Mother of all Visa threads

I thin k they said official news will come out on the 16th october... no?

Here’s one for openers. For some time it has been a requirement for any foreign teacher, teaching any subject at the university level in China acquire a “Foreign Expert Certificate” (FEC). The requirements for a FEC have always been: at least a Bachelor Degree, some sort of teaching certification, and at least two years teaching experience. The FEC is one of the requirements for a residence permit. That sounds reasonable enough; but here’s the latest twist.

Very recently (within the last week or so) the Guangdong Labor Bureau announced that they will not be issuing new FECs for anyone over the age of 60, regardless of other qualifications and experience. I don’t know whether or not they are “grandfathering” those who are currently holding FECs.

What is it with this bizarre fetish for age that is so pervasive here? Didn’t these mindless, CCP psalm-singing hacks who populate the Labor Bureau ever stop to think that perhaps, just perhaps, that these suddenly “useless”, over-sixty lecturers and professors may have picked up a bit of knowledge in their years of walking this planet that they are more than happy to share with their students? Honestly, I’m surprised that these idiotic bureaucrats have enough mental capacity to find their way to their office where they can spend the better part of their day chasing their cute little, miniskirt clad, 22yo apprentice secretary around the desk!

Exactly what are these morons afraid of? Are they afraid that these foreign, “seasoned citizens” are suddenly going to develop an irresistible urge to hang around downtown or the wet market in their pajamas, or to spit on the sidewalk or someone’s shoes on the bus, or maybe sit around the door of their apartment building and shout at each other while they play mahjong all day?

AYIAAAH!!
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Up until now, I've had more problems in my life than a cub scout at the Neverland Ranch...

LOLOL!!!

Is everyone on this site asleep? I know you're out there; I can hear you breathing. rimshot! rimshot!

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Up until now, I've had more problems in my life than a cub scout at the Neverland Ranch...

hello...

Anyway Here is latest update.

Z Visa working visa multiple entry one year is available if you have company sponsoring you.

F Visa tourist multivisa also available but for 6 months

Price is about the same.

Maybe they are worried about health issues with the older teachers.

Maybe they are afraid these over 60 year olds are going to start have health problems and will not be able to go home.

Or able they are afraid they are going to get married to a 20 year old Chinese girl and stay here.

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Never knock on deaths door, Ring the bell and run away death really hates that. (Author Known)

@David and chinamonty,

Believe me, I am not “flaming” either of you, but merely questioning the logic of one of your statements. David; I believe your statements were mostly tongue-in-cheek, but chinamonty wrote, in reference to those laowai over 60 that, “Maybe they are worried about health issues with the older teachers.”; health issues that will affect who? Are you speaking of public health issues? If this is the case, it is a completely illogical statement!

First of all, it is highly unlikely that age 60+ laowai university professors or teachers are going to be spreading any communicable diseases such as STD; but more importantly, no foreigner in China poses any financial liability to any municipal, provincial, or federal agency if they fall ill. No foreigner, regardless of their visa status, is covered under any of the social insurance plans which may cover Chinese citizens. If 60+ laowai pose a health (financial) risk to anyone, it is to the private insurance companies (most of them foreign) which may have sold a health insurance policy to a particular laowai. Therefore, your argument simply does not hold any water.

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Up until now, I've had more problems in my life than a cub scout at the Neverland Ranch...

@orrin

I believe health issues are part of many reasons they do not want over 60 years olds getting a visa, this would be more so for new visas'. It would be more then STDs but more likely if someone gets sick and does not have health insurance.

I am sure we all know health insurance for laowai costs a lot in China, when I was looking at health insurance I found they where based on US prices, so anyone that gets health insurance would be paying the cost of US installments but the health insurance company would be paying Chinese prices, I found this a big turn off when looking at foreign health insurance companies

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Never knock on deaths door, Ring the bell and run away death really hates that. (Author Known)

This is nothing other than pure ageism. If a laowai who has no insurance gets ill, they are on their own. They pose absolutely no burden to Chinese society. If you don't have the $$ for medical care, you get better or die on your own. It's as simple as that!

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Up until now, I've had more problems in my life than a cub scout at the Neverland Ranch...

As I said this maybe only one reason of many, but maybe the Chinese do not view it this way, maybe they value life a little more then that.

It the end of the day it's there country they have the right to let in who they want no matter what the persons age.

lets face it, I am sure the USA do more of a in dept check on people from the middle east then they do on people from England or Australia before giving out a visa, is this not racism.
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Never knock on deaths door, Ring the bell and run away death really hates that. (Author Known)

No you have misunderstood me. Part of schooling is trying to have a steady teacher base. Having students change teachers half way through a year is disruptive. As you get older this is more likely and remember a lot of Chinese retire in their 50s. I dont agree with thier caution but at some tourist attractions they even have signs telling anyone over 50 they are not to go on the rides -so they are not alone with this view..

I kept hearing the today, the 16th, was the day either the visa policy was going to be changed or they were going to state the details of the coming change. But nothing.

The Government's official date for notice of Visa changes is for Oct 17th, which is today.

I called our agent in HK yesterday to confirm and was advised that they will be able to advise confirmed information of what they can do for us on this coming Monday morning. I will be calling her back that afternoon, amongst many I'm sure, to find out the details. She said her colleagues believe that multi entry visas should be back, as there are a lot of buzz about it. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Called agent in HK today to get the update,no good news unfortunately. It is disappointing to hear that the government decided that there will be no changes to the existing visa policy at this time. It was hinted that it may be e/o this month or next before they will release a revised visa policy.

