Chinese Visa changes

[Mal]

A few days ago, some changes were made to the process to get a Chinese Visa and what types of Visas are available.

From what I can identify, the changes seem to be:

You can no longer get a "multiple entry" type of visa - only a 1 visit (3 month validity) or 2 visits (6 months validity) visa.
You need to provide more paperwork (copy of hotel reservation and airline ticket) for tourism visas, and for a Business visa you need the same as above plus get your sponsor in China to get a letter from a Government office.

Consular & Visa

 

[NM]

All the more reason to have an APEC Business Travel Card when visiting China.

 

[Travel Guru]

You're spot on MAL, they are only processing single entry and business visa's, though from the paperwork I can't tell if its a temporary measure given the higher than normal levels of applications due to the games, or a permanant policy change.

Will let you know if I hear of anything, but as NM says, god bless the APEC Card.

TG

 

[Mwenenzi]

From the corporate TA at work a few days ago

Effective Immediately the Chinese Consualte Melbourne has advised that until further notice, they will ONLY issue SINGLE ENTRY TOURIST & BUSINESS VISAS.Please DO NOT submit Visa applications for Double or Multi Entry Visas, as the Consulate will under NO circumstances issue Double or Multi Entry Visas.The same applies to NSW Residents lodging at the Chinese Consulate in Sydney. If you have clients residing in any other state, please contact Travcour prior to lodging Visas. Travcour has not yet received notification as to whether the other Consulates and the Embassy are also only issuing Single Entry Visas.Travcour will provide further updates as soon as notification from other states is received.

China Visa Update : ALL PASSPORT HOLDERS. Immediate effect until further notice. A round trip air ticket and hotel confirmations are required for all application. This condition is subject to change without prior notice.

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Hong Kong Visa Update: Applicant without HKID. No application will be accepted in Hong Kong for the following passport holders, they will need to apply from their origin countries: Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, South Africa, Malaysia & Pakistan. This condition is subject to change without prior notice.

[/FONT]

 

[simongr]

Just bumping this - I was caught out today. I had a letter from the sponsoring company btu was turned away as I had no flights confirmed. I was also told that the invitation letter was no use as I needed a invitation from the Chinese Government that the sponsoring company would have to arrange and send to me...

Another 3 months before I can apply for my APEC card...

 

[mainly tailfirst]

Just bumping this - I was caught out today. I had a letter from the sponsoring company btu was turned away as I had no flights confirmed. I was also told that the invitation letter was no use as I needed a invitation from the Chinese Government that the sponsoring company would have to arrange and send to me...

Another 3 months before I can apply for my APEC card...

Yep just going through the application myself. Our local office has to have all of our details to apply for a letter of invitation from the Local Government that I then need to apply for a visa from the local consulate here. Not only that, but since I am not applying from Aust, they also need proof of my US work authorisation! All this for a single entry 3 month visa!

I'm told that China will calm down after the olympics, but I'm yet to be convinced.

mt

 

[simongr]

My main concern at the moment is that I only have 5 completely blank pages in my passport and I can guarantee the US will stamp a blank page - starting to get tight for the visa - especially if I have to go three-four times in the next 9 months..

 

[NM]

My main concern at the moment is that I only have 5 completely blank pages in my passport and I can guarantee the US will stamp a blank page - starting to get tight for the visa - especially if I have to go three-four times in the next 9 months..

You can politely request they do not stamp on a blank page. Most immigration officers fully understand the need to retain some blank pages for visas. In my experience, the US stamps are rarely even stamped on a blank spot on a page, let alone a completely blank page. I have some where less than half the stamp was actually on the page!

 

[simongr]

I have a couple of US incidences of the stamp being in the middle of a two page sread at the top of the page - enusring for stamp I lost two clear pages.

I will remember the advice and also drop off my Oz citizenship application soon...

 

[zan5hin]

Can someone help me? I've never applied for a Visa before.

I'm doing a RTW trip starting in Sth Africa in November where I will be picking up my 20 segment paper ticket. I will not be landing in China until March 2009.

