Shanghaiist: China tightening F visa applications?

slickfowler

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:50:07 +0700

I was in China three months ago to visit my friend and his wife. I met my friend's wife's friend, Yong Shu. We liked each other very much. I returned to Canada, but kept in touch with Yong Shu via email and telephone. I proposed to Yong Shu and she accepted. I travelled back to China and have been living with Yong Shu in Dong Guan. My Visa is about to expire so I have travelled to Hong Kong to renew my visa. This morning I was told I will only be able to get a seven day visa and it will take seven days to get it not the usual three day. We are to be married on the 13 of May. It appears I will have to stay in Hong Kong untill just before our wedding. After we are married, I am told, it will be easy to get a visa. If any body knows how I can get back to Dong Guan sooner I would appreciate your help. My email is slickfowler@hotmail.com.

JiangYunFeng

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:51:10 +0700

I know it seems to be ever changing, but can anyone advise on the latest policy for business visas in Shanghai? I have a 30 day F visa with invitation from a Chinese company, but would like to extend for as long as possible without support from that company. What is the current policy for doing this in Shanghai and can anyone recommend a company able to help?

Michael_Michael

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:12:47 +0700

Ah the messy world of visas in China. I've been thru all sorts of nonsense with visas here, and seen even more nonsense from many others. The real annoyance is that no one knows the law at any given time, it's always grey and ever-changing. It depends on who you talk to, and when you talk to them. Be very careful with these "visa consultants", as many of them don't know what's up, they promise they got you all covered, and then you end up in a panic going to the airport for an HK run with only 5 hours left on your current visa. Drill them with questions, and if they don't have a solid answer, go elsewhere. At any rate, this new restriction does look serious.

JTS

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:08:44 +0700

I’m American, currently in the Mainland on an F-visa. I went down to HK this past week to try and get a newer, longer F-visa. I was told that F-visas of up to one year are available, but that the maximum length of stay (amount of time you can remain-in-country after each entry) is 30 days. They were singularly unimpressed by the copy of the PRC Embassy in Washington DC’s visa policies that I brought along. I decided to keep my current F-visa which is still valid and has longer length of stay. They said 2 year F visas are still available to holders of HK permanent resident cards. Unclear what the length of stay would be. I think the quote from AllRoads regarding visa prices is inaccurate. My experience is that all American applicants must pay a flat rate, higher than other applicants, regardless of visa type or length. This has been policy in the US & HK for about 5 months. The current price in HK is about 1200 HKD, I think. Or maybe that's the price with express processing. Can't recall.

Jakob Montrasio

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 18:38:23 +0700

Heh, now laowais start marrying chinese to stay in China, hmm? ;)

stoli

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 18:19:14 +0700

for Canadians and Kiwis, you can no longer get anything longer than a 3 month F visa in Hong Kong. personally i think the best way to do it now is student visa, just find a really cheap university and you can get a 6-12 month visa, saving you many trips down to HK or wherever.

Les Izmore

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 13:06:46 +0700

Here scruz; http://www.xe.com/ucc/ Do it yourself.... The internet is an amazing learning tool!

scruz

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 12:56:54 +0700

hi all of you writers in china. it would be really helpful if you would convert chinese money to pounds or dollars. dja think you could?

michaeldmanning

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 12:07:45 +0700

I think you're definitely right about the benefit of having many previous F visas in your passport. I have about four or five previous F visas issued in New York and Almaty in my US passport, and about ten 90 day extensions issued from within China (and within Xinjiang). When I went to the consulate in NY last December, I was given a 2-year multiple entry F visa good for a stay of 180 days on each entry... without even presenting a letter of invitation or intent on letterhead! The price was only $100, which I think is a pretty good deal.