G-CIVC

This is the part I'm skeptical about, I understand that the party doctrine (as through http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/immig...hinese/law.htm) is that all foreign passports of HKers will be acknowledged and allowed as 'travel documents' only. My case is #3 and #4 in the 'explanation'. But I'm not sure if this is understood for every single border officer and how consistent they are, given this is China not Japan......in fact I remember an HK celeb writing about how he merely made a remark of 'you guys (你們中國)...blabla' at PEK security and was grilled quite a bit by the officer.

I haven't been to the PRC for a very, very long time. I just thought it wouldn't be culturally appropriate to openly challenge a government official in this case, and it could lead to serious consequences. Maybe I'm just paranoid here...

percysmith

May be the British Nationality Selection Scheme, or he may have undertaken regular naturalisation.

Short of an explicit renouciation at HK immigration dept 18 months following the handover (which only one of my friends undertook), we're all Chinese citizens (I'm not sure how HK resident Chinese citizens with foreign citizenship can renounce their Chinese citizenship after that date).

I just find that CPG tends to be very creative when "discovering" a foreign citizen ethnic Chinese has Chinese citizenship when it suits them.

Bluehen1

I'll answer #4. I assume you're talking about the Hilton Meilan Haikou. I've been there three times. It's my "get away from the Chinese without leaving China" location. The hotel is, by now, coming up on two years old. It's never been close to full. Since the Chinese don't like the sun, the pools and beach are nearly deserted during prime sun hours. I usually just go down for weekend relaxation so I can't tell you about the shuttle into town. Executive Lounge is nice but may still not be serving breakfast yet. Have always gotten an upgrade to a suite when I've gone there as a Diamond. Taxi price is about 100 MB from airport and 80 to the airport. Roads on the way there are some of the worst I've been on in China.

moondog

I would certainly include it; hold it on aa.com, if possible. "Buying" from other sites (e.g. united.com or Expedia) also works, but it can take up to 10 weeks to get your money back when cancelling within 24 hours.

I always advise people to list multiple trips, whether actually planned or not.

They are the most mentioned visa agency here, and get good reviews. However, I've never had a problem with their (cheaper) competitors.

Bowgie

Yeah, that's the one. Thanks for the report. I noticed on Hilton's website, another Hilton closer into town is "coming soon", but not in time for my trip.

Bowgie

Brilliant idea for getting proof of air travel, but in my case I already booked everything almost year ago using the last of my Avios -- back before BA devalued them.

Bluehen1

Enjoy! The one thing that I forgot to mention is that the area that the Hilton in is nearly deserted. You'll see a lot of villas on your way in and nearby but I don't think I've ever seen anyone in them. The Hilton is to the east of the city while most of the other resorts and, I believe, the DoubleTree are to the west.

ColoradoCane

I will be traveling to China as a tourist for the first time in a month, so I apologize if this is a stupid question. I am currently employed by the federal government and work as an attorney for an independent agency within the federal government. The options for "occupation" on the Chinese Tourist visa are limited.

Does anyone have a recommendation for which box I should check since I will have to also list the agency where I work?

jiejie

Item 1.15-- Check "Company Employee"
Item 1.17--Put name of agency down if it is not going to put up a potential red flag to the Chinese. If it would, then you'll need to use acronyms and maybe dance a bit beyond that. Three examples of federal independent agency employers with various implications:
(a) Consumer Financial Protection Bureau....not a problem to list as such.
(b) Environmental Protection Agency....likely not an issue, but maybe just list as "EPA" on the Employer line.
(c) Central Intelligence Agency....um, you'll probably want to entirely avoid listing this or the acronym. In which case you might want to become in 1.15 an "Other--Consulting Attorney" and list your own address as the business address.

I once advised a would-be Chinese tourist visa applicant--an active duty USAF fellow based in Ohio--to adjust his employer to "The Wright-Patterson Companies." Actually, you don't say where you are living or applying, but if it's the Washington DC area, the Chinese Embassy certainly sees many tourist visa applications from federal government workers so I wouldn't get unduly concerned about this.

ColoradoCane

Thank you very much! This is extremely helpful!

mspel

I reported my US passport lost but then found it. It contains my 10 year multiple entry chinese visa. I have applied for and received a new replacement passport.

Technically the Visa is valid in the "lost" passport and the new passport is also valid.

I know that China allows people to carry 2 passports (an expired one with a valid visa) and the passenger's current valid passport to enter the country.

Does this apply in the case of a lost then found passport?

Additionally does anyone who used 2 passports to enter China know if they scanned both passports? Or just scanned the new passport and looked at the old visa.

Respond with any feedback! Thanks

gpia

Starting with the second question: i have done that many times. They never scan the old passport, but look at the picture and visa only. The reason they don't scan it though is because the visa holding passport was made invalid (portion cut out), rendering it unreadable in the first place.

Having said that, I wouldn't try to enter China with a "working" passport that is reported stolen - instead, i would probably check with the agency that issues your passport and see if they/you can make the old one invalid. Since they are not going to scan that one, i would guess you're fine. I would still confirm this with your passport authority though, they'll know in which case a visa is valid or not.

JPDM

You can enter with a passport while have the visa in an older passport that is no longer valid. I believe that while in China, you can have you visa transferred to your new passport.

jiejie

I don't think you have any issues here. That first passport was electronically flagged and invalidated once you reported it lost. It's not really any different than getting a new passport while being able to submit the old one, the only difference being your old one won't have a "cancelled" stamp, a corner cut off, or some physical mark showing the termination. A still-valid Chinese visa in that passport should still work fine, in conjunction with the new passport. The Chinese will scan only the new passport, not the old, and your travel details (air ticket info, etc) will all be according to the new passport number. Just paper clip the old passport to open up at the Chinese visa page, and hand officer that and the new passport together.

I think that if you try to hand over or send off your old passport to a US passport office, to get physically invalidated, you run the risk of it and that Chinese visa getting lost. When I renewed my US passport about 6 months ago, it came back without any cancelled stamp inside it, just 2 holes (size same as for 3-ring binder paper) in the front cover about 1/4" from the opening edge and 3" apart. The holes fall in that bar coded information on the bottom of the photo/information page, rendering it unscannable.

Tyler23

Hi all, new member here.

Has anyone here used PassportsandVisas.com?

I need to get a China visa for my wife and I and need to make sure I can get it with a quick turnaround time. They have great reviews on Trustpilot, but of course there are some reviews saying the service is a scam.

I see those types of reviews, though, with nearly every company that offers this service, so not sure how seriously I should take that.