Important Notice! Chinese Nationals in the U.S. Can Claim Domestic Pensions

  Many Chinese nationals living in the U.S. are concerned about their ability to claim domestic pensions. Recently, the Consulate General of China in San Francisco issued a notice addressing the qualifications and arrangements for pension claims. Below is the original text of the notice from the San Francisco Consulate.

 

 

 

  Chinese retirees and retired personnel living in the U.S. (including Chinese nationals who have obtained a green card or have become U.S. citizens) can apply for free pension qualification certification through the respective consulate based on the consular jurisdiction in the U.S. The specific procedures and precautions are as follows:

 

  1. Online Application via the "Chinese Consul" APP

 

  Our consulate officially launched the "Chinese Consul" APP on May 31, 2021, and simultaneously activated the "Pension Qualification Certification" feature.

 

  Applicants wishing to use the "Chinese Consul" APP for pension qualification certification must register an account using a Chinese mobile phone number or email and complete real-name verification, including online facial recognition and identity verification. After logging into the APP, select the "Pension Qualification" business module, and accurately fill in personal information and application details (including selecting the consulate for application). The APP will push the relevant information to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (hereinafter referred to as "HRSS"), which will then distribute it to local HRSS departments for review, typically within 10 working days. Applicants can check the review results online from the local HRSS department.

 

  Under normal circumstances, applications for pension qualification certification submitted through the APP are directly processed and reviewed by local HRSS departments in China. Once approved, the applicant's qualification certification for that year is completed, and there is no need to apply for a paper certificate of the "Pension Qualification Review Form for Residents Living Abroad" from our consulate, nor is there a need to proactively report the review results in the system to the pension distribution department.

 

  Applicants using the APP for pension qualification certification are generally required to certify once a year. After the first successful application, the APP will save historical application information, and there is no need to re-enter relevant information for subsequent applications. If the APP identity verification fails, online submission fails, or the review results cannot be found, applicants must still use offline channels to mail in the paper certification.

 

  It is understood that before the launch of the Chinese Consul APP, some provinces and cities in China had already implemented remote verification of pension qualification for residents living abroad through government APPs, WeChat mini-programs, and other channels. After the launch of the Chinese Consul APP, other channels previously provided by domestic HRSS departments remain valid, and applicants can choose their application channels based on their actual situation.

 

2. Offline Mail Application

 

  Applicants residing in our consular jurisdiction can submit their applications by mail. Please pay attention to the following matters:

 

  (1) One copy of the "Pension Qualification Review Form for Residents Living Abroad" notarized by a U.S. notary public and signed by the applicant (form download link https://www.mfa.gov.cn/ce/cgsf//chn/qianzhen/gzrz/P020150701222905235039.pdf). This "Review Form" consists of two parts; if filled out in print, the applicant must sign in pen or ballpoint pen, and electronic signatures, photocopies, or printed signatures are not acceptable. If handwritten, please fill it out in Chinese block letters, ensuring clarity without any corrections. The form's number, handler's signature, and reviewer’s signature will be filled out by consulate staff, and the official seal will be stamped by consulate staff; other parts are to be filled out by the applicant.

 

  (2) The applicant's name must match the name on their identification. If the domestic unit requires a Chinese name but the applicant's identification is in English, the pinyin of the Chinese name must exactly match the English name on the identification. Otherwise, proof of the same identity must be provided.

 

  (3) The applicant must sign the "Review Form" in front of a local U.S. notary public, who will witness the authenticity of the applicant's signature. The notary's wording and signature can be written on the upper part of the "Review Form" or on a separate blank page, but not on the lower part of the "Review Form" or under the "sealed section".

 

  (4) If the applicant fills in the date in the lower right corner of the "Review Form", it must match the date of notarization by the notary public; otherwise, the "Review Form" will be returned.

 

  (5) Provide one copy each of the applicant's valid passport and legal residence documents in the U.S. The passport should only have a copy of the personal information page.

 

  (6) Provide a self-addressed envelope with the applicant's name and return address, affixed with sufficient postage (or paid postage). Our consulate staff will use this envelope to return the completed "Review Form".

 

  (7) Mailing address:

 

  Visa Office (Pension Review Form), Chinese Consulate-General in San Francisco

  1450 Laguna Street,

  San Francisco, CA 94115

 

  The recipient's address on the envelope must clearly state "Pension Review Form" in Chinese; otherwise, the package may be returned, and any delays caused will be borne by the applicant.

 

  3. Other Precautions 

 

  (1) The "Review Form" is filled out by the applicant, consisting of two parts; the upper part is retained by the consulate, and the lower part is submitted to the relevant domestic department in China.

  (2) If the applicant authorizes someone in China to handle the pension claim on their behalf, they can apply for consular certification from our consulate.

  (3) The "Pension Qualification Review Form for Residents Living Abroad" issued by the consulate only certifies the applicant's living status; whether the applicant qualifies for domestic pension distribution is determined by the domestic pension distribution department.

 

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