It's not just a proposal, it has been approved by the State Council.

Hopefully enforcement (or allowance I should say) is trouble-free and universal.

I personally wouldn't jump on a plane January 1st without a visa....

Technically you can check in on the 30th (North America) for an arrival on the 1st, but...

I would like to see the mainline carrier that will allow that except for perhaps Air China (even then I really doubt it).

The last time I used the TWOV for 48 hours departing from BKK I was almost not allowed to board- the staff were super nervous as they had let someone go two weeks before who was not from one of the "allowed" countries and thus they had an email from someone saying no TWOV for more than 24 hours. Fortunately they let me on the plane- but it was right down to the wire. Of course no problems at PVG- that really doesn't help someone if they can't get on the plane though.

I wouldn't roll the dice on this until at least 01 MAR for peace of mind.

Problem is jumping on a plane. If you have no documented proof...the airline won't let you board.

Is it worth it to buy a ticket thats not refundable or blow your whole trip if timatic does not
update quickly?

Seems not...best to wait and see.

Agreed. See my post above #155.

Thanks. That is what I found yesterday. At least on the Star Alliance site, it's a bit confusing to get the visa rule to pop up, and the information they give you is pretty limited. I recall a couple of years ago seeing the full language of the rule on Timatic. Oh, well. It should be enough.

BTW, there was nothing listed in what I saw on Timatic that mentioned the new 72 hour policy. It's a shame, because I probably would have been one of the first to utilize it. But without it being on Timatic, there's no way I'm going to risk it. And the window to change my plans is closing fast. Too bad.

Methinks it won't be listed on TIMATIC until it is actually implemented. There have been too many cases in the past about policies like this never coming to life.

+1

Any clues as to whether Hong Kong would count as an international onward destination? It is part of China, I know, but for immigration purposes usually international, HK and Macau are thrown together, right? I have a LON-HKG flight connecting in PVG and I'd like to take advantage of the new 72hr visa-waiver scheme.

Hong Kong counts as an onward international destination for the purpose of the 48 hour TWOV. I have not seen any text on the new 72-hour waiver (which I don't think has been approved officially yet by the way)- you are definitely OK for the 48 hour waiver.

Yeah, I'm just a few weeks too early. Oh, well. It''s mostly costing me a good night's sleep (I'm taking a red-eye to PVG to get under the 48 hours, and I would have taken a late afternoon flight instead).

In late January, I will be traveling home to the U.S. from an Australian vacation and stopping in Shanghai overnight on the way home. Specifically, I will be departing Sydney on Cathay Pacific, stopping in Hong Kong for a 2 hour layover, and then flying from Hong Kong to Shanghai PVG (also on Cathay Pacific). At Shanghai, I will be leaving the airport and staying overnight at a Shanghai hotel (for approximately 24 hours) before flying home to New York on American Airlines. Everything I've read here on FlyerTalk, on the US State Department website, the Chinese Consulate website, and other websites say that I don't need a visa, since I will simply be transiting China, and since my transit point in China is Shanghai PVG, I'm allowed to leave the airport for 48 hours (to be extended to 72 hours in 2013) as long as I stay in the city of Shanghai and register with the police (which my hotel will do for me). The requirements also state I need a valid passport and visa for my final destination (visa not required since I am a citizen of my final destination), and my tickets for the final destination (since using e-tickets I will also have a printout of the invoice showing amount paid). So it sounds like I have all my ducks in a row and should be fine. HOWEVER, I'm very scared to get there and find out that for some reason I do need a visa -- I don't want to not be let into the country, let alone risk arrest, detention, fines, or anything else bad. I'm also afraid that they might not let me on the flight to Shanghai (I've heard some airlines haven't let people on flights under this situation, even when the policy of not needing a visa under this scenario was clearly shown to them). I tried calling the Chinese consulate in New York, and they said that because I'm on a different airline (CX) to Shanghai than I am on my flight from Shanghai (AA), they weren't sure if it counted as a layover and they gave me the number to the security office in Shanghai, but nobody spoke English when I tried calling there. I've tried calling the NY Chinese consulate office back but the line is busy now and I can't get through. So I figured I would post here. I have 10 days before I'm supposed to leave for Australia, and that's plenty of time to get a Visa (it takes 4-5 working days max according to the consulate's website). I don't want to go through the time and expense of getting a visa if it's not needed, which everything I've read says that it isn't, but I'll certainly get one if there's any risk whatsoever in not being let in, as that's less stressful than getting there and finding out I did need one! Advice and help, please! Thanks in advance.

Nothing to be scared about. The Chinese Immigration officials are very up to speed about this. Just show proof of your onward travel within 48 (now 72) hours, and they will escort you to a central desk where an officer will check with the airline or something and stamp your visa. You will be past security before your bags come out. It's very perfunctory.

The only potential problem is with your airline not being aware of the exemption. Most of them are...Bring the print out and stand your ground and they will find someone internally who has a clue and clears you for travel/boarding. Have a good trip.