Visa News !! Please read

This is a decision that has been taken a long time ago already and is related to the Olympics.
I knew one couldn't apply for such visas at the no man's land (Jiu Zhou port and Gongbei port)... but I did not realise it also included agencies in Macau.
What about HK? Anybody knows?

I phoned a visa company in Hong Kong and was told I could get one there. Of course they are not the same as before. I can not believe one would have to return to their home country to get one. You could always phone CTS in Macao and ask them.

I phoned a visa company in Hong Kong and was told I could get one there. Of course they are not the same as before. I can not believe one would have to return to their home country to get one. You could always phone CTS in Macao and ask them.

This lead us to better question: Who can help us get China working visa while exchange for part time english service? I for one would like this option rather than going to macau every 90 days. It really get old after a while.

Razor,

Getting a work visa, which is actually a 1 year residence permit and an “alien working permit” (which must come first) is not an easy matter, especially for a part-time teacher. The PSB and the labor dept. require signed contracts, a medical check, copies of diplomas and teaching certifications, rental contracts, and a bunch of other stuff. It takes a lot of “leg work” on the part of the schools’ HR staff to get everything done in anything that approaches a timely manner.

With the recent tightening of visa issuance by the PSB and other agencies, schools are reluctant to go through all that trouble and expense for part-time teachers. I know it sucks, but that’s the reality of the situation. Also, the complexity and speed of the process has a lot to do with your home country. For Americans, the process becomes slower and more complicated and frustrating with each passing day.

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"I can't get no respect.............. no respect at all!"

Is it for mainland or HongKong as well. I heard it's much easier in HK

I can't speak with any degree of certainty about HK because I don't live or work there; but I have heard that it is even more difficult in HK.

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"I can't get no respect.............. no respect at all!"

A suggestion; go to www.eslcafe.com or www.tefl.com and check out the HK or China job postings there.

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"I can't get no respect.............. no respect at all!"

Well this is what I heard. China is willing to give you Visa if your skill sets are highly desired. Unfortunately English teacher is not a the peak of the list. IT, medical and biotech are high on the list. Of course if you are nuclear or rocket scientist China will provide house, car and a wife for you. The wife might be a joke but you catch my drift.

Actually, It is not just the agents who can not get you those visas anymore. I can confirm as of a month or so ago that the Chinese Consulate in Macao has stopped issuing multi-entry (more than 2) L visas. They did also confirm that it is to stem the tide of incoming people for the Olympics. Never mind how it effects those of us who live and work here...
My son's Visa will run out in Mid July, just before the games begin. Wonder how that is going to play out. We'll be back in the states while the games are on. Hopefully he'll get a new L with no problem once they are finished. We'll get back just about the same time as the games come to a close.

Keeping our fingers crossed in the meantime.

Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday... So get on with it and have some fun!

I did some F visas for my sisters last January at this place in HK:
www.chinavisa.com.hk
You might ask

I was just hassled at Juizhou Gang Immigration. They took my passport, my Colorado Driver's License, and my Jida registration papers. They made me wait outside the immigration hall while they disappeared with all of my documents. After about 20 minutes waiting they said ok. The only explanation I got was "the Olympics".

This may shed some light on things:

http://anonymouse.org/cgi-bin/anon-www.cgi/http://www.newsweek.com/id/10...

What a pain the next four months are gonna be...

From what I understand it is still possible to get an F visa in HK. They have restrictions though. For an Australian you can get three months with double entries and 30 day durations. I will let you know later in the week as I have to get mine done.
I have also been told that all visa (I assume except working ones) that go beyond 01 Aug will now expire on 01 Aug but this seems strange as how would you know.
It is going to be a problem when all the expats in Shanghai have to fly to Hong kong to get their visas renewed.

hi everyone, i asked the visa counter at both GongBei and JiuZhou port, they all canceled the F type visa issuing, and there is no further instruction when the authorities will reissue them again, mayb after Nov but no guarantee. I havnt called the travel agents in macau and HongKong yet. if they only issue a double entries visa with 30 days limit, there will be a huge problem for me.

And Chinamonty, please let me know if you got yours done in HK, cause i will abt to do the same, mine will be expired at mid may...

