As if it wasn't annoying enough already that the 60th anniversary was going to give us visa problems, China's now allegedly using swine flu as a reason to tighten visa rules for citizens from the United States. According to the AP, a May 3 notice said that all U.S. visa applications, including tourist and business categories, will now require six business days to process - express and rush services will be suspended until further notice. Applicants will also need to fill out a form declaring which countries and U.S. states they have visited in the last two weeks. China has denied discriminating against specific countries and insisted that “the adjustment of visa policy will not affect the normal entry of foreigners and exchanges of people.” more ›

... so says our favourite visa agency. In November, regulations were loosened to allow for the 3-6 month F visa, but since 6 December, the 12 month multiple-entry F visa has been made available again. Does the global economic crisis and dwindling tourist numbers have anything to do with this? Maybe, but who cares, really? Check for VisaInChina's updated services and price list here. more ›

African nationals in the city have been running small businesses on flexible, six-month ``F'' visas and are now being given only tourist visas of up to 15 days, the Morning Post said. more ›

• Via Danwei: For the first time, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has acknowledged that visa procedures have been tightened. Said Qin Gang, according to the AP:

  "We have made some arrangements according to usual international practice. That is, in the approval process we are more strict and more serious with the procedure," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said. more ›

The British Embassy lobbied the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing and have now secured confirmation from them that 12 month multiple-entry business visas will continue to be available to all qualifying UK applicants. more ›

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Latest message from the Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong S.A.R.:

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.

We told you it wasn't going to work in Hong Kong. And now it won't even work in Shanghai! Here's the latest update from everyone's favourite visa guy, Magic, from VisaInChina.com:

From 1st April 2008, The Entry and Exit Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security update the visa policy again. According to that, now the Authority will not accept of changing the visa type from L visa to F visa or F visa to L visa. Only allow L visa to L visa or F visa to F visa extension. more ›

A China visa agency in Hong Kong has just put up the following notice on its website:

We are informed by the China visa office that effective from 28 March 2008-17 Oct 2008 there will be no more multi entry (F) visas available. For those who still need visas can only apply single or double entry visas instead (Duration of each stay is 30 days). All this will last till the Olympic games finished.