Re: I need Visa advice By: riddlemethis From: http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/forum/index.pl?read=26371
Date: 12 May 2008 In Response To: I need Visa advice (Confused about Visas)

No F Visas are being issued between March 2008 and October 2008. Following is some additional information - hope it helps:
Chinese Visa ALERTS
China Visa Changes
Until recently, it was relatively easy to get a Chinese visa. The situation has changed beginning about mid March and it is expected to remain unstable until well after the Olympics.
• It is now impossible to get a 6 or 12 month multiple entry business visa.
• It is now impossible to get entries longer than 30 days. (Exception being US passport holders applying in the US occasionally get 60 days.)
• In many embassies and consulates, it would appear impossible to get a double entry tourist visa.
• It has been reported that beginning July, it may be difficult to impossible to get extensions.
• Non-Hong Kong identity card holders can no longer get a tourist visa in Hong Kong as easily as previously. It would appear that you need to have proof of transportation in and out of China as well as a couple of nights of accommodations to get a Chinese tourist visa in HK and that you must go through a visa company.
• Visa Costs have increased for many nationalities (e.g. British, European, and Australian) while visa costs for US passport holders remain at their high levels.
• It would appear impossible to obtain a Chinese tourist visa anywhere in SEAsia or Central Asia unless you hold a passport or residency permit for that country.

See Wanchai Visa Office Statement (13 April 2008) http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/bgfwxx/default.htm
• 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 for a 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, and visit of the Olympic Games.

Unconfirmed report about Renewing/extending visas taken from Beijinger.com
The time to renew the visa once the holder has left China will now be no less than 3 days up to 5. (i.e. if someone goes to HK to renew, they must stay there between 3 and 5 days before re-entering.)

Flights for the next exit of China must be produced at the consular outside China before the visa is issued. For L visas, as well as F, only those with invitation letters from companies or family will be considered for a visa, though each case will be dealt with on an individual basis. A written hotel confirmation from China should be available covering the complete stay in China.

Applying in Australia
According to the website of the Chinese embassy in Australia, additional Documents Are Required For Chinese Visa (tourism & business) beginning 15 April 2008.

For "L" visa (tourism/visiting relatives), please provide:
One completed application form;
Your passport;
One recent colour passport photo;
Return ticket;
Proof of hotel reservation if you go for tourism;
Proof of relations if you go to visit relatives and you were not born in China.

For "F" visa (business visa), please provide:
One completed application form;
Your passport;
One recent colour passport photo;
Return ticket;
Proof of hotel reservation;
Visa Notification letter from the competent office of the Chinese government. Your inviter in China should get it for you and forward it to you to support your visa application.

And the Chinese Embassy will not issue visas of multi-entry.

Applying In London
Thorntree report (9 April 2008): Arrived before 10am, hoping to get it same day. However, the queue was unexpectedly very long so I could only enter around noon - too late then to get it same day. I applied for the multiple-entry visa, but the girl at the counter told me it could only be single or double, either would last 2 months. If this helps, I hold Thai passport and have visited China twice (which I made sure she knew this).

The website of the Chinese embassy in London now has an update similar to that noted above for Australia.

Applying in Singapore
The website of the Chinese embassy in Singapore now has an update similar to that noted above for Australia.

Applying in Toronto
Thorntree report (10 April): I just received my Chinese visa today in Toronto, Canada (with a Canadian passport). I originally wanted a 6 month multiple entry visa however, they informed me that the most I could possible get is a 3 month double entry visa (good for 30 days after each entry). I was able to pick this up today with no problems. This set me back $75 Can.

Applying in San Francisco
Thorntree report ( 9 April 2008): Chinese consult in San Francisco (US passport holder). Besides being extremely busy (I got there a 1/2 hour after it opened and I was already the 154th person in line!), nothing seemed unusual. After waiting for over 2 hours I was called up, presented my application along with my brother's and that was it. The lady looked over them both, didn’t say a word (even though I am applying for a multi-entry 6 month visa), handed me a slip of paper and told me to come back on next Thursday. (No report back as yet)

Applying in the Netherlands
Thorntree report: To get a L-visa you now need to provide booking confirmation of your flight in and out of China and hotel booking and seems they give you only 20 days on your visa. Don't know if you can get double entry. (Seems that the length depends on itinerary)

Applying in Hong Kong
It has been reported that beginning 15 April, visa applicants in Hong Kong will need
(1) A copy of Chinese hotel booking;
(2) A copy of return flight ticket booking.
It is unclear as yet how strictly these new requirements will be enforced.

US Passport Restrictions / Benefits
Thorntree report: Recent experience has been that US citizens can apply ONLY in Hong Kong or in the US. We tried applying for visas in Chinese consulates in the last half dozen countries we were in, and they wouldn't take our application in any of them.
(However please see note about applications in Hong Kong above).
These days it is common for US passport holders who obtain their Chinese visas in the US to get visa that are good for one or two entries within a period of more than 90 days, ie 6 months to a year. Note that there have been no reports since after April 1.

Note: US passport holders will always pay more for visas and extensions. Currently the price is 130 USD or the equivalent in yuan.

Criminal records
There is a new question on the visa application form in Hong Kong: "Do you have a criminal record for anything in any country." If you answer "yes", the Wan Chai (Hong Kong) Chinese visa office WILL NOT accept your application. "You must apply in your home country."

What does a 30 day Double Entry Visa mean?
With a double entry visa, each entry of 30 days must occur within the 90 days from the visa was issued.

For example, let's say the visa is issued on 1 April and is good for 90 days. The first entry can be anytime but the second entry must be before then end of the 90 days which would be 29 June.

Double entry visas do not permit you to stay in the country for 60 days. You must leave by day 30 or extend and to use the second 30 days you must leave the country and re-enter to start the second 30 days.

You may be able to stay for 90 days but only IF you are able to extend your visa twice, each time on the last day and for 30 days. In Beijing (and many other large cities) this is unlikely and it is more likely that each extension will add about 25 days.

If my visa expired and overstay in Shanghai (or elsewhere), what can I do and how much fine should I pay?
As per Chinese immigration law, if your visa has expired for less than 10 days, it's not necessary to pay any fine, but you do have to go to the immigration office where the officer will ask some questions and put down your words in writing and make a record. They will also give you a notice not to break that law again.

If your visa has expired by more than 10 days they will charge you fine. The fine is 500RMB per day except the first 10 days, and the maximum is 5000RMB. For example, if you overstay 12 days, they will charge (12-10)*500=1000RMB.

This is the contact information of immigration office in Shanghai.
Address: No.1500 Min Shen Rd., PuDong, Shanghai, China.
Telephone: 021-28951900