyang community at No 3 Building, on Yaogao Middle Road, provides temporary residence permits and guidance on daily life and work. Eight staff workers offer assistance in English, Japanese and Korean.

"The station is equipped with personal data systems, so expats can complete temporary residence registration here in a short time, rather than having to go to the local police department and wait a long time," said Sun Qianyi, a Pudong district police officer.

The station also offers assistance to expats on more day-to-day aspects of life.

"Many expats come to ask how to send their children to school, how to seek medical service and how to apply for a Chinese driving license. So we tell them how to do it," said Chen Lingyan, a staff member at the center.

Chen said about 700 expats in the community had received help from the service during its trial run.

As one of the city's largest international communities, Lianyang has more than 5,300 expats from 78 countries, accounting for 10 percent of all residents.

"As more foreigners come to Shanghai to live and work in the city, they may find things strange and feel lost at first. So we hope we can provide some necessary assistance to them," Chen said. "We have received a lot of positive feedback."