Elliott says everyone needs a visa for China
May 22, 2015, 10:04 am
#1
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,399
Elliott says everyone needs a visa for China
I noticed a post on Christopher Elliott's blog that I think will amuse some people here: http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeo...o-visit-china/
In the blog entry from May 5, 2015, he asserts in the first line that "Any U.S. citizen visiting China needs a visa."
There's no mention of either 24 or 72 hour TWOV, nor does he specify MAINLAND China.
However, he does kindly provide a link to a visa service company called VisaRite. [Does anyone know whether's he's associated with VisaRite or gets profit from people using his link?] VisaRite states on the linked website (twice, in fact) that "Visitors travelling to mainland China require a visa, which should be obtained in advance." Here there's no citizenship qualification--presumably even Chinese citizens require visas to visit their own country, according to this visa service agency--and the "should be obtained in advance" phrasing suggests that you can also obtain a visa upon arrival, although it may be less convenient to do so.
If you can't get it right, why make it a post in your blog?
ADDED: the homepage of VisaRite also has includes the statement that "VisaRite guarantees the success of your visa application." That's amazing!
In the blog entry from May 5, 2015, he asserts in the first line that "Any U.S. citizen visiting China needs a visa."
There's no mention of either 24 or 72 hour TWOV, nor does he specify MAINLAND China.
However, he does kindly provide a link to a visa service company called VisaRite. [Does anyone know whether's he's associated with VisaRite or gets profit from people using his link?] VisaRite states on the linked website (twice, in fact) that "Visitors travelling to mainland China require a visa, which should be obtained in advance." Here there's no citizenship qualification--presumably even Chinese citizens require visas to visit their own country, according to this visa service agency--and the "should be obtained in advance" phrasing suggests that you can also obtain a visa upon arrival, although it may be less convenient to do so.
If you can't get it right, why make it a post in your blog?
ADDED: the homepage of VisaRite also has includes the statement that "VisaRite guarantees the success of your visa application." That's amazing!
Last edited by MSPeconomist; May 22, 2015 at 10:23 am
May 22, 2015, 10:48 am
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,399
May 22, 2015, 5:33 pm
#6
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Elliott is entirely too self-serving.
I read his columns and many of them are a joke. It's always how he, Saviour C. Elliott, was able singlehandedly to tilt with corporate windmills and win one for the hapless consumer. Never an article where the consumer was wrong, or where the corporate entity tells him to blag off.
So, yes, he's wrong on this one, as we know, and if he were 100% above board and not benefiting directly, truly concerned with helping the consumer, he'd have the proper links we do and mention some of the many longtime, reputable visa brokers out there.
I read his columns and many of them are a joke. It's always how he, Saviour C. Elliott, was able singlehandedly to tilt with corporate windmills and win one for the hapless consumer. Never an article where the consumer was wrong, or where the corporate entity tells him to blag off.
So, yes, he's wrong on this one, as we know, and if he were 100% above board and not benefiting directly, truly concerned with helping the consumer, he'd have the proper links we do and mention some of the many longtime, reputable visa brokers out there.
May 23, 2015, 8:26 am
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,399
That was a comment posted by someone else, Ingrid, and he doesn't even acknowlegde the post, let alone correct his blog entry to include this information. I guess we should compliment Elliott's organization for not censoring it.
May 24, 2015, 12:05 pm
#12
Ambassador: China
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Malibu Inferno Ground Zero
Programs: UA AA CO
Posts: 4,836
common definition would be you are required to have a visa when "visiting" China
c : to go to see or stay at (a place) for a particular purpose (as business or sightseeing)
Jun 21, 2015, 11:50 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 351
Visarite Good to me
Obviously, Visarite has exaggerated their qualifications. However, I have used them 4 times, and they have performed flawlessly. Several weeks ago, I applied for a visa and listed the Chinese mother of my children as deceased. The day my materials arrived, I got a call from Visarite asking me about this entry. They corrected it and added the name of my wife. They also delivered the visas applied for in about half the time they promised.