eChannel using passports
May 2, 2018, 3:14 am
#46
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,227
I arrived at PVG T2 yesterday and since the new fingerprint scanning procedures were introduced April 28th, I'm no longer able to use e-channel for entry. I was told by an officer that foreigners registered to use the e-channel will need to complete the fingerprint procedures at level 2 followed by manned passport control a total of 3 entries before being able to use e-channel again.
May 2, 2018, 9:04 pm
#47
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: China
Posts: 817
As mentioned in the fingerprinting thread, this is the complete opposite of my experience at PVG T2 yesterday. I asked the guy if I had to do the fingerprint scanning since I had e channel and he said to just go ahead to the e channel and I didn't need to do the fingerprinting. The e channel worked fine. It seems like they are just winging it with these rules. If they made me get the fingerprints I'd still try and use the e channel even if the guy at the fingerprint scanners tells you not to. The 3 entries thing sounds like a made up rule to me.
In any case will try again next time around.
May 2, 2018, 11:38 pm
#48
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 246
Perhaps the officers on duty when I was there were not aware of the procedures for foreigners registered for e-channel. I was stopped upstairs at the fingerprint scanning machines and told to scan despite telling them i had e-channel registration and again at the entrance to the e-channel lanes despite again telling them i was registered.
In any case will try again next time around.
In any case will try again next time around.
Last year, I was using the eChannel, and one of the times I was in line for the eChannel at PEK, a boarder guard came over and told me it was not for foreigners. She was shocked when I was able to enter the country though the eChannel.
May 25, 2018, 12:20 am
#49
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,227
Perhaps the officers on duty when I was there were not aware of the procedures for foreigners registered for e-channel. I was stopped upstairs at the fingerprint scanning machines and told to scan despite telling them i had e-channel registration and again at the entrance to the e-channel lanes despite again telling them i was registered.
In any case will try again next time around.
In any case will try again next time around.
May 25, 2018, 12:38 am
#50
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This actually have to do with how Chinese Immigration is organized. Unlike most countries, Chinese Immigration is not centralized. The personnel are mostly local employees.
Even the infrastructure is based on a single directive, the application is not. This is why each POE kind of has its own design and rules.
Even the infrastructure is based on a single directive, the application is not. This is why each POE kind of has its own design and rules.
May 27, 2018, 4:44 am
#51
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 246
This actually have to do with how Chinese Immigration is organized. Unlike most countries, Chinese Immigration is not centralized. The personnel are mostly local employees.
Even the infrastructure is based on a single directive, the application is not. This is why each POE kind of has its own design and rules.
Even the infrastructure is based on a single directive, the application is not. This is why each POE kind of has its own design and rules.
May 27, 2018, 12:33 pm
#53
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I realize that each province and indepent city has their own immigration rules. But, some things are national, like a valid ten your tourist visa in an exoired passport or the eChannel. If my wife went to the Exit Entry Administion and asked for her visa to be transferred, they would refuse to do it.
But the problem is visa is at the national level and is not issued by MPS, but MFA instead, which is similar to the U.S. (State Department issues visa, but CBP controls the immigration). Of course - no PSB will take care of that for you.
Also - don't forget one of the major issue - Chinese is the official language. So when you communicate in English, PSBs have all the excuses not to understand (it is also one of the reasons why rules against foreigners are lax than Chinese).
May 30, 2018, 9:36 am
#54
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: China
Posts: 817
For my latest flight I tried combining my first and middle names on my ticket & boarding pass as one single name (LAST/FIRSTMIDDLE rather than LAST/FIRST MIDDLE), and was able to successfully use the e-channel to exit the country this time. Perhaps a workaround for those having middle names, or I just got lucky this time.
Nov 21, 2018, 1:32 am
#55
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Beijing
Programs: SK EBG, BAEC Gold
Posts: 932
If anyone is having problems still using the eChannel leaving China as a result of the boarding pass name check, the magic words seem to be "mingzi tai chang le" (名字太长了). This has worked for me now both at T3 (last month) and T2 (today) where the assistants seem aware of the problem and can manually override the "computer says no" message. You may need to stress also that you are registered (注册了 - zhu ce le) for the eChannel.
Nov 21, 2018, 2:14 am
#56
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,227
I forgot to come here and comment when I left Hongqiao last time, about 3 weeks ago. It seems they have put in some fix for the exact name match issue and I can now use the exit as well as entry. This is great news and will give me even more certainty about arriving at PVG 1:10 before all my flights now!
Mar 26, 2019, 11:56 pm
#57
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Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,033
I forgot to come here and comment when I left Hongqiao last time, about 3 weeks ago. It seems they have put in some fix for the exact name match issue and I can now use the exit as well as entry. This is great news and will give me even more certainty about arriving at PVG 1:10 before all my flights now!
1. If you have an RP or similar, echannel is a MUST HAVE
2. I pulled off Shenzhen Bay (end to end) in under 6 minutes last week
3. Those of us with B RPs need to reapply every year
4. A RPs are valid for 3 or 5 years, but in Shanghai, you need to pay Y10k per month in taxes in order to qualify (few other cities seem to have this requirement)
Mar 27, 2019, 12:53 am
#58
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I am getting my Chinese work visa renewed in the same passport that I have registered for e-Channel two years ago, do I have to re-apply again or it is business as usual for me to access e-Channel?Any recent experience to share?Len
Mar 27, 2019, 1:38 am
#59
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You need to submit a new application. Hopefully, they will work out this bug within the next year.
Mar 27, 2019, 8:18 pm
#60
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,227
I renewed my residence permit last month in my same passport. You'll need to register again. I tried to register entering at PVG earlier in March and the immigration dude told me they had a new requirement (mentioned above) that you need to enter the normal way a couple times before they let you register for e channel now. I was in Shenzhen this past week and decided to try to register at Futian border crossing, the lady there processed my registration and said it would be active in one day. I entered through PVG yesterday using the e channel, so all is set for me for the next two years it seems.