So, best visa option so far still is the same, at least for us Canadians:

3 months valid, 2 entry, 30 day per entry (so really a 60 day visa) $800HKD

second that.
The line in HK is huge so I end up paying CTS to do it. I know it's rip off. I will get 6 month multi entry because I have temp hk id card. If not you out of luck.

I have spoken to a couple of Aussies who have just got multiple entry visa's in Melbourne so at least that has changed.
There was recently a bit meeting of Entry/Exit bureau people who have already put up recommendations for a change to the rules governing visa's so perhaps they are waiting on the outcome of this. Unfortunately they havent said what has been recommended except they are acknowledging the need for foreigners to stay for longer periods of time. Who knows what will come out or when.
It does mention the word simplified which is a scary concept.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-10/16/content_7111261.htm

Any updates?

Got my visa but disappointed

6 month multi-entry instead of one year.
30 days duration stay instead of 90.

6 business days as advertised.

when and where did you manage to get the 6 months multi entry? Darn, my other half could still to get the 3 month dual entry (2x30days)just on Friday in HK.

Two things working for me.
1) I have temp hong kong ID
2) I am ethnic chinese

also applied & due to get 6 moth multi entry visa from Macau Chinese Consulate.

I understand that requirements are:
-You must hold a working permit in the country where you apply

One would be eligible for multu entry one year if:

-One holds a resident permit, albeit a temporary one

Exactly what are you saying here? There are many people here who have serious concerns about the visa situation. What we need is clear information.
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Up until now, I've had more problems in my life than a cub scout at the Neverland Ranch...

What I don't understand is this?

If you get a VISA in HK or Macau and you don't have local ID, does it mean you can not get multi entry visas

If so, what if you go home to your country, now are you able to get a multi-entry visas?

Well, my circumstances are thus:

I work in Macau, hold a British passport & I have a Blue Card, but I am not considered resident in Maxau. I am in process of applying for a Temporary resident permit and that would entitile me to a temporary Macau ID & hopefully avoid the long queues in Gongbei on the Macau side by using the electronic gates.

I would think that my status is same as razorsedge, except that he has a temp HK ID. And he has managed to get multiple entry for 6 months. Being of chinese ethnicity is irrelevant, I would think.

If one neither holds a HK or Macau ID, then I do not know. I will need to enquire. I knew that in the past, pre olympic days, one could apply successfully for multiple entry in HK eg JTA or via CTS. But I do not know whther the rules have changed, ie wtheher one has to apply from one's country of abode.

I hope macau is different

Smart ID card entrances are for permanent residents; the ones with 3 stars. I still have to wait queues in hk but it's line just for foreign workers.

I agree, I doubt your ethnic background has anything do with it, it's what Nationality you hold a passport(s) to.

We were told that since Australia having close and healthy economic ties with China, gives Australians top visa offerings (meaning to be reinstated with issuance of multi entry, longer termed visas ). Canada is pretty neutral business partner so us Canadians are in the second tier apparently. There are some country not so lucky with maximum issuance of 15 days still. What a drag.

Personally we've experienced different Visa lengths available from the CTS vs. private travel agents. Private ones somehow can get issuance of the 3 months (2 entry/30days), while China Travel Service agency said they can only get max. 30 days/1 entry (and you needed a hotel reservation confirmation for more than 2 nights stay). It's an odd inconsistency.

I'm going to call the HK travel agency on Monday to find out if indeed they got news as they were told there would be for end of October by the Visa Dept. If I find out anything new, I'll post it here.

I just called.. they said that some can get it now but Canada can't!!!!

If this is the case New Zealanders should have no problem renewing visa's as New Zealand has a free trade deal with China.
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Never knock on deaths door, Ring the bell and run away death really hates that. (Author Known)

Foxhunt can you take a break from your "skirt chasing" and tell us more about what you were told concerning Canadians getting visas? We can only get the 3 month, 2 entry visa? Did they think this will change?

Things would have been differenct if the Canadian government had sent Lai Changxing back to China. But the deportation process is is a complete mess.

I am too busy "skirt chasing" and "back packing" to get the information on it.

multi entry 6 month buisness visa 3500 rmb 10 days to get it . only availible short time .

I've posted this more than once but since somebody asked. Yes you can still get one year multiple tourist visas, but you have to get them from your home country. In fact, having been burned by Hong Kong and Macua in the past the last 4 years I have been getting my new year multiple visas from Chinese consulates in my home country. I DHL my passport home to a visa agency back home and they FEd Ex it back to me in about a week. If you count the cost of the HK ferry, taxi's it cost me less than going to Hong Kong and was more certain.

Orlog I do not think you can generalize. It depends what passport you hold. A guy from Nigeria can not do what you have just mentioned. I am married to a Chinese and I went to the Chinese Consulate in Canada with all my documents and was given a one or two month visa. Yet a friend from Australia was in the same boat and was given a one year multi entry.

Secondly, are we not by law required to be in possession of our passports while in China? During the Olympic period I would dare not go to another city without having possession of it. I would do what you mentioned if I could get a good visa, but for Canadians I do not think it is possible.

I know Australians can do this.

Further, by "possession" I mean having the ability to produce it in a timely fashion. Hours, not days.

OK if you are from the usa you can get a 6 month multi f visa must leave every 30days , no hk id required In hk .

if you want a 6 month mutli entry other countries 3500 rmb , its from bejing call this number and she can give you more information .
idid mine last week and now have a six month visa 13902874789

Hey Ryan. Where in Hong Kong? And any idea how much? Thanks.

foreverbright hk here is the link call them .it is aroung 1200 hk i think ut not sure

http://www.fbt-chinavisa.com.hk/