Front page of Sunday (yesterday) South China Morning Post article said no multi-entry visas will be issued till September (if I recall correctly). Can get single or double entry visas and price has increased. Has to do with Olympics.

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

Notice

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.

Multi-entry visa ban until after Games
Hurdle to mainland trips for frequent travellers
==========================================================
www.scmp.com

Beijing has stopped issuing multiple-entry visas, risking major inconvenience to foreigners who travel to the mainland regularly, especially on business. Hong Kong travel agents say the ban will stay in place until after the Olympic Games.
Travellers are now restricted to single- or double-entry visas valid for 30 days. Multiple-entry visas that have not expired are still valid.

Andrew Work, executive director of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said the ban would create serious inconvenience for foreigners living and working in Hong Kong.

"This is a real hassle for foreign small- and medium-sized business owners ... it's bound to slow business down and we hope that normal access to the mainland will be restored soon."

One travel agent who declined to be named said: "People have been asking to renew their multiple-entry visas but no one can get more than a double-entry visa. We were told this was because of the Olympics and that the ban would be lifted in September after the Games had finished."

Daryl Bending, of Concord Travel, said even permanent Hong Kong residents who had previously been given three-year multiple-entry visas were affected.

"No one is being given more than a double-entry visa. The reason given was the Olympics but there were suggestions that after the Games things would return to normal," he said.

Agents said they were told of the move on March 27. Hong Kong-based China-visa agency Forever Bright says on its website the ban will apply until October 17.

The Office of the Foreign Ministry Commissioner in Hong Kong was unavailable for comment.

Mr Work said: "I found out at a chamber meeting for the chairs of all the chambers in Hong Kong. It's headed by [Chief Secretary] Henry Tang Ying-yen. At the end of the meeting someone mentioned the ban on multiple-entry visas. It took us all by surprise. Even Henry Tang didn't know."

A senior source from the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce said: "We have got similar complaints and this will hinder business activities."

A government spokesman said: "The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce recently raised concern about new visa arrangements implemented by mainland authorities and the administration is looking into the matter."

Travel agents also said the cost of single- and double-entry visas had risen.

The typical cost of a single-entry visa obtained through a travel agent for a British passport holder is now HK$850 for a single-entry visa and HK$1,050 for a double-entry one. At the end of last year, a six-month multiple-entry visa cost HK$1,080.

Australians, Canadians and most Europeans can expect to pay HK$500 for a single-entry visa and HK$600 for a double-entry one. Six-month multiple-entry visas for these nationalities previously cost about HK$450.

The move has surprised Howard Young, the tourism sector legislator.

"The ban will create a lot of inconvenience. I hope it's only temporary," Mr Young said.

Visas are taking longer to process. Paul Porter, a lawyer and regular mainland visitor, said he had been told a visa now takes four days.

Is this really a big surprise to anyone? It seems to me that I predicted something like this was going to occur. Here's another prediction. With all of the insanity going on in Europe this week over the Olympic torch relay, and soon to happen in the US when the torch hits San Francisco, this is going to get much worse before it gets any better.
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"I can't get no respect.............. no respect at all!"

I just dont get it, what is the point? they want to reduce the traffic? or try to stop the protestors coming in to china during Olympic? what is the meaning of stopping the multiple entry visa? i just dont get it...our government should raise the question and ask for reasonalbe response. And there was no even a offical announcement made, none of the officals from chinese foriegn affairs admin command on this act...what a bull...

I don't get it either...what can be done while on a multiple entry that can't be done with a single entry?

This *might* cut down on the immigration line at the Beijing airport by...2% or something.

I know that starting in August of last year Americans could get 1 year multi tourist visas. I have one now. I heard that it was because of the olympics. But now they stopped issuing these visas because of the olympics? I dont get it either. That's politics i guess. Does anyone know if it will affect anybody who ALREADY has a multiple entry visa now?

As I understand it, the new policy will only affect those that must get new, or renew expiring visas during that period. They are not "grandfathering" existing visas.

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"I can't get no respect.............. no respect at all!"

Thanks Orrin

I am sorry if I sound redundant but:

1) Can private visa companies/travel agents still issue visa's as was the case in the past?
Or one must go to a government office in either HK or Macao to get a new visa?

2) Is it true that it takes up to four days to get the new visa? This means perhaps three nights in a hotel in either HK or Macao.

