Jun 4, 2013, 2:02 pm
Last edit by: mnbp
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Visa Information for the People's Republic of China (PRC, Mainland China)
Important: China's visa terms and conditions changed effective 12 Nov 2014 as far as duration, and 1 July 2013 for requirements and procedures. Do not rely on information posted prior to that date.
Note new FT thread regarding up to ten year visa duration: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...ov-2014-a.html
The PRC allows certain foreigners to transit China without a visa if they will be exiting the country within 24, 72 or 144 hours provided various other conditions are met. Please see the separate China 24, 72, and 144 hour Transit Without Visa ("TWOV") rules master thread and Wikipost for detailed rules and discussion.
The best source of current visa and travel document requirements is IATA'S TIMATIC, as that is what the airlines rely upon to determine whether they will permit you to fly. Star Alliance provides a free, easy-to-use TIMATIC tool to help you identify your exact requirements based on nationality, residency and specific itinerary. The SkyTeam alliance website contains a link which also allows you free use of TIMATIC, including good printouts of the information.
Note that posts made prior to 1 July 2013 have been archived, but are still available for reference at China Visa / Visas Master Thread (ARCHIVED). The old FAQ: Visa-Free Transit / TWOV thread is also closed but available for reference.
China Forum Ambassadors: moondog----------anacapamalibu----------jiejie----------mnredfox
(lower right wiki corner).Visa Information for the People's Republic of China (PRC, Mainland China)
Main source: Visa Page - Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America (external website)
Important: China's visa terms and conditions changed effective 12 Nov 2014 as far as duration, and 1 July 2013 for requirements and procedures. Do not rely on information posted prior to that date.
Note new FT thread regarding up to ten year visa duration: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...ov-2014-a.html
The PRC allows certain foreigners to transit China without a visa if they will be exiting the country within 24, 72 or 144 hours provided various other conditions are met. Please see the separate China 24, 72, and 144 hour Transit Without Visa ("TWOV") rules master thread and Wikipost for detailed rules and discussion.
The best source of current visa and travel document requirements is IATA'S TIMATIC, as that is what the airlines rely upon to determine whether they will permit you to fly. Star Alliance provides a free, easy-to-use TIMATIC tool to help you identify your exact requirements based on nationality, residency and specific itinerary. The SkyTeam alliance website contains a link which also allows you free use of TIMATIC, including good printouts of the information.
Note that posts made prior to 1 July 2013 have been archived, but are still available for reference at China Visa / Visas Master Thread (ARCHIVED). The old FAQ: Visa-Free Transit / TWOV thread is also closed but available for reference.
China Forum Ambassadors: moondog----------anacapamalibu----------jiejie----------mnredfox
China Visa / Visas Master Thread (all you need to know)
Nov 19, 2015, 11:25 am
#991
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,179
Nov 19, 2015, 7:59 pm
#992
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
Maybe won't help for your upcoming China trip/TWOV, but you should look into getting a second US passport. They can be granted to extremely frequent international travelers (generally businesspeople) so they can travel on one passport while simultaneously getting visas in the other.
Nov 23, 2015, 9:02 am
#993
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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Get a second USA passport and check whether Canada will also issue a second passport to the Canadian citizen.
Dec 1, 2015, 5:02 am
#995
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 353
Got mine a few days ago from the chinese embassy in Berlin.
Dec 2, 2015, 12:29 pm
#996
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,179
I just picked up a new PRC visa at the consulate in DC:
-dropped off at 2p yesterday (no line at all for afternoon drop offs, both yesterday and today)
-paid an extra $20 for rush processing
-picked up at 2p today (I had to wait about 10 minutes for my number to be called)
For those of you who are curious, I ended up with a 2 year M -- 90 days/stay... not so great considering I am accustomed to 120 days/stay, but the counter lady simply wasn't willing to endorse 120 days/stay.
