flyingcrazy

Hello all,

Does anyone know if the special 5 day visa on arrival for Shenzhen only at LoWu station is still available for citizens of the UK?

The most recent information I can get is that it was available to Brits in 2014 but changes randomly.

Thanks

moondog

Shenzhen VOA is currently suspended, likely until the end of G20, but when it is reimplemented, UK citizens will surely qualify (at the same high price levels that have applied during the past).

garykung

No if you are based on "official' information:

http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/en...z/t1021834.htm

You will have to join a tour group in order to qualify.

christep

The link says nothing about SEZ visas. It refers to visa-free entry to the PRD region as part of a tour group, but that's something different.

flyingcrazy

I will be over in December so you think it will be available again then?

Ill just try to wing it if not, I guess I would just get turned back by Chinese immigration at LoWu if I fail.

moondog

I've heard reports that failure actually entails a fairly substantial fine. That having been said, you'll be able to know whether or not VOA is in full swing (and applies to UK citizens) the day you try it so there really isn't any downside risk, as long as you bring enough cash to pay for your visa. Have you considered getting a true visa? I know you guys pay dearly for them because of the service center arrangement, but a regular L or M visa would obviously give you considerably more flexibility.

Rami Tamimi

I planned to go to Shenzhen last year...so arrived at Lo Wu,exited HKG and went upstairs to the visa on arrival desk and filled an application form in. I hold a Jordanian and a Russian passport,but only had the former on me during the trip. I handed the passport and the application form to the officer,he looked at thru his booklet for a few minutes and finally told me that the visa on arrival is not available for my type of passport and that I can only get it in HK. He did not tell me how can I go back to HK,so I just went back the same way as I came. I was stopped by a Chinese (not HK) officer,who sent me to an immigration desk after I explained the story to him. Explained my situation at the desk and they asked me to wait for a few minutes,after which they gave me an exit pass,which I then showed to the same guy who initially stopped me.

Back on HK side I told the officer that I want to go back,they asked for the reason and whether I purchased any tobacco. They then took me to a room,where I waited for 2-3 minutes and then escorted me out to the MTR platform.

My passport is clean,no Deported/refused stamps. That said I have not applied to Chinese visas since then (except HK SAR visa). I went to Shenzhen on my Russian passport a month after that and it went fine with no questions asked.

flyingcrazy

That sounds fairly painless, were you fined or anything?

Also is the visa office actually IN China, like on Chinese soil or is it still on the Hong Kong side?

Thanks

flyingcrazy

I only want to go over for a day trip really as I will be in Hong Kong over December, have thought about the Chinese visa but as you said it is very expensive its about Ł35 (same as VOA cost of 304 RMB) BUT has about Ł50 of admin fees/application fees/service fees added on.

Curious to know as well if the visa office for the visa on arrival at LoWu is on the Chinese soil or Hong Kong soil?

Thanks

christep

Chinese soil, as Rami Tamimi's description above clearly shows.

889

That visa office is on the Mainland side of the border. However, there's also long been a CTS office on the HK side at Lowu, right before exiting the MTR. This office, in the past at least, could arrange all-China visas while you wait, but you'd have to call to check the current situation and costs.

flyingcrazy

Just wandering cause ive gone through immigration before entering the country before i.e Russia on the Estonia border, US immigration in Canada/Ireland

flyingcrazy

Probably worth a shot calling them, thanks a lot for your help

Rami Tamimi

No fines whatsover and I was not even told off for doing it,they did not speak much to me actually.

The office is on the Chinese side of the "neutral" territory (ie:after you exit HK,but before entering Mainland.

Rami Tamimi

The office was still there (my friends were there 2 monts ago). That said I don't know why would anyone want to use it.

When I looked at applying for a Mainland visitor visa,they charged some 200-300HKD extra compared to doing it directly. It would make sense if you live on the Kowloon side and it may be less painful (ie less queues),but if you are in Lowu anyways and plan to get VOA,then I see no reason to use their services.

The VOA was very painless when I did it the second time. Get a form as you step off the escalator. It's a very short form (Name/passport details+your adress in the Mainland),if you are on a day trip-then just write "Day trip". You hand it in with your passport and pay the fee (in RMB only). You are then invited to sit down for 2-3 minutes while they process it. Very painless.