China's new visa rulebook
- Joined: Aug 28th, 2007
- Posts: 1,185
From experiences in the last days, this seems to be the new set of rules as of April 11th:
- - Apart from Z visa, no visa is issued which allows you to stay in CHina for more than 30 days in a row. This is said to last until October 17th, when the regulations will be reviewed and applies for visa issued in China or abroad.
- From July 1st, no L visas will be issued unless you hold tickets for the Olympic games. For these to be issued, a full itinerary of hotels and exit flights must be submitted before the visa is issued. If no Olympic tickets are provided, there seems to be the option that upon proof of 100 USD per day in China an L visa can be issued.
- F visas will probably continue to be issued for a 30 day period also. Other rumours say F visa will be completely suspended from July to September.
- The time to renew the visa once the holder has left China will now be no less than 3 days up to 5. (i.e. if someone goes to HK to renew, they must stay there between 3 and 5 days before reentering.) Flights for the next exit of China must be produced at the consular outside China before the visa is issued. For L visas, as well as F, only those with invitation letters from companies or family will be considered for a visa, though each case will be dealt with on an individual basis.
- You can no longer apply for the Z visa in China or HK, you must return to your country of origin and the process will take up to 2 weeks.
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FXZL - Up-to-date visa Information for China
fxzl.blogspot.com
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Disappointed
Re: China's new visa rulebook
To add some news from today from Europe:
- for this 30 days F-Visa the original invitation letter has to be produced.
- a written hotel confirmation from China should be available covering the complete stay in China
- the time for issuing the new VISA will take a minimum of 10 working days.
PS: This is valid for whole EUROPE and e.g. last two days no VISA for China was issued in Germany!!
women are like tornados, they moan like hell, when they come and take the house, when they leave
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Glenderful
Re: China's new visa rulebook
One would think that the Chinese government could have this news published in the China Daily at the time the policy is impemented, in order to give its own explanation of the situation and attempt to reduce the flood of complaints and negative media reports that are likely to follow in the coming months from the tens of thousands of people who will be affected. One would be wrong, of course. A China Daily site search for “visa” shows no articles in 2008 on the matter.
admin
Re: China's new visa rulebook
hey, our office just got raided by the visa police! luckily we have our papers in order.
High energy + persuasive + assertive + love to go out = excellent bar & restaurant salesperson
http://www.thebeijinger.com/classifieds/2010/08/09/True-Run-Media-seeks-...
Glenderful
Re: China's new visa rulebook
Are you serious? What were they looking for?!?!
beauvon
Re: China's new visa rulebook
so you need to leave the country to apply for the z....what if you just want to renew?
Disappointed
Re: China's new visa rulebook
First isssue: residence permit, second issue: valid VISA, third issue: Is the company registered, fourth issue: Is every foreign paying his tax in China, fifth issue: Are foreigners now also sleeping in the office?
women are like tornados, they moan like hell, when they come and take the house, when they leave
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Watson
Re: China's new visa rulebook
I'm sure you don't have to leave the country to RENEW your Z visa
Come on, who's going to pay for that? Your employer?
coeurdelion
Re: China's new visa rulebook
There is no need to leave China to renew your Z visa.
FXZL - Up-to-date visa Information for China
fxzl.blogspot.com
jaemaeselian
Re: China's new visa rulebook
what about student visas, or the residence permit that accompanies registration at an authorized university? are these being cut off as well?
sweet_learner
Re: China's new visa rulebook
Not much news from above:
For the people that understand German I found that link from the Chinese Consulate in Germany:
http://www.china-botschaft.de/det/qz/t391817.htm
Not much news, but interesting is:: 3. Flugtickets(Hin- und Rückflug), Hotel-Buchung in China
Means that now you need a flight ticket (return) and a confirmation from your hotel in China. For a business traveler to have all hotel booking in hand sounds quite unreasonable.
sweet_learner
Re: China's new visa rulebook
- From July 1st, no L visas will be issued unless you hold tickets for the Olympic games.
It would be ridiculous to implement that. How about those who want to enjoy the games from one of the many outside public party screens? (They will put those up, or?) And how about those that have no interest in the games and just want to travel in China. [/i]
gdbill
Re: China's new visa rulebook
At least some of what you say is false.
HK and Macau are issuing Z visas.
If your company is of sufficient size (as determined by the amount of paid-up capital), you do not have to leave China to convert your L or F visa to a residence permit.[/]
"Truth is not a commodity in short supply: The problem is, there's very little demand for it." -- ???
Karibdis
Re: China's new visa rulebook
Leo (helpforeigner@live.cn) can extend F visas until 7th july if you entered China through one of the 5 Olympic cities (SH, BJ, Tianjin, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao).
