Clarification on "Return to School" Notice & Vaccine Reminder

As the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics approached, there were talks about Beijing gradually easing access. Meanwhile, some claimed "international students" (who had been studying online) would return to school next semester. To ensure your and your family’s safety, please get vaccinated as soon as possible.

My first reaction to this news was that it might be a rumor—not because a return next semester is impossible, but because official authorities would not release such a notice at that stage.

With more readers asking for verification, I contacted the notice publisher and confirmed that most people had misinterpreted the content: here, "国外留学生 (students studying abroad)" refers to Chinese students currently in China who plan to return to their schools overseas, not international students returning to China.

Prediction on Return Timeline & Preparation Tips

Personally, I believe most students will gradually return to overseas schools after the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. We may receive official notices calling for returns this summer (some students might get priority to return earlier), which would allow enough time for preparation—usually taking several months (1 month for visa applications, 2-4 months for flight tickets, and 1 month for quarantine).

I sympathize with the current situation faced by students, but please be patient. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t want to be among the first to return. Think about it: if everyone rushes back at once, how much would flight tickets cost? Maybe 10 times the usual price? After all, higher demand drives up prices. Besides, what would I do in an empty classroom? It might still be online classes— the only upside is no time difference, but I’d still have to wait for my classmates to return.

Tip: Keep an eye on official embassy/school notices for the latest return policies, and prepare necessary documents (passport, visa, vaccination certificate) in advance.

Take care and good luck!