How can I get a Chinese Visa without a) having a paper ticket, only a printout of my itinerary and a Record Locator and b) how can I get a valid visa if apply in August-September but won't get there until March-April?

I'm stressing out about this as it's the most stringent visa requirements on my whole rtw trip.

 

[Evan]

Dont stress !
you can get the visa in advance but maybe better to wait until after the games if you can as i suspect it will relax more.
Visa's have a start date and a duration, ie not from the date you apply, from the date you request to visit.

A copy of the flight details is all thats usually required. I have only ever given the print out from my travel agent before.

Did the AA agent issue the ticket ? they sent me an email with all my flight details including booking reference, i think they called it a virtual booking coupon, i think they can also do the same for paper tickets. This should be enough for your China visa.

E

 

[NM]

If you qualify for an APEC Business Traveller Card, then you can save all the Visa hassles for a load of counties.

 

[dajop]

A copy of the flight details is all thats usually required. I have only ever given the print out from my travel agent before.

Yes this is true, that's all I ever give for visa's. I usually don't even have the ticket issued before getting a visa. Also under the current rules a hotel confirmation will be required - but that's not too hard to get.

Related to this, spare a thought for others ... was reading article this morning in the Straits Times that now Singaporeans (who never used to require visas) require them as well. Seems that people who travel to China multiple times are a year are turning up at the airport completely unaware of the changes, and of course denied boarding.

 

[Evan]

dajop,
Do you also live in Singapore ? i usually don't bother reading the paper, its pretty bad paper. But yes its a big stress for Singaporians.
Actually Chinese visa's are causing my company a lot of pain !
E

 

[Mal]

I've also heard elsewhere that Visas on Arrival at Shenzhen are also affected by these visa changes - ie, they're not currently being issued.

If you qualify for an APEC Business Traveller Card, then you can save all the Visa hassles for a load of counties.

The APEC Business Traveller Card lets you obtain "multiple short-term business visitor entry" to certain countries. While some countries may let you visit as a tourist using the card, there could also be countries that object to the use of the card to obtain tourist entry.

If it works, it works. However, I see potential there for denial of entry for technical reasons if not intended to visit for business purposes.

 

[dot]

The APEC Business Traveller Card lets you obtain "multiple short-term business visitor entry" to certain countries. While some countries may let you visit as a tourist using the card, there could also be countries that object to the use of the card to obtain tourist entry.

Additionally, China are not currently processing APEC BT requests. Therefore applying for a APEC BT card now would not alleviate the issue right now. This restriction is expected to be lifted after the Olympics (but not sure how long after).

 

[dajop]

dajop,
Do you also live in Singapore ?

Not yet - that's coming, Oct/Nov-ish. But with a new role I'm spending about 2 wks in and around Singapore (SE Asia) and 2 wks at home each month.

As for the Straits Times .... agreed not the best paper .. but it's the one that gets delivered to my room .. do prefer it to US Today or IHT, but that's not saying much.

 

[Evan]

Not yet - that's coming, Oct/Nov-ish. But with a new role I'm spending about 2 wks in and around Singapore (SE Asia) and 2 wks at home each month.

Sounds a bit like my role.... i live in Melbourne... well just.... based in Singapore but before end of Sept my planned work trips include... Vietnam, China, Tiapei, Hong Kong, Japan, Germany.

E

 

[chevalier]

Just a quick query. Planning a business trip to Shenzhen for the 1st week of September & it's my first time to mainland China. Will there be an issue with visas as it'll be after the Olympics and when I should apply for it? Would appreciate any feedback.

 

[ajnz]

Additionally, China are not currently processing APEC BT requests. Therefore applying for a APEC BT card now would not alleviate the issue right now. This restriction is expected to be lifted after the Olympics (but not sure how long after).

Tell me about it. I applied for my NZ APEC card in October 07. It took NZ about 4 months to start doing anything with it; and the only approval I'm waiting for now is... China.

Guess which is the only country that I actually NEED the card for.

Mal- I had wondered what would happen if using the card for Tourist entry... wonder if anyone has had any direct experience?