He can extend til 1st August if you entered elswhere.
He's charging 1300RMB, a bit steep in my opinion.
I don't knnow if very many visa companies are aware of this olympic city rule, or if Leo is right....
I think Z visas are still available if you fid the right people and are willig to pay a hefty sum (6100RMB i have heard)
gdbill
Re: China's new visa rulebook
Just posted on the Chinese Visa Office Website:
NOTICE
Visa applicants are increasing in a large number and need longer waiting time in the visa office recently. If you don't reside or work in Hong Kong permanently, you are required to apply Chinese visa from the Embassy or Consulate-General of Peoples' Republic of China in your resident country. You are welcome to China for tourism, business, visit of the Olympic Games.
http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/bgfwxx/default.htm
"Truth is not a commodity in short supply: The problem is, there's very little demand for it." -- ???
coeurdelion
Re: China's new visa rulebook
@gdbill: Any idea on how this might reflect on the ability of getting a Z visa in Hongkong? I remember you said in another post this might still be possible, depending on a company's registered capital.
FXZL - Up-to-date visa Information for China
fxzl.blogspot.com
gdbill
Re: China's new visa rulebook
I wish I knew. I guess as we've all seen in the last month or two, every day is a new crap shoot.
We still get work permits / residence permits issued on the Mainland, but that's a different story. Most of the largest multinationals can.
It used to be in HK that they'd only send the Filipinos, Indonesians and Africans home to apply for visas, but now it appears to be different -- everybody gets screwed equally.
Hopefully the new notice only applies to tourist and business visas. Stay tuned ... it's likely to change again in the next few days.
"Truth is not a commodity in short supply: The problem is, there's very little demand for it." -- ???
coeurdelion
Re: China's new visa rulebook
Here comes the latest info from the Chinese Visa Service in Bonn, Germany:
Due to new regulations, the following additional documens are required for visa application:
For F visa:
Copy of flight booking confirmation
Hotel booking confirmation
Invitation letter from a company listed on the embassy's whitelist
Official authorization by provincial government (needs to be applied for by Chinese partner company)
For L visa:
Hotel booking confirmation
Copy of flight booking confirmation
Written itinerary
Invitation letter by inviting individual, including passport copy and residence permit (if foreign national)
FXZL - Up-to-date visa Information for China
fxzl.blogspot.com
gdbill
Re: China's new visa rulebook
NOTICE
(2008/04/13)
Visa applicants are increasing in a large number and need longer waiting time in the visa office recently. If you don't reside or work in Hong Kong permanently, you are required to apply Chinese visa from the Embassy or Consulate-General of Peoples' Republic of China in your resident country. You are welcome to China for tourism, business, visit of the Olympic Games.
http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/bgfwxx/default.htm
"Truth is not a commodity in short supply: The problem is, there's very little demand for it." -- ???
curtis1981
Re: China's new visa rulebook
Can anyone who has done the HK visa run recently confirm this???
As I will have to do the run by end of april currently being trapped on an L visa I just want to make sure and be prepared.
Still waiting for JTA VISA's answer on this one also...
When I go forwards you go backwards and somewhere we will meet
coeurdelion
Re: China's new visa rulebook
The PRC embassies in the UK, Austria, Spain and France have published the new list of required documents for different visa types on their respective websites:
UK: http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/lsyw/chivisa/t424261.htm
Austria http://www.chinaembassy.at/det/xwdt/t425269.htm
Spain: http://es.china-embassy.org/esp/zxdt/t424415.htm
France: http://fr.chineseembassy.org/fra/zgzfg/zgsg/lsb/qzyw/t424971.htm
I suspect there will be no official statement like "no more F visa longer than 30 days" or anything similar - it might always be case-by-case, depending on the documents handed in.
FXZL - Up-to-date visa Information for China
fxzl.blogspot.com
rowrow
Re: China's new visa rulebook
Someone from my family willl visit me end of june for 2weeks. she is in france now.
can she ask the visa now,(2months before departure)?
i suppose she'll have 1month visa but it is ok.
by the way, is the document available? i can only find document to fill in for 3month L visa, which is impossible now!
and any special requirements about the invitation letter?
thanks! 8-)
taireinbeijing
Re: China's new visa rulebook
update from bangkok.
gf just got her new F visa in bangkok. Despite a fully stamped up invitation letter for a 6 month , multi with 30 days per visit she was told they can only issue a 3 month double entry with 15 days maximum visit...
given what people are saying in previous messages looks like she may need to get a tourist visa on june 30th and then just kick back in thailand for august.. suppose there are worse things than a month on a beach in thailand..
johnnybigstar
Re: China's new visa rulebook
another update from bangkok:
..my friend went to get visa today and got turned down for her tourist visa (along with a tonne of other people)...and she has a return to canada flight booked from beijing in a month!