Have anyone gone through this since the new policy came into action?

Thanks very much.

I'm not sure about private companies/agents. I got mine and my wife's visas at the PRC consulate visa office in Macau. There, they do have "same day" visa service, but it costs an extra 300rmb. I don't know about HK.

I do know that the Zhuhai PSB office now takes 8 working days to process a residense permit (Z visa). It used to be 5 day processing until last month

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"I can't get no respect.............. no respect at all!"

Also, the days of the 1 year F visa for Americans ended by last December. I was told at the Macau visa office that all they were issuing to Americans were 30 day multiple entry visas, and all for the amazingly low price of 940rmb. ;-{

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"I can't get no respect.............. no respect at all!"

IS this for Macau or entire world?

S.F.
http://www.chinaconsulatesf.org/eng/qianzhen/zgqz/t48485.htm

Los Angeles
http://losangeles.china-consulate.org/eng/visa/chinavisa/t27605.htm

Maybe their site is not updated.

I like how US is $130, and $30 fro rest of the country.

Orrin did you and your wife get the visas recently under the new guidelines? Or was that before the changes?

Thanks

It was early December '07. I believe that was before the current changes. Since then we both received 1 year resident permits.

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"I can't get no respect.............. no respect at all!"

Thanks

This is a big issue to some of us when you need to leave the country every 30 days to get your son a new 30 day visum.
I was lucky and was one of the last ones to get a multiple entry L type with a 1 year duration but for my son we are fucked. This can be quite a financial issue for some.

I went to Hong Kong on wedneday and got an L visa 3 months 2 entry (effectively a 60 day visa as you enter with the first) I am Australian by the way. I was told I could get an F if I wished but I have now submitted all the documentation for a work permit so in 15 days I will find out.
The visa cost me HKD900 via a travel agent (the F would have been 200 more) and the visa was issued in Hong Kong by the visa office. It is the same format as the one I got from the Chinese Consulate in Melbourne (it has the China crest on it) rather than the format I have been getting through travel agents in Hong Kong (which dont have the crest and come from either Zhuhai or Shenzhen). I had to be in Hong Kong by 9am to get it back by 7pm. That makes it hard to do from most places but easy if you start from Shenzhen. It can been done using taxis and public transport.
If anyone wants details on the easiest ways from Shenzhen to Hong kong then i will be happy to provide them.
I am glad I am in Shenzhen rather than inland like Chengdu or Wuhan. It would be horrendous having to fly down to HK each month. I dont even have to go all the way to Hong Kong in a month. I can just go to the Shenzhen Bay exit and go through and then come back -saves heaps of money.

Just to clarify. You obtained the visa via a travel agent. I guess then I could do the same in Macao as I am living in Zhuhai. I used to get them from the China Travel Service but found a cheaper place last time. Thanks

The new International School in Zhuhai must be tearing their hair out. I believe there are families in Macau who want to send their kids to the school in Zhuhai... but if they can't get multiple entry visas, it will be a disaster.

http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/ap/20080408/tap-as-gen-china-visas-2nd-ld...

take a look at this yahoo news . .

This is even affecting Hong kong business people who travel to the mainland. As pointed out schools are going to be hard hit on the mainland too -there are children who travel from Hk to Shenhen as well as vice versa. They have restrictions now. They are trying to hide this behind a computer upgrade but it is convenient that it finishes after the Para-olympics. Some one will have to work out how much face to lose over this. It will cause so much bedlam in Hong kong when the scroes of people from Shanghai (just one city) start arriving for their enforced visit. Think of the expense for them especiall during Appril with the various trade fairs.
I am still at a loss as to the correlation between business and terrorism is though. They should be more selective as to who gets visas but they should not restrict the number of entries so tightly.

I always thought hk and macau resident has special passes to cross into mainland. As you notice in Macau/Zhuhai border crossing, Macau residents just scan their electronic card like a bus pass while the rest of the world waits and waits.

hi guys,
the latest news i heard today is that hongkong has stopped issuing any visa for mainland china to all foreigners.
this is effect from yesterday the 14th april.
can anybody confirm if it is true.
gope

I also heard this last night ... I wonder if this also applies to Macau??

what???all visas? better not be ture!!!

