What about China Multiple Entry visa now that Olympics are over ?

Posted by mayita (447 days ago)

What about China Multiple Entry visa now that Olympics are over ?

Did anyone asked and obtained a 6 month or a one year multiple entry visa to China ?

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience on this matter.

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Posted by JinHK (446 days ago)

I have been told that the restrictions will be lifted after October 17th. My 1 year runs out at end September so am hoping the information is correct.

Posted by Land Cruiser (446 days ago)

If you want more on this issue read the article in the August AmCham Magazine which suggests things might not go back to the way they used to be. The article states "At present, the best case scenario appears to be the issuance of a 2 time visit visa that expires within 6 months." And those seeking multiple visas would do better to go to the visa offices in person "rather" than work through a travel agent". Now who has the time to do that...

Posted by DaHKGKid (446 days ago)

Yeah, that China Visa Office is a nightmare! Can you say CASHGRAB!!!!

Posted by mfcinla (446 days ago)

You can currently get a 12 month multi entry tourist visa but not a business visa. Doesn't make any sense to me but it's available.

Posted by evildeeds (446 days ago)

"You can currently get a 12 month multi entry tourist visa but not a business visa. Doesn't make any sense to me but it's available."

You wont get it in HK. It is possible back in your home countries but even then it is not a given.

Posted by Starbucks2 (445 days ago)

I have asked through my work travel agent and they have said no multiple entry visas at the moment but maybe after mid Oct. Best you can get now is a single or double entry. I can still get a visa at the border (with HKID card) but it is chewing through pages in my passport with the single entry visas taking up a whole page!!

Posted by sarah jane jj (445 days ago)

The Parolympics is still to take place,my travel agent said mid October visas MAY be back to normal.

Posted by mrsmith (444 days ago)

FYI:
I went to Shenzhen with a friend today. We both got dual entry visas a day earlier from the Wan Chai office. We were the only gweilos in line at Lo Wu and we were held for an extra 10 minutes while the immigration officers repeatedly inspected the visas and passport. we showed our HK ID cards but they still kept looking and checking. They seemed to have a problem with the coding on the visa. I asked what the problem was and they said "checking".
This never happened before. This is harassment.
On the way to Lo Wu, we saw the through train pass through. It was empty.
We saw just two other Caucasians pass through at the same time at Lo Wu. We returned through Lok Ma Chau and there was only one other foreigner.
In the past, we would have seen dozens of foreigners at this time of the year.
Lucky for us the factory is in the SEZ cos otherwise I have no idea how you would get a train or plane to where we have to go for a simple three hour return trip done by the factory's car and driver.

Posted by chungwan (444 days ago)

mrsmith,

you were held for an extra 10 mins and you are crying harassment?!

China has it's own way of dealing with things - which we might not completely agree - but it works.

People entering the US are subjected to a much much more stringent scrutiny. But they dont call that harassment - they call it war on terror.

Posted by evildeeds (444 days ago)

I go through on different days of the week, every week and the queues have been huge at Lo Wu, albeit I'm going through before 8am. Yes they are taking longer to inspect but not what I would even term harassment. This year I have been taken to the side once on the way in and once on the way out. But that's part and parcel of China immigration.

Posted by lace (444 days ago)

I go through Lowu 1-2 times a week on a regular basis. The checking of my passport has never taken longer than before the visa restrictions, I have never been taken aside and not once I had to show my Hong Kong ID card. I have a EU passport, issued in Hong Kong and it states Hong Kong as place of residence.

Posted by mrsmith (444 days ago)

i never got stopped in the US or other countries. if they did the same, i would call it harassment too.

Posted by 9-11 (444 days ago)

Maybe "never got stopped in the US" {Immigration} but whenever I've flown in to Kennedy, LAX or San Fran - I've always seen horrendously long - slow moving queues just to get in to the country.

Never had it so slow in ANY other country I visit.

Posted by Electrode (442 days ago)

Call 3413 2424.

It's the Chinese Consulate (or whatever it is nowadays) in Wanchai.

They are very helpful and will tell you the current situation.

In my experience, they are the fastest cheapest most convenient solution for China visas. Every time I've applied for a 3yr multi, I've got it. But I don't know at the moment as mine doesn't expire until next year.

Posted by leftfootvolley (439 days ago)

electrode....do you know if the 3 year multi visa is transferable to a new passport...as mine expires in 2010....but my passport is now full and hasto be renewed...has anyone been able to transfer visas?

Posted by elysium168 (439 days ago)

I was given a 6 month multiple entry end of July when applying with a letter from our company in China (my second attempt) to request for multiple entry, and showing that I had gone through 3 or 4 dual entry visas since the time they suspend issuing it.
Officially, the 6 month multiple entry had not been suspended or stopped. very likely they are issuing it to the minimum level.

Posted by 190k (438 days ago)

LFV,

I had that problem a few years ago and had to get a new visa at full cost

Posted by MayC (438 days ago)

I know that with HK visa, I didn't need to get a new visa transferred. I only needed to bring along my old and new passports when crossing the border.

