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The Shanghai municipal government has flat-out denied that F visa applications have been suspended as earlier reports in foreign media suggested, saying that "the reports did not conform to the truth". While admitting that "some related authorities adjusted the procedures of visa applications ahead of the Beijing Olympics in order to forestall possible security threats", a spokesperson has said that over 500 applications per day have been processed in the first half of this year, a rise of more than 170 percent from last year. [Shanghai Daily]
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... Bizzarely, nothing
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Yet when my friend's wife, who works for Honeywell and handles some visa matters, called the visa office to procure a few F visas she was flatly told that no F visas would be given out until September.
So who is lying?
When I personally went to the Commerce Dept here in Shenzhen on Thursday the 2nd I was told directly (in Chinese) that the Commerce department will NOT issue any more stamps for foreign visitors' work invitations (required for F visas) to come to China until Sept. They said the policy came from Beijing and is for the entire county. They also told me to just have the person we need apply for a tourist visa.
"called" is the key word Alec. The policy of not providing accurate info via the phone was in force at the consulates and E&E offices across the country it seems, yet paying a visit to these offices have garnered varied results. Had she headed in with applications in hand, chances are the outcome would not resemble what the phone call indicated.
But still I agree that it sounds like a load of .... as it is obvious so many with legitimate and not so legitimate F visas were denied renewals during this period.
Yeah yeah the usual government lies and semi-lie obfuscations. OK hey we're not lying! "over 500 applications per day have been processed..."
1. Application received.
2. Application denied.
3. Next application please.
Lather, rinse, repeat 500 times... 500 applications per day processed...