GUYS!!! i just been told from the travel agent in macau, that there will be no more double entry or any longer period of chinese visa issued, If you have travel documents (plane tickets) or families members living in china (with the photo copy of their ID), they can try to get a single entry visa but only last for 7 days!!! They have no idea that what will happen in the future but this is what they can do for now...

I just picked a Macao travel agent at random and confirmed that this is the case.

Patboyy I do not understand what you mean by "if you have travel documents or family members...".

I was not told one needs those things to get the 7 day visa. Which is single entry.

Lots of conflicting information lately. ie, HK stopped issuing ALL visas, and Macau is only issuing single entry visas. No more multiple entry visas was strange enough, but no visas simply seems unlikely. Isn't the Guangzhou fair coming up soon?

Two more things:
1. Above message relates to China visas.
2. The other message that mentioned Macau residents use special pass to enter China. The resident pass is for entering and departing Macau. Foreigners still need a visa to enter China.

I also phoned a visa company in Hong Kong today and they are still issuing 90 day two entry visas.

You are absolutely right. Too much conflicting information.

Hi GG, what i mean is that you need to provide some documents to makesure and clarify your purpose to enter China, and for now, the travel agent in macau can only guarrantee applying a single entry visa (with 7 days permition to stay in the region).

Anyway, the documents that need to be provided can be either a valid return ticket which shows the applicant will be exiting china at certain date; reservation documents for hotel and transpotation arrangement within china for a planned holiday purpose; photo copies of family member/members Chinese ID such as spouse, parents or a close relative who is Chinese Citizen lives in china currently...

thats what i have been told by CTS Macau today. Hope this could clarify some of your questions. And here is the number if anyone like to call them: +853 7915116...which i tried several times and no one picked up, i guess they are busing with too many people consulting the same questions.

Last night, as I was retuning home from work at about 8:45, I noticed two men exiting the front door of my building and staring at me in a rather peculiar way. After we had passed a few steps from each other, they turned and hurried to get in front of me. They both flashed a leather folder with an ID card and some sort of a badge (both all written in Chinese) in my face, and started to talk to me in Cantonese. Apparently, the only English word they knew was “passport”.

I quickly figured out who they were (local cops) and what they wanted, and gestured for them to follow me to my apartment. When we got into the lift, one of them pressed the button for my floor. When we got to the door of my apartment (with me in the lead), I opened the stainless steel security door, entered, and then closed the security door before they could follow. They protested loudly in Cantonese.

I went directly to the bedroom and retrieved both my and my wife’s passports from the night table. I walked to my side of the security door and opened both passports to the front page (the ones with our pictures), and put them both up against the security door so that they could both see them. I then turned to the pages that contained our residence permits, and showed that to them as well.

When I presented the passports to them, they tried, repeatedly, to grasp them through the bars of the security door, all the while shouting at me in Cantonese. Although I do not understand Cantonese, I knew what they wanted, but I did not surrender either of the passports.

They both pulled out little notebooks and jotted down whatever they thought was important. After a few moments of a rather tense encounter, they apparently managed to read and write down the information they wanted. They shouted at me some more in Cantonese, and finally left in exasperation.

After they left, my wife (who is Thai, and does not speak or read any Chinese), told me that these same two men had been at our door about five minutes before I arrived.

Although our residence permits are valid until late Jan. of next year, I have the uneasy feeling that I have not heard the last of this. It will be interesting to see what comes of this when I go back to work this afternoon.

What does all of this mean? I don’t know. Just be sure that all of your documentation is in order, and NEVER, I mean NEVER, surrender your passpot to anyone except the proper officials at the PSB or customs.

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"I can't get no respect.............. no respect at all!"

Orrin,

Talk to the manager at your school.

Really...you/I/anyone else does not really know what is going on. I know that GLV is in a REAL mess regarding visas (three folks just 'deported'), so don't count on ANYTHING!

Yes good advice Orrin, and also:
in the last few years they have stopped the ID and passport checks when coming to Zhuhai from another city ( Guangzhou, Zhongshan etc...) BUT from 2 days ago, the checks are on again.
So don't forget your passport if you leave Zhuhai otherwise you will have some trouble to get back into the city.
In fact, according to the Chinese law, Foreigners MUST carry their passport at all times.