I'm not sure about China visa though. Maybe you could ask them the next time you go across?

Posted by jaysmith (438 days ago)

I have recently gotten a new passport, and so far they have been accepting my visa which is still in the old passport. However, you have to account for interpretation of regulations and overzealous border guards. Nothing can be said for sure when it comes to China and its visa regulations !!

Posted by Electrode (438 days ago)

I really don't know.
Give them a call or try 'dry-run' at the border to see if it works.
It will only cost you the price of a kcr journey and half a day.
And if it works you can shop till you drop in a foot massage parlour:)

Posted by mayita (423 days ago)

THanks for all your comments.
Any new updates ?
Did someone (bare Elysium) get a multiple entry (6 + months) visa to China recently ?
Pls. advise.

Posted by NZlawyergirl (420 days ago)

I haven't actually applied for one yet but our work travel agent has said that we are now able to apply for multiple China visas - 6 - 12 month (I understand that you get a 6 month one first time and then able to apply for a 1 year one next time but I managed to get a 1 year one first time).

Posted by hhy339 (420 days ago)

NZlawyergirl, if you don't mind, could you kindly email me your travel agent's name and contact info? My email address is helen.hu111@yahoo.com. Thank you.

Posted by supercat (419 days ago)

Visas are definitely available as of last Tuesday: a friend of mine went to get yet another 2-entry visa and upon collection was informed that had he waitied a day, (which was quite possible), he could have applied for a 6 month multiple-entry visa. Spanked!

Posted by mayita (419 days ago)

Hello Supercat.
What is your friend's nationality ?

Hello HHY339,
Does your work travel agent specify potential restriction on some nationalities, so far ?

Thanks for letting the thread know.

Posted by annaya (419 days ago)

i heard from immigration officer in Guangzhou, they already letting down visa matter for certain country.and step by step, little by little they will let down this visa procedure back to normal. so, who will be the last??? he said for sure Philipines and Srilanka and india, because we found so many illegal immigrant from this country in Jail, and seems their consul dont care at all.

source: the 2nd man position in Guangzhou immigration office, alien party

Posted by MayC (416 days ago)

Yup, everything seems back to normal now.

I've just submitted my application for a 3 year visa and my travel agent has not said anything.

A few months ago, they said I couldn't apply for multiple entries but this time they said I could apply a visa for 3 years (3 year visa is allowed for permanent HKID holders of non-chinese origin).

Posted by Liezl (415 days ago)

my husband just got his 1 yr multiple entry last week

Posted by Team NZ (413 days ago)

Any recommendations on a tame travel agent, we were suggested :
Japan Travel Agency in TST..... would appreciate any feedback.

We are processing ourselves rather than through a company. (NZ Passport)

Thanks very much

Posted by mayita (413 days ago)

Hello
1) To the people of this thread : a French friend of mine just GOT (today) HIS 6 MONTH MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA TO CHINA.

2) to Team NZ : better start your own thread, so that people can see from the title what you are looking for, when browsing the forum. Also you can set up an option to receive a mail anytime some one answers your thread.

Posted by mayita (409 days ago)

Has anyone of you know if someone who is not residing in HK can get a business multiple entry visa to China ?
Thanks in advance.
m

Posted by evildeeds (409 days ago)

"Has anyone of you know if someone who is not residing in HK can get a business multiple entry visa to China ? "

Yes in your own country of origin. So far the rules have been relaxed for HKID card holders only.

Posted by ms2657 (408 days ago)

I just collected my multiple 12 mointh entry on Friday 10th Oct so the restrictions are lifted already. Applying took 10 mins, but collection takes at least 2 hours!

Posted by XDSIMON (407 days ago)

IS THAT REALLY THAT WE CAN NOW GET 3 YRS VISA WITH HK PERNEMENT I.D.CARD.

Posted by mayita (406 days ago)

SDSIMON

Here is the answer bu MayC, which, i think, answers your question:

"Posted by MayC (10 days ago)

Yup, everything seems back to normal now.

I've just submitted my application for a 3 year visa and my travel agent has not said anything.

A few months ago, they said I couldn't apply for multiple entries but this time they said I could apply a visa for 3 years (3 year visa is allowed for permanent HKID holders of non-chinese origin)."

Posted by jvansmit (405 days ago)

how does one apply for a multiple entry visa without going via a travel agent?

Posted by mayita (405 days ago)

Through the China embassy :
here come the description in English, as well as the price list:

http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/

Posted by mayita (405 days ago)

Sorry this was the China embassy in the US
if you are in HK, pls. check

http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/bgfwxx/

Enquiry Service
1, Tel- Enquiry
24 hour Recorded Visa Information Service: left number: image number part: resizable self number: resizable 852-34132300 right number: image

Live Answering Telephone: left number: image number part: resizable self number: resizable 852-34132424 right number: image (available at 10:00-11:00am, 3:00-4:00pm on workdays)

2,Fax: 852-34132312

3, Email: fmcovisa_hk@mfa.gov.cn

4,Website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the P.R.China: http://www.fmprc.gov.cn