-dropped off at 2p yesterday (no line at all for afternoon drop offs, both yesterday and today)
-paid an extra $20 for rush processing
-picked up at 2p today (I had to wait about 10 minutes for my number to be called)
For those of you who are curious, I ended up with a 2 year M -- 90 days/stay... not so great considering I am accustomed to 120 days/stay, but the counter lady simply wasn't willing to endorse 120 days/stay.
Dec 2, 2015, 5:35 pm
#997
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: China and Canada
Posts: 1,886
I just picked up a new PRC visa at the consulate in DC:
-dropped off at 2p yesterday (no line at all for afternoon drop offs, both yesterday and today)
-paid an extra $20 for rush processing
-picked up at 2p today (I had to wait about 10 minutes for my number to be called)
For those of you who are curious, I ended up with a 2 year M -- 90 days/stay... not so great considering I am accustomed to 120 days/stay, but the counter lady simply wasn't willing to endorse 120 days/stay.
-dropped off at 2p yesterday (no line at all for afternoon drop offs, both yesterday and today)
-paid an extra $20 for rush processing
-picked up at 2p today (I had to wait about 10 minutes for my number to be called)
For those of you who are curious, I ended up with a 2 year M -- 90 days/stay... not so great considering I am accustomed to 120 days/stay, but the counter lady simply wasn't willing to endorse 120 days/stay.
Dec 2, 2015, 8:11 pm
#998
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,702
I just picked up a new PRC visa at the consulate in DC:
-dropped off at 2p yesterday (no line at all for afternoon drop offs, both yesterday and today)
-paid an extra $20 for rush processing
-picked up at 2p today (I had to wait about 10 minutes for my number to be called)
For those of you who are curious, I ended up with a 2 year M -- 90 days/stay... not so great considering I am accustomed to 120 days/stay, but the counter lady simply wasn't willing to endorse 120 days/stay.
-dropped off at 2p yesterday (no line at all for afternoon drop offs, both yesterday and today)
-paid an extra $20 for rush processing
-picked up at 2p today (I had to wait about 10 minutes for my number to be called)
For those of you who are curious, I ended up with a 2 year M -- 90 days/stay... not so great considering I am accustomed to 120 days/stay, but the counter lady simply wasn't willing to endorse 120 days/stay.
Dec 3, 2015, 2:42 am
#1000
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,179
-10 years @ 60 days/stay
-2 years @ 90 days/stay
While I'm aware that many people have snagged 10 years @ 90+ days/stay, this wasn't on offer to me. (If I had gotten a different counter person, perhaps it would have been.)
Dec 3, 2015, 9:29 am
#1001
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: China and Canada
Posts: 1,886
I wonder if they ever issue 120 days anymore. I have to renew my driver's license this year and I wonder if the rule is that you need a visa for at least 90 or more than 90 days. As I recall, when I got my original license they were looking for 90 days left at the time of application. I may need to call on some guanxi here....
Dec 3, 2015, 11:23 am
#1002
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,417
Observation: My wife and I submitted at the same time. She got 10y/90 days, I got 10y/60 days. The only difference I can see is that she's China-born.
Dec 31, 2015, 8:11 am
#1003
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: North America
Programs: DL Diamond, former UA1K MM lifetime (left UA for DL), FPCPlat, DL Biz and Plat Amex
Posts: 644
Jan 4, 2016, 12:11 am
#1005
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,108
Don't know on what possible basis you're spreading that kind of rumor here. I hope you've got some foundation for it. Make a post like that and it can take on a life of its own.
My impression is that the 10-year visas are, if anything, more popular among Chinese than Americans. If there's a problem, it's that Chinese get 90 to 180 days stay per entry, while Americans generally get just 60 days. Not right given the Chinese emphasis on reciprocity, at least when it suits them.
My impression is that the 10-year visas are, if anything, more popular among Chinese than Americans. If there's a problem, it's that Chinese get 90 to 180 days stay per entry, while Americans generally get just 60 days. Not right given the Chinese emphasis on reciprocity, at least when it suits them.