In the event of death due to disaster, accidental car accident or other factors, the Chinese embassy or consulate will handle relevant procedures for the deceased;

If it is an ordinary death, the family can request to take the body or ashes back to the country.

The procedures for repatriating the body to the country are very cumbersome and expensive. Because it is an emergency, you can apply for an expedited visa. In most countries, expedited visas can be processed locally:

1. Autopsy and Funeral

(1) Autopsy

< p>It is the responsibility of the medical examiner to conduct autopsies in cases of sudden death, violent death, abnormal death, etc. (For detailed autopsy regulations in California, please click here). If you refuse an autopsy due to religious beliefs or other reasons, you should file a request as early as possible. If the medical examiner determines that an autopsy is not necessary but relatives request it, they can apply for a private autopsy on their own;

(2) Funeral

After receiving the death report, relatives should contact the funeral director designated by the medical examiner as soon as possible The company may contact other funeral companies to receive the remains and decide how to handle the remains as early as possible. After the inspection is completed, the body will be transported to the funeral company;

(3) Processing

The optional body processing methods include: burial, cremation, sea burial, tree burial, etc. Fees vary greatly depending on the region, company, and processing method. Generally speaking, local cremation is the most economical and convenient way. It is recommended to consult with the funeral company and make your own decision.

2. Transportation of ashes

Relatives can choose to carry the ashes themselves or transport the ashes through airlines or express companies. For specific matters, please contact the relevant company:

(1) Exit

If you bring it back to the country by yourself, security personnel can only confirm it through X-ray machine security inspection. Therefore, the urn must be made of lead-free material that can penetrate X-rays. According to relevant regulations on inspection and quarantine in China, it is recommended to store ashes in urns or special bags made of plastic, marble and other materials. Do not use wooden or metal urns to avoid affecting entry inspection;

(2) Entry

When relatives or entrusted carriers bring ashes into the country, they must declare to the customs and provide a death certificate and cremation certificate issued by the local health and quarantine department;

3. Transportation of remains< /p>

Transporting remains across countries is expensive and cumbersome. Remains are usually transported by relatives or the funeral companies entrusted by them. They contact the airlines themselves to learn about relevant services and specific requirements and make decisions:

(1) Outbound

Transnational transportation of remains must meet two requirements: In accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of the country, it is usually necessary to submit a death certificate, pack the coffin as required, transport it to the airport in advance, and go through departure customs clearance procedures;

(2) Entry

Transnational transport of remains into mainland China The "Regulations on the Management of Transportation of Corpses" must be followed. The body needs to be embalmed and placed in a sealed coffin covered with zinc. Matters related to the transportation of remains from abroad and funeral arrangements will be handled by the International Corpse Transportation Network Service Center of the China Funeral Association. Relatives of the deceased or the carrier need to contact the organization;

If you want to transport the body back to Hong Kong, please go to the Hong Kong SAR Government One-Stop website or the SAR Government Food and Environment Department website for detailed requirements.

IV. Death Certificate

(1) To handle matters related to the deceased in China, such as insurance claims, bank account cancellation, inheritance, etc., a death certificate is usually required. You can apply for multiple death certificates as needed;

(2) The death certificate is a document issued by a U.S. government agency. Before being sent to mainland China for use, relatives or entrusted funeral companies should submit it to the U.S. Department of State or the entrusted funeral company. The corresponding Secretary of State's office shall process the document for legalization and then send it to the corresponding embassy or consulate according to the consular district for consular legalization;

(3) Documents sent to the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions of China do not need to undergo consular legalization. The relevant documents can be used directly after they have been notarized by a local agency in the United States and an additional certificate (Apostille) has been obtained from the U.S. Department of State or the corresponding Secretary of State’s office.

V. Other matters

(1) According to regulations, immediate relatives such as the deceased’s spouse, children, parents, etc. have the right to handle the aftermath in accordance with the legal order of inheritance. At the request of relatives, the Consulate General can assist in processing visas. Whether to issue a visa is decided by the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in China;

(2) If relatives cannot come to the U.S. to handle funeral arrangements, they can entrust local relatives, friends or a funeral company in writing to handle matters such as cremation, ashes or remains transportation. . If required by the trustee or funeral company, the power of attorney may need to be notarized by a domestic notary public and double authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its authorized local foreign affairs office and the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in China;

(3) Consulate Officials will provide necessary consular assistance to the parties concerned in accordance with regulations. If you have any questions about the cause of death, you can raise them with the local judicial department in person, in writing, or by hiring a lawyer if necessary. Consular officials can assist in transferring written opinions, but they cannot investigate the cause of death;

(4) If the death involves If a criminal offense has been filed locally, a lawyer should be retained to closely follow up on the court hearing. If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of the trial or the verdict, you can ask a lawyer to appeal on your behalf. When permitted by local law, consular officials may attend court hearings at the request of relatives and convey their opinions, but they cannot appear in court on behalf of relatives; (5) Relevant decisions regarding the funeral arrangements of the deceased should be made by relatives out and take responsibility for it at your own risk.

If relatives of the deceased go to the United States to handle funeral arrangements, they should bear all related expenses, which usually include but are not limited to the following: visas for relatives to the United States, international travel expenses, food and accommodation, transportation expenses, translation fees (if chosen), and attorney fees (if chosen); Funeral expenses of the deceased, transportation of ashes or remains, death certificate and other certification fees, etc.;

(6) Due to different foreign laws and regulations, not handling the remains for a long time will not help solve the problem, and the relevant local departments may also The law stipulates that you must dispose of the remains yourself (such as burial or cremation) within a certain period of time.

Reference materials

Sina Education: /a/2017-11-20/doc-ifynwxum6480813.shtml