..she is going to try again tomorrow with an invitation letter from a friend in china..so ma fan these days
beijingmikes
Re: China's new visa rulebook
Hi,
I am in Madrid at the moment. It's chaos here in Chinese consulate. They will not issue multiple entry visas. Only L visas. You need to have copy of flight ticket and hotel reservation. If you are visiting a friend then you need a copy of their apartment rental agreement !!! And I assume this is the same everywhere... Easy way is to book a hotel online and then cancel after you get the visa...
Cheers,M
Catfish
Re: China's new visa rulebook
About Hong Kong
Got a PM today about the current situation in HK.
"Im in HK right now and have verified first hand that you will need to go back to the country of origin to get any visa. so im going back home to get a tourist visa again, then convert the visa to Z when i return to beijing. "
:cry:
beijingmikes
Re: China's new visa rulebook
I have an Irish passport and in Spain they will issue ( for an additional fee that is )
gdbill
Re: China's new visa rulebook
I guess some enterprising young soul could make some decent money by selling copies of their house title or rental agreement.
"Truth is not a commodity in short supply: The problem is, there's very little demand for it." -- ???
visavent
Re: China's new visa rulebook
I met with some friends at a meal last night and was introduced to 3 people: 2 South Americans and an Aussie.
All 3 have just returned to China....all have brand new mulit-entry 6 month F visas. No exit required. They don't have special/diplomatic jobs, just applied as usual in their home countries.
I've heard the same from a friend who knows a few Phillipinos that have done the same from home
I'd love to know how that is possible. My housemates fiance is coming from Germany, she can only get a L visa, 30 days and has had to turn down her internship. I know a load of Phillipinos that can't get them either in Phillipines, and a Brit who wanted to come for an internship and can't get it.
Odd. Anyone able to shed light on this?
Glenderful
Re: China's new visa rulebook
China imposes new visa restrictions
505 words
18 April 2008
08:16
Xinhua Financial Network (XFN) News
English
(c) 2008 Xinhua Financial Network, Ltd. All rights reserved
HONG KONG (Thomson Financial) - China has imposed further curbs on visitors, just weeks after it stopped issuing multiple-entry visas, Hong Kong travel agents said Friday, sparking concern among the business community. "You now need a copy of your travel ticket both in and out of the country and a hotel voucher before they accept a visa application. Without that they will reject it," said Daryl Bending, a travel consultant with Concorde Travel. "I think it will deter a lot of people from travelling to China. They will just think it is too hard."
Another agent said visitors from 33 countries -- including India, the Philippines and Indonesia -- were no longer allowed to apply for China visas in Hong Kong and would have to apply at their local Chinese embassies. "It is becoming more and more serious, it is really out of control," said the travel agent, who did not want to be named. She said tourist and business visas were also now coming back later and later, leaving travelers waiting around for hours to find out whether their applications had been accepted.
A statement on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong said there had been a "recent drastic rise" in the number of applicants. "To spare applicants the unnecessary trouble, for non-resident of Hong Kong, please apply for the Chinese visa at the Chinese embassy or consulate-general in his or her home country or resident country," it said. It did not mention the list of about 30 countries the agent referred to and insisted multiple-entry visas were available, although it added officials would "consider the real need of the applicant" when granting one.
Christopher Hammerbeck, head of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, said the move had serious consequences for potential investment. "It means that business travelers into Hong Kong who find someone they want to do business with are not able to go over the border and see their factory," he told Agence France-Presse. "Long-term, this is going to make people think perhaps they should be looking elsewhere, maybe India or Vietnam."
A Hong Kong government spokeswoman said: "The Hong Kong government has reflected the views/concerns of the Hong Kong business community to the relevant mainland authorities." Travel agents in several Asian countries previously said China had stopped issuing multiple-entry visas several weeks ago and that they had been told the service would not be resumed until after the Beijing Olympics, which take place in August. Hong Kong residents will still be able to get a short-term visa from travel agents to the border city of Shenzhen without hotel and travel tickets, Concorde Travel's Bending said. But a visa granted at the border, popular among those taking day trips to Shenzhen for shopping or business, was no longer available, he added. Hong Kong has maintained separate legal and visa systems since it was returned to China by colonial power Britain in 1997.
Catfish
Re: China's new visa rulebook
Just met with an US American who got a new F Visa yesterday. The Visa was issued in Hong Kong an is multiple entry and valid till Juli. But each entry is only 30 days. So F Visas are still possibel for US citizens in Hong Kong.