Recently, the 2024 Annual Big Data Report on Public Opinion from the Foshan 12345 Government Service Hotline was released. The report shows that in the past year, the total number of services handled by the Foshan 12345 hotline reached a record high of 15.65 million, marking a 21.64% increase compared to the previous year. Among these, 49 calls were from foreigners.
Calls are being made to the Foshan 12345 hotline. (Photo: Foshan 12345 Hotline)
"Most of these English-language calls are inquiries about visas and documentation," said a representative of the Foshan 12345 hotline. In detail, 21 calls were related to visa and document issues, making up 42.86% of the total. The remaining calls involved progress inquiries, service quality concerns, and business processing issues. All these cases were successfully handled and archived.
Alex and her husband, from Armenia, have been working in Dali, Nanhai District, Foshan for over four years. They have registered for temporary residence in Dali and hold work-based residence permits.
In March last year, Alex gave birth to a child in Foshan and received a birth certificate from a local hospital. However, their child would only be able to apply for a passport in October 2024. Unsure of what documents were required for their newborn to legally stay in Dali until then, Alex called the Foshan 12345 hotline for help.
After knowing the situation, the hotline operator immediately forwarded the case to the relevant department, which provided a valid response. A few days later, Alex was able to retrieve the official reply via the self-service section of the Foshan 12345 hotline's WeChat Subscription Account, and she was satisfied with the answer.
"Can I convert my T-type visa (short-term stay visa) into a work visa while it is still valid?" "What documents do I need to process in order to resolve my issue?" In fact, there are many cases like these, where foreigners reach out to the Foshan 12345 hotline for inquiries and assistance.
As early as seven to eight years ago, the hotline began receiving calls from foreigners, and this number has been steadily increasing each year. To better serve international residents and businesses, the hotline established a dedicated English service in January 2019, with specialized operators and personnel managing foreign-related cases. This service assists foreign companies and expatriates in Foshan with issues related to investment, business, employment, study, tourism, and daily life, ensuring they feel the warmth of Foshan's hospitality.
Moving forward, the Foshan 12345 hotline aims to expand its service scope, enhance service efficiency, and provide more convenient and effective support.
(cnbayarea.org.cn & GDToday)
