No F-visas after September 15th?
- Joined: May 8th, 2009
- Posts: 11
Any confirmation that there is new tightening of issuing F visas (again) from now until after October 1st national day?
This article from FT.com stays no more F visas after September 15th. Does this mean current F visas also expire on September 15th?
China marks anniversaries with visa curbs
By Jamil Anderlini in Mianyang
Published: May 5 2009 17:52 | Last updated: May 6 2009 11:55
Beijing has tightened visa requirements in preparation for a series of sensitive anniversaries that culminate in October with the 60-year celebration of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
The government has mostly stopped issuing temporary business travel visas – known as “F” class visas – for travel to China after September 15 and is checking applications for all other visa types more thoroughly, according to people familiar with the matter.The restrictions are reminiscent of rules introduced last year prior to and during the Olympic Games, when Beijing turned away large numbers of foreign business visitors and tourists, often over seemingly arbitrary “security” concerns.
Foreign business-people hoping to hold or attend conferences in China, particularly in Beijing, will be most affected, along with large numbers of consultants and other self-employed or part-time foreign residents who use the visas.
September and October are the peak season for conferences and seminars in Beijing because of the pleasant weather and lower levels of air pollution, but this year only central government departments and large state enterprises will be able to arrange F visas after September 15.
US citizens, meanwhile, will have to wait at least one week for a Chinese visa under new rules in effect since Monday, in a move likely to frustrate US business travellers.
The Chinese embassy in Washington said on its website that it would need six working days to process visa applications from now on. The new rules also require applicants to list other countries visited over the past three months – a public health measure common at immigration to many countries but not previously part of the Chinese visa application process in the US.
The government is willing to sacrifice the usual spike in travellers in order to maintain tight security for the 60th National Day celebrations on October 1.
This year is filled with sensitive anniversaries, including the 90th anniversary of the May 4 student movement, the 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama’s flight to India from Tibet, the 10th anniversary of the first crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual movement and the 20th anniversary of the June 4 Tiananmen Square killings of pro-democracy demonstrators.
The government has intensified repression of human rights activists this year, with Amnesty International documenting at least 100 cases of activists who have been detained or faced violence from authorities.
A spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry denied that the country was restricting visas to foreigners as part of a security campaign, but two visa consulting agents and one issuing official confirmed details of the new campaign.
The new curbs should not affect the issuance of permanent “Z” class work visas, journalist visas or tourist visas but these may take longer than usual to process.
Restrictions should be lifted by the start of 2010.
lavenderlocc
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
Rumor is that there will be something happening in October,
"An event" so they do not like foreigners to be witnesses of that event or post to blogs.
Hi :-)
sexy_man
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
a friend of mine got his visa issued on april 18th 2009 and its valid till october 17th 2009....its F visa
its a multiple entry too
we kinda doubt if the visa is geniune
BeijingDays
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
I was here last year during the pre-olympics tightening up. I had to pay for a 6 month visa but only 4 months of it before I had to leave the country. I have relatives that work for a major company ( international and legitimate) yet they also had to leave the country for a month.
This month I got a call from my agent and she said I have to leave the country before september 15th, but the principal of my school knew nothing about that rule so he agreed to look deeper.
One of my friends in Beijing doesn't have to go and he said if you work for a company but I don't think that is true. Of my friends who were working in Beijing before the olympics, only the ones with Chinese wives got to stay.
Anyone who writes ten reviews is absolved of all sins-Admin ( on the thread of open letter to Jamie Shorter )
eslchina
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
If you have BA degree and have two years working experience, we can do one year working visa. It doesn't affect by the Sep 15th. We can switch L visa or F visa to Z visa direclty in Beijing. But if you have switched L to F, we can not switch the second time. If you are interested in it, please send us an email to chinaesl@yahoo.cn and write Working visa enquiry in the subtitle.
Ailuri
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
I had to go to Qingdao and I have no idea how my work managed to arrange this, but I just got my F (second one, so I guess it can technically be called a renewal) valid through Nov 4, 2009.
It was issued May 12, 2009 in Qingdao.
My company ( a local English tutoring agency) arranged it all for me- I just went to Qingdao on May 4-5, met someone at the train station who took me to the visa office to be photographed by their little camera on the computer and told "We will send it to your work when it is finished." Got it today.
So, it is possible, but apparently difficult to extend the F past the "Sept 15th" deadline. And not available in Beijing.
