China tourist visa

Emlyn_Dewar

Emlyn_Dewar

Emlyn_Dewar

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Joined
15 Oct 2003
Posts
16,278
Location
Chengdu
Hi all,

I'm looking to something mild spontaneous and go to China (Change) next month for a couple weeks.
I'm a little confused on the best way to apply for the visa. There seems to be a lot of sites offering services, but I'm a little paranoid sending my passport anywhere...

Does anyone have experience applying for this? Or with specific companies who assist?
There's plenty of "reviews" online, but they are essentially worthless these days!

It'd only be a single entry tourist visa, although I believe you can get a 2 year multi visit one now, a la US ESTA?

Cheers
:)
 
Part of my job is helping people get this visa.

Go to visaforchina.org and apply direct. Do it by post it is much less hassle. Post to the Manchester or Edinburgh offices for faster turnaround than the London office.

Yeah they just issue the two year multi entry by default to Brits these days.

You'll need proof of flights and hotels for all nights of your first trip. Or a support letter from a tour agency.
 
MickeyFinns said:
You'll need proof of flights and hotels for all nights of your first trip. Or a support letter from a tour agency.
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I read this when I was applying for a visa, though I did it in Vietnam and used the embassy there. However, I just got hotel names from Tripadvisor/Agoda/Booking.com and put in rough dates as we didn't have an itinerary. Don't think you need firm bookings.
 
Ahleckz said:
I read this when I was applying for a visa, though I did it in Vietnam and used the embassy there. However, I just got hotel names from Tripadvisor/Agoda/Booking.com and put in rough dates as we didn't have an itinerary. Don't think you need firm bookings.
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It's much stricter when applying in the UK. I've even had problems when there's two clients who are husband and wife but the hotel reservation is only in one of their names.

Another big problem is that the flight receipts actually need to prove your whole trip to and from the UK. For example flights from Moscow to Beijing and then Beijing to London will not be enough, you must prove the trip to Moscow as well. It's insane!
 
Very useful info, thanks for your input.
How long does it take on average? I'm happy to pay more for quicker turnaround.

I'll probably book flights tonight/tomorrow, and will just organise an airbnb for the whole time. Might venture a bit farther when I'm there, but aiming to stay in/around the city.
 
It took me 5 working days although you can get it quicker. I just took all the paperwork to the visa office and picked it up the following week. All very straight forward if a bit long winded as has already been said, you have to list where you are staying and when. I went with Exodus travel so they gave me a letter with all the details which made it easier.
 
Emlyn_Dewar said:
Very useful info, thanks for your input.
How long does it take on average? I'm happy to pay more for quicker turnaround.

I'll probably book flights tonight/tomorrow, and will just organise an airbnb for the whole time. Might venture a bit farther when I'm there, but aiming to stay in/around the city.
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5 days for the processing. 3 days express service. If you apply by post add a day or so each way for shipping and their handling.

AirBnB can also sometimes cause an issue as it really needs to be hotels licensed to host foreigners.

What I normally advise people, if you've got a credit card that can handle it, is book a refundable hotel in Beijing for your whole stay on hotels.com. Once you've got the visa, cancel the hotel, then do whatever you like :).
 
Emlyn_Dewar said:
I'll probably book flights tonight/tomorrow, and will just organise an airbnb for the whole time. Might venture a bit farther when I'm there, but aiming to stay in/around the city.
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As pointed out above, beware of the AirBNB bit - if you stay in a hotel, they'll deal with it for you, if not, you're technically meant to go register with the police within 24 (? 72?) hours of being there. I rented a flat there, so went to deal with the police bit and all was fine, but I'm not sure what happens if you don't. I did once get taken to an interview room to be questioned about my whereabouts when I tried to leave Vietnam, with a guy with a rifle standing in the corner, but it's probably not like that. Maybe :p

The booking a hotel then cancelling it advice seems sound, though I haven't actually had to deal with a tourist visa for China for about 10 years now, my last one was a student one, and even that was 8 years back. Transit visa the last few times.

Re: the comment about particulars of your details, when I went through Shanghai last month, I was questioned as to why my itinerary had two people on and I was there alone. My wife, being Taiwanese, goes through the special "we're all the same country really" channel, so wasn't with me, but they were cool with it. Actually, as bitter as I can be about China as a place, especially relating to officialdom, the immigration staff have always been nice to me. Obviously, however, when it comes to actually applying for a visa, you're in the hands of the embassy staff, which can be a real pain.
 
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Thanks for that!
I'll see, in all honesty I could probably just stay in a hotel. Airbnb was only for money saving, but I've never used the service before.
At least in a hotel, you usually know what you are getting!
 
Emlyn_Dewar said:
Thanks for that!
I'll see, in all honesty I could probably just stay in a hotel. Airbnb was only for money saving, but I've never used the service before.
At least in a hotel, you usually know what you are getting!
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If you need hotel recommendations in Beijing then give me a shout!

Sha Tan is really good value.

Howard Johnson Paragon is good if you want to be near the station.

Leo Hostel is great if on a budget.
 
This is easy


Call up Emirates, BA or whoever you want and make a reservation for a flight, if they ask you to pay just say you will call tomorrow with payment as you need to confirm some details. They will give you a booking reference which you can use on their website to print your itinerary.

Then go onto booking.com and book a hotel with a free cancellation policy.

Neither of these things should tie up any money. I've done this a few times and no one ever checks it properly, they only need to tick a box.

Oh and yes do the visa direct don't bother with an agency.
 
Well, booked a flight and hotel (decent deal on Expedia for an extremely central location).
Might look in to changing the booking at staying elsewhere, still around Chengdu during the trip, but most likely wont!

Better get the visa sorted out now!

Out of interest Feef, what is it you do, that you stay in Taiwan?
 
Nothing exciting, just English teaching, moved here after I realised I couldn't live in China any more, but didn't want to feel like my Chinese degree was a waste :p

Having my wife and her family here helps, obviously, live rent free in an apartment they own and get by very comfortably working 15-20 hours a week. Taken a while to get to this position though, I've never wanted to teach kids, as it's all songs and games, so finally managed to piece together a combination of classes between postgrad students, university professors and small conversation classes in two adult schools. Supplement it with proofreading and translation work as and when I get it.

My first year here, I managed a bar and a youth hostel and helped out at a few beach parties. Now I'm more secure, but I do miss that lifestyle a little ;)

...we are actually considering buying or opening a bar in the new year, but we'll see what happens.
 
the visa's for china have changed now, you just get a 10 year multi entry one for £150 quid i think. Or it might be 5 years, anyway its all changed this year.

http://www.visaforchina.org/LON_EN/upload/Attach/mrbj/289577.pdf

If you can get into london the visa centre is a few minutes walk down from Moorgate / Liverpool street or just round the corner form Bank. Its a lot quicker to do it in person , 3 days for my last one, that by post.
 
All worked out as folk had said. About 5 working days turnaround using postal service to Edinburgh.
2 year multiple entry awarded, despite only requesting the single entry. Hopefully this trip goes well!
 
Good to hear that visas are simple, I'll be spending Christmas and new year in Shanghai, around 9 nights total. Hotel recommendations?
 
Got the visa through today. As mentioned in the thread, easy to reply with quick turnaround, and got given 2 years multi-entry when requested 1 month
 
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