China Eastern long transit, visa doubt
 

Hello,

I am quite confused about the 24h visa-free transit for China.
I am booked on China Eastern from Osaka to Chiang Mai as follows:

• Sept 2nd: KIX to Kunming on CE 748. This flight departs KIX at 16:50 and arrives in Kunming at 00:25 the next day. However, it has a stopover in Shanghai PVG arriving at 18:20 and leaving at 20:55. Both legs are under the same flight number (CE748) although I pressume the immigration control will be done at PVG.
• On Sept. 3rd (same day as arrival in Kunming) at 20:00, I am booked on CE2595 from Kunming to Chiang Mai.
• I didn't do separate bookings, I just introduced Kansai to Chiang Mai when purchasing the ticket.

As I believed that the Immigration control will be done in PVG, and thus I would be slightly over the 24h visa-free transit allowance (arriving PVG at 18:20 on Sept 2nd and leaving Kunming at 20:00 on Sept 3rd), I have appllied for a transit visa at the Chinese Consulate in Osaka. However, on the same afternoon of my application, the Consulate called me to pick up the passport because I don't need visa (I am an EU citizen). The lady in the Consulate said that my travel arrangements fit within the 24h visa-free transit policy.

So, my worries are if this is correct, providing that my total transit, if counted from arrival in PVG, will be around 26h.

Is it that, because my flight Osaka-PVG-Kunming are under the same flight number, my transit time counts since the arrival in Kunming?

I don't want to have problems right after arriving, so any kind of advice is highly welcome!

Thanks

Technically, you are breaking the rule, but I think a letter from the consulate lady (you write it, she prints it on letterhead and signs it) would probably do the trick. The letter should state all relevant details, including the fact that you attempted to apply for a G visa, but were told that you didn't need one.

I asked for that, but she said they are not authorized to give such letters. She let me keep a copy of the application receipt, though, where it is stated that I applied for a G visa on a certain date. That's all.

I don't think it would ever be possible to obtain such a committing letter from them, whatsoever.

She examined my flight details, though, and said because the arrival and departure from KMG are within 24h, there would not be a problem. Yet this seems not to be exact.

Are you aware of any change in this rule since July 1st?

Million thanks!

Based on my understanding, you'd be in violation of the rule, but I would place a lot more confidence in her words than any of ours. Perhaps you could get her mobile number and ask her to be ready for a phone call around the time of your arrival in Shanghai.

Even with a letter, which is incorrect, good possibility you could be denied entrance to China at PVG.

I dare say that the consulate general in Osaka wields a little more power than any of the PVG officials. The returned G visa application is also a nice carrot.

By the time they authenticate the documents you could have already transited China.:p

So true! :p

I am beginning to suspect that perhaps the GC people just "misread" my flight details. If it counts from the arrival at the 1st transit point in China, my transit is 25:30h.

To avoid trouble, maybe I should reapply for the G visa with a diferent booking with longer stopover, to make it more "obvious" that I should have one. :confused:

This bothers me and I'm not sure what the OP should do--there aren't many options. The transit is in violation of the TWOV rule and it sounds like the Consular official in Osaka just didn't want to do the work. It's always a bummer when you can't even rely on officials to know their own rules and work with a foreigner who's trying to do the right thing. I disagree with moondog: the Immigration officials on the front lines at PVG will wield more power than anybody sitting at a desk in Japan.

However, I'm not sure the OP will even make it to China, as boarding may be denied by China Eastern at KIX when s/he shows up with no visa. Or, when Exit Immigration is done at KMG, Chinese official will notice the overage and a scolding and/or fine will be levied on the OP.

OP, what about going back to the Osaka Consulate with your application, try to pick a day/time and get a different person, and demand that you want that Transit Visa. Just don't take no for an answer and insist you need and want the visa. Failing that, what about the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo?

Yes, that's what I will do, as it looks like I need a visa in any case. Also consulting the IATA Travel Center (http://www.iatatravelcentre.com/), which lets you input the hours and dates of arrival/departure, it shows clearly that my case needs a G visa. Hopefully, with some insistance, maybe they will issue it for me.

Unfortunately, info from the CG staff it is always rather unreliable and it is better to double check.

The people at the Chinese consulate in Osaka are generally a pain to deal with and will look for any excuse to get rid of you without having to do any paperwork. The best example of this is that they will attempt to refuse all applications for L visas, insisting that all applications must be made as part of a tour group... Arming oneself with printed regulations and being able to argue in Chinese or Japanese will generally get one of the girls behind the counter to acquiesce and accept the forms, but it's always a battle.

The best approach, in my experience, is to employ the services of one of the agencies across the street from the consulate. They'll be able to get you pretty much whatever you want if you pay enough (including two-year F visas and fake[?] invite letters), and should certainly be able to pull off a lowly transit visa for a reasonable charge.

Scifience, it's very interesting what you say, and I see that I'm not the only one who is having trouble with the people at the CG in Osaka.

In fact, every time I had to go to China from here there is one story or another. They now refuse to accept any L visa application made directly in person. Appearently is the "new rule": you must do it through the agency/vegetable store accross the street, although I am completely unable to see this new regulation stated anythere. This is very annoying.

Another time I applied for a double L, with an invitation made by a Chinese citizen including copy of the passaport, copy of the Hukou, address in China, dates, flights, etc., in order to do a private visit. Of course, they consider such application unacceptable. Instead of the original invitation letter, with the original purpose of travel stated, they ask you to pay the store in front of the GC to obtain fake documentation that, unlike the original one, will be accepted without problem :confused:. If I was a suspicious person, I would be inclined to think that there is some business under the table going on there.

If you need to clear immigration at PVG, the transit time allowed at PVG airport is now 72 hours as long as your passport is one of the 45 nationalities listed (Japan included). If not, better ask China Eastern where you clear immigration and what type of visa you need. There is also a chance that you might not need to get off the plane at PVG and will clear immigration in Kunming, in which case, it's surely less than 24 hours.

For the 72 hour TWOV at PVG, you must then leave from PVG or SHA. You must also stay within the Shanghai area. You cannot fly to another Chinese airport.

The chance of this is 0%.