Just in case anyone was curious...
B
Small Wan
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
Good God, I'm so grateful I'm going to leave this country soon.
"distinction is perfect continence"
wiz cool c
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
So if you have a 1 year f visa that is good till febuary there is no problem right?
coeurdelion
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
No problem - you've been lucky.
FXZL - Up-to-date visa Information for China
fxzl.blogspot.com
Smallville
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
I just had my L-Visa converted to F last May 10 to a 6-month F Multiple Entry and got it today.
We had it processed directly at the local PSB. So it's still possible to get past the Sept. 15 I guess, but the connection of the person who helped me might have something to do with it I think. My new visa is valid till Nov. 10.
Catfish
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
Would be nice to know who helped you.
the_remedy (not verified)
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
And how much it costs.
Smallville
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
@ Catfish and the_remedy:
We didn't go to any agencies though. The person who helped me is a family friend. I'm a Philippine passport holder by the way, which is supposed to be an issue, but things went well...fortunately.
Other passport holders are in much better position than I am since there are lesser restrictions when it comes to processing and issuing of visa on their ends.
If I was able to get one, I'm sure it's still possible for some to get past the Sept. 15th cut-off made by the Government.
Cheers!
P.S.
About the cost, I wasn't asked to pay for anything! =) Our family friend paid a couple of hundreds RMB at the Local PSB for the visa processing. I couldn't get any luckier I guess.
the_remedy (not verified)
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
So you're just bragging?
Smallville
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
@ the_remedy:
Umm...I'm just rather giving factual info that it is still possible to get an F-Visa past the Sept. 15th and that most of you guys might still be in better position in processing your visas.
As for the bragging part, I don't see the relevance, LOL! But oh well, you're entitled for your own opinion, I'd still respect that =)
the_remedy (not verified)
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
Giving "factual information" that doesn't help us at all and just makes us jealous of your visa is bragging.
We know it's possible to get just about anything if you have the right connections and enough cash. If we had the necessary connections, we wouldn't be here asking how to get visas.
jinnanwang
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
Your friend's F valid till Oct, where was it issued at? I just heard from some agencies that they can make complete half an year even one year visa out of beijing at that moment-April, if his visa is issued out of beijing,half an year or a visa beyond 15th of Sept would be possible and true, but the problem is that he stays in Beijing or lives in beijing with a F visa issued in another city, he would be in danger,F means business visa, government would check on people holding F in beijing whether their visa issued just in beijing, if your friend's issued outside, government would ask him about all the details.
MSN/Email: jinnanwang2008@hotmail.com
MP: 150 010 28493
OP: 58156222 ext.116
Echo Wong
Small Wan
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
That's not true! The police gives a sh!t, where you're visa is issued.
"distinction is perfect continence"
Ailuri
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
A business visa doesn't need to be issued in the city where your inviter is based. If that were the case, no one could get one in another country!
People get F visas all the time in the US, Hong Kong, UK, wherever- they have a letter from a Chinese company or organization inviting them into the country. It isn't tied to a specific city.
Many people on F visas work in fields that involve travel between many cities- import/export businesses for example. They are not required to have a different F visa for every city they do business in.
All that is required for the F is an official invitation.
The Z/residence permit IS tied to where you work, but the visa itself can be issued anywhere. In some cases, people are required to go to their home country to get the Z. The Res permit lists your employer on it and must be changed if you change companies.
Silly people trying to cause panic! Get your facts straight!
the_remedy (not verified)
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
That's a shame. I was actually thinking of calling jinnanwang for her visa service, but after posting lies that appear to be aimed at scaring people into using her service in Beijing rather than someone else's service in another city, I think I won't.
jinnanwang
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
hey hey hey, what r u talking about? the woman said is right,but only 50%, another problem is that you are living in beijing holding a F, dont you know what happend during Olympic Games, it was not allowed to issue F visa during that time in Beijing just coz of OlympicGames, lots of foreigners delivered their passports to another city to get a one year or half an year visa,anyway get over the Olympic Games, when the game was coming closer and closer,government checked on most of F holders, they found some people's F issued in another city,let's say Qingdao, but the guy living in Beijing, they asked lots of questions on his F visa stuff, like what do you do in Beijing, how long will you stay in beijing, which company served you.....at that moment, you had to provide the company's name which invited you and their contacts, policeman checked the company and called them to ask for the truth.....as last woman said, she is right on one point-you can be invited by any company located in any city to get a F visa, but the problem is whether your F is an official one? if you get a F out of Beijing, just for a Visa, but never know what the company's same and where the company located in, why they invited you in china,what's your project in the company......then how could answer the policeman's questions on these???how?
