Do I need a VISA?
Jan 17, 2018, 8:19 am
#16
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: China and Canada
Posts: 1,886
"A foreign citizen who is transiting through China by air is exempted from a visa if he/she will stay only inside the airport (without entering the boder control) for no more than 24 hours and has a valid connecting ticket with confirmed seating on an international flight."
Visa-free Entry into Mainland China
Introduction to Chinese Visa ? Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America (here is the same info on the USA Chinese Embassy website with a list of countries)
So for the OP assuming he can get a boarding pass from a transit desk, mobile boarding pass or get one at the point of origin then no visa is required. Those details are from the Chineses embassy in Australia but I'd guess for most it would be the same. I'd suggest just double checking prior to travel (with your countries Chinese embassy) and having printed copies of the details stating no visa and also your airline tickets.
Visa-free Entry into Mainland China
Introduction to Chinese Visa ? Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America (here is the same info on the USA Chinese Embassy website with a list of countries)
So for the OP assuming he can get a boarding pass from a transit desk, mobile boarding pass or get one at the point of origin then no visa is required. Those details are from the Chineses embassy in Australia but I'd guess for most it would be the same. I'd suggest just double checking prior to travel (with your countries Chinese embassy) and having printed copies of the details stating no visa and also your airline tickets.
Jan 17, 2018, 8:37 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
Location: SE Michigan
Programs: FlyingBlue Silver, Skymiles Peon, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Chase Reserve
Posts: 61
I do live in Michigan with an American passport so I will start searching for visa agent today. Thanks everyone for the advice!
Jan 17, 2018, 1:05 pm
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
Location: SE Michigan
Programs: FlyingBlue Silver, Skymiles Peon, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Chase Reserve
Posts: 61
I found a local place that can do 3-4 day expedite. The one thing they say in their application instructions is for tourism you must supply your round trip air tickets and hotel reservation. My stop is only for 2 hours and thus I won't have a hotel reservation... hoping this won't be an isse.
Jan 17, 2018, 1:35 pm
#20
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: UA, Starwood, Priority Club, Hertz, Starbucks Gold Card
Posts: 3,952
Just search online for any Beijing hotel and copy down the address. The address info is just formality to have your visa processed, but you absolutely need to provide it in the application or it will be returned.
You will be asked again for your intended stay address on the landing card during your flight. On that one, you can omit.
You will be asked again for your intended stay address on the landing card during your flight. On that one, you can omit.
Jan 17, 2018, 4:42 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
Location: SE Michigan
Programs: FlyingBlue Silver, Skymiles Peon, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Chase Reserve
Posts: 61
Just search online for any Beijing hotel and copy down the address. The address info is just formality to have your visa processed, but you absolutely need to provide it in the application or it will be returned.
You will be asked again for your intended stay address on the landing card during your flight. On that one, you can omit.
You will be asked again for your intended stay address on the landing card during your flight. On that one, you can omit.
Jan 17, 2018, 6:04 pm
#22
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405
Don't play around with immigration officers. The best case scenario is being thrown out. Worst case scenarios include a) arrested ,b) paying fines, c) sitting off jail sentences, d) having issues in the future when travelling to other nations (chiefly those asking you in the VOA/visa application "Have you ever been deported?"/"Have you ever been found guilty in a criminal case", etc), and e) deportation. Assuming that they let you on the plane in the first place...
@mtu_flyer: Good luck in getting that visa and enjoy your 2hrs in China
Jan 17, 2018, 7:26 pm
#23
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: San Diego, CA & Shanghai, China
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold
Posts: 52
Technically you can buy a refundable PEK-SIN ticket and take advantage of TWOV, but it is risky and illegal. The Chinese police won't arrest you for doing that, but you may face trouble when applying Chinese visa in the future.
As a Chinese citizen I once traveled to Taiwan without the special permit, the immigration officers were really mad on that.
As a Chinese citizen I once traveled to Taiwan without the special permit, the immigration officers were really mad on that.
Jan 17, 2018, 7:29 pm
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
Location: SE Michigan
Programs: FlyingBlue Silver, Skymiles Peon, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Chase Reserve
Posts: 61
Technically you can buy a refundable PEK-SIN ticket and take advantage of TWOV, but it is risky and illegal. The Chinese police won't arrest you for doing that, but you may face trouble when applying Chinese visa in the future.
As a Chinese citizen I once traveled to Taiwan without the special permit, the immigration officers were really mad on that.
As a Chinese citizen I once traveled to Taiwan without the special permit, the immigration officers were really mad on that.
Jan 17, 2018, 10:22 pm
#25
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
Make sure the agent knows that you want a tourist L visa, even though the purpose of your first visit is Transit.
Jan 17, 2018, 11:06 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
It is my 2 cents. PLEASE TAKE THIS AT YOUR OWN RISKS.
In my opinion, while OP should get a visa, the visa itself will not be used. The purpose of the visa is simply to satisfy the airline (DL in this case).
In my opinion, while OP should get a visa, the visa itself will not be used. The purpose of the visa is simply to satisfy the airline (DL in this case).
Jan 18, 2018, 5:35 am
#27
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,097
Of course he'll enter using the visa.
And he certainly should. If he misses the connecting flight for some reason -- illness, traffic problem, etc. -- he won't have to worry about dealing with immigration because of overstaying his TWOV period.
And he certainly should. If he misses the connecting flight for some reason -- illness, traffic problem, etc. -- he won't have to worry about dealing with immigration because of overstaying his TWOV period.
Jan 19, 2018, 2:42 pm
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,405
You can also book a fully refundable PEK-SIN ticket (or any other 3rd location ticket outside China and not being DTW) and use that to get on the flight (using the TWOV). Use the ticket to get on the flight to PEK, clear customs, change your mind, etc.
Technically you can buy a refundable PEK-SIN ticket and take advantage of TWOV, but it is risky and illegal. The Chinese police won't arrest you for doing that, but you may face trouble when applying Chinese visa in the future.
As a Chinese citizen I once traveled to Taiwan without the special permit, the immigration officers were really mad on that.
As a Chinese citizen I once traveled to Taiwan without the special permit, the immigration officers were really mad on that.
You will almost certainly get caught at some stage, and there have been data points of passengers getting physically taken off flights - even after they have boarded - when they have tried this. You then get questioned and possibly fined.
You may not be 'arrested' but you will be detained.
Last edited by LHR/MEL/Europe FF; Jan 19, 2018 at 2:49 pm
Jan 21, 2018, 2:12 pm
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
Location: SE Michigan
Programs: FlyingBlue Silver, Skymiles Peon, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Chase Reserve
Posts: 61
Visa scheduled to arrive a day before my flight... cutting it close so keeping my fingers crossed it arrives on time and they don't reject it.