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Thread: Soooo, new Chinese visa requirements?


  1. #1
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    Default Soooo, new Chinese visa requirements?

    Since October, seems we have to have a confirmed ticket out of the country. What's everyone's solutions to this? Buy a confirmd refundable seat on someone, and refund it when you get back?

    I'm really interested to know because I'd like to be making a lot of China trips now that I'm n SFO.

    Thoughts?


  • #2
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    I think we tend to forget that China is Communist and that all the rules are applicable similar in the Western world. Get a flexible-refundable ticket.

  • #3
    Winner! mrs767er's Avatar
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    I was fortunate to get a person who lives in Beijing to invite me to visit her. We've never met, but her husband is a pilot and we have been corresponding for quite some time now. I am looking forward to taking them out to dinner on my first visit next month.
    There are lots of new rules involved with either way to apply for visa. Request multiple entries for one year. I had planned to buy totally refundable tickets and book a hotel using my Starwood Points. My friend's invitation offer came just in the nick of time. You cannot mail the application--it has to be done in person--self or proxy agent. You need to apply to the consulate that governs your state. Fee is $140 reg process, extras added on a la carte by them and/or agency. Also, agencies usually charge a fee to prepay the Chinese using their account, then bill you for the amount+ small percentage. Then you have mailing fees. We're lucky that I could use our fedex discount (75%) for the outbound and billed my personal account for the return. Even prepaying my return cost an extra $6 handling fee. I understand it takes a few minutes to do.
    Check EVERY item you complete on the application 3 times. I did and I missed the year of expiry for my passport. The agency found it A/O and fixed it. Plan on having your passport out of hand for 10 working days unless hand delivered. Runs about $200 or more for standard services/shipping.
    I took my own photo in the guest bedroom using a timer and printed out 4 at Walgreen for $.99. Cool!
    I sent mine last Monday and expect it to arrive here on the third due to TG holiday.

    PS--must have 2 facing pages for visa and PP must be valid for 6 months after expiry date of visa. So if it's going to expire in less than 18 mo from application, don't bother. I have about 13 more blank pages left on my extended page PP, so I might make it another year...
    Last edited by mrs767er; 28-Nov-2012 at 01:04 PM.
    mrs767er - NonRev Correspondent - Specialty Travel

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  • This post by mrs767er liked by 3 users:

    Migflanker (28-Nov-2012), nikkij (14-Apr-2013), Tony757 (28-Nov-2012)

  • #4
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    Yeah the commi does things their way whether you like it or not or if it make sense. During 2008 Olympics, they only allow 2 entry per visa. So I was almost getting a new visa every week.

    Because every embassy has their own standard (I've no idea why its not standardize), you have to figure out how to overcome your local embassy. So I can't comment much on getting a China visa from US but think mrs767 has it quite spot on. Use an travel agent even you know they charge an arm and a leg, because they will get someone from China to do the invitation and make life easy for you. Maybe after the 2nd or 3rd renewal then you can try doing it yourself. The invitation requirement are lax for certain embassy but I think for US & UK they are quite strict. Probably because the Chinese being Chinese, are fearful that US will spy on them, steal their valuable resources and enslave them to work in sweat shop for cheap products.

  • This post by yeechoong liked by 3 users:

    Migflanker (29-Nov-2012), mrs767er (29-Nov-2012), Tony757 (02-Dec-2012)

  • #5
    Winner! mrs767er's Avatar
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    I used CIBT, our company's agency. I did hubby's crew visa with them. They have a separate account for family members and offer a discounted rate for services. I couldn't stomach their $34 fee for next day UPS label each way, though, so I bought my own for much less.
    My invitation letter required a photo ID of the host, along with address in China, phone and other info. My friend got out her passport and discovered her visa was about to expire--she usually gets a one year and somehow the current one was issued for 90 days. Good thing I asked her to do the letter; she would have overstayed her visa! So, my letter was written by her Spanish husband (he's a corp pilot in China) and he sent his ID.
    I love your last comment about the Chinese, yeechoong! What a hoot!
    mrs767er - NonRev Correspondent - Specialty Travel

    Wherever you go, there you are

  • #6
    NonRev Correspondent vulindlela's Avatar
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    Wow, it's worse than Russia!

    Well......another place I will not be visiting....
    Vulindlela - Senior NonRev Correspondent - Indianapolis


  • This post by vulindlela liked by 3 users:

    Migflanker (02-Dec-2012), mrs767er (01-Dec-2012), spongebue (03-Dec-2012)

  • #7
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    This is really gonna be a pain, because I want to jump on a PVG flight so badly! Crapola, I'll just be satisfied with HK if I can get on.

  • #8
    Winner! mrs767er's Avatar
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    Tony--you can do all the expedite fees and get PP in less than a wk. It's just going to require extra bucks and effort to get a letter or buy refundable tix/room.
    mrs767er - NonRev Correspondent - Specialty Travel

    Wherever you go, there you are

  • #9
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    Crap, not sure how I'm gonna get around the invitation. They didn't require that before. F&%k.

  • #10
    Top Member spongebue's Avatar
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    How about ICN? Not quite the same as China, but also a worthy Asian destination. Or DEN
    Spongebue - NonRev Correspondent - U.S./Midwest Region


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