Think about that.
MSN/Email: jinnanwang2008@hotmail.com
MP: 150 010 28493
OP: 58156222 ext.116
Echo Wong
jinnanwang
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
you need provide your business visiting schedule to police if they ask you, man
MSN/Email: jinnanwang2008@hotmail.com
MP: 150 010 28493
OP: 58156222 ext.116
Echo Wong
elrey
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
Just to make u all jealous, i just got my residence permit here in beijing. impossible is nothing
jinnanwang
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
hehe congratulations, residence permit is the best option now, there is no restrictions on it, you can even buy car,house..whatever hehehe
MSN/Email: jinnanwang2008@hotmail.com
MP: 150 010 28493
OP: 58156222 ext.116
Echo Wong
Disappointed
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
What was the damage?
women are like tornados, they moan like hell, when they come and take the house, when they leave
__________________________________________
psccoops
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
ive had z visa for same company for 3 years now and i neve rleave my secreatry just goes to PSB and labour bureau and renews it no problem it costs 400 yuan and i do nothing
wordperfect
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
Mr Remedy, you used to post levelled, reasoned arguements, but these days you are very often too quick to shoot.
That's a big pity as it re-enforces the stereotypical image some people have of certain countries.
I think what Jinnawang [Echo] meant was you may have to explain why you have an F issued in another city but have a Beijing residency.
So yes, usually police do not care too much re visa etc, but we all know that during the run up to the Games there was an unusally high number of police checking foreigers documentation, namely residence permit.
Of course you may have been one of those lucky ones who were not stopped when they left home or had visits to their home.
However, Echo still has a valid point.
ripper
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
Echo is right.
It may be possible to get an F visa from another city (i.e. Qingdao), but security will be tight. If you are living and working in Beijing, then you should have an F visa issued from the Beijing PSB.
If you do not and the PSB officials check your passport and visa, they are likely to ask you all sorts of questions about who you are working for, company name, what you do, etc etc.
If it becomes clear that you have no idea about the name of the sponsoring company on your Qingdao visa (because you paid an agent to get it for you), then you will likely have your visa cancelled and be told to leave. Getting another visa will then be almost impossible.
Domestic travel to Beijing around 1st October is also likely to be for Beijing residents only. This was certainly the case in the run up to the Olympics, when it was very difficult to get flights and/or train tickets to Beijing without a foreigners resident permit issued in Beijing, Beijing hukou or Olympic tickets (with L visa).
In any case, an F visa is not a work permit, but a visa for people who need to conduct business in China (but employed elsewhere - i.e. JV staff from foreign arm, short term secondees etc). If you are working locally on that visa then you are effectively illegal and should be kicked out.
Z visa is the only legal visa for working in China.
It really gets me when foreigners complain about unfair visa regulations that are less strict than those we have in the UK/US/Europe for Chinese workers. The rules are the rules. you can't just flaunt them because you think they are unfair.
Mike
roussell
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
Again lies.
During Olympic games, if the policeman liked to check, whatever city your visa was issued in, they would ask many questions.
After the special period, the policeman are lazy to ask questions.
You are scaring people and want to arise panics.
roussell
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
You are too enthusiastic on Echo.
Are you her fan?
I've seen two replies of you with "Echo is right" as the beginning sentence.
Or you yourself are Echo, aren't you? The two usernames were registered the same day - March 24, 2008. haha...
ripper
Re: No F-visas after September 15th?
I am not Echo, but she seems to offer good visa advice.
I don't even live in Beijing now, but lived there 2007/08. Returning to China next month and have some visa issues to resolve.
And I registered back in 2008, but March 24th, whereas Echo was May 24th.
All I'm saying is that anyone complaining about difficulty getting an F visa to live in Beijing shouldn't really be in Beijing. Only X or Z visa gets you a residence permit and the right to work. F visa is for a different purpose.
It pisses me off, as Americans, Brits, Europeans, Aussies are always up in arms about immigration in their own countries. In the UK, we have a big problem with people on student visas obtained through fake colleges. They should all be rounded up and sent back home. I feel the same way about foreigners in China without Z visas.