You have experienced the nucleic acid test. The nasal swab is exactly that, and you're right....it's no fun at all!

I will have my new resident permit issued this week (two years) in Beijing, and now plan to return to US later this month, and return late in March.

Any recent experience on returning to China using the recently issued resident permit?

I know I have to do "double Covid-19" test within 72 hours of getting on the UA plane to get back to China (subject to clearance from Chinese embassy in the US before the flight).

China just re-banned arrivals from Canada, even for those with a valid residence permit.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-h...-idUSKBN2A004H

If you leave, you have to be prepared to suddenly not be able to return to China.

I did this in December with a residence permit from the USA back to Shanghai. You need to get the double tests within 48 hours of your flight and load the information into the wechat mini program for the consulate. Test must be done at approved clinics in the city of departure which must be SF since you're taking UA. I got the test results the day after the test, so 24 hours before the flight, and I uploaded the results and other documents requested to the wechat program and received the green QR code a few hours later.

I have heard they are becoming more reluctant to issue the green QR code to people with residence permits, even with all the proper paperwork; basically blocking you from returning. So it's a risk to go back and expect to be able to get back into China smoothly now. The Canadian news in also not looking very positive for those of us with residence permits having unfettered access to return to China. In the current environment, unless it's an emergency, I'd stay in China until there is a bit more certainty about the rules.

Thanks for the information. Very useful.

This means I need to fly to SFO, get a test done and wait for result and have PRC embassy approved all within 48 hours. This definitely adds more wrinkles to the process than I expected.

Yes, the Canadian news is not looking good for the rest of us.

I understand there is domestic travel restriction to Beijing until March 15. Perhaps I should wait to take my trip back to the US after March 15 to see if any updated travel restrictions are issued.

Coronavirus: pandemic is likely here to stay, says EU health agency chief

If Covid-19 ends up becoming endemic in the rest of the world like the flu, will China maintain its pandemic border controls permanently?

A note for consideration: currently if you are residents of Macao, Hong Kong, or Taiwan, and have legal documentations to enter China (Tai-Bao-Zhen or Hui-Xiang-Zhen), and is traveling from USA to China directly, you may still be denied by the Chinese Embassy. Happened to my friends of each respective places.

Further tightening: China consulate in San Francisco announces that travelers to China should get permission from consulate first, then purchase flights and get PCR / blood test.

Looks like the government just wants no Americans in. Are people still planning on trying? Moondog?

Hopefully this will relax sooner than later.

I was planning on getting out of here on May 15 (to visit FL), but the (current) lack of ability to come back is an issue.

"There has been no official announcement from the foreign ministry, but embassies in at least seven countries have told travellers they must spend 14 days in quarantine before travelling to China.

The embassies in Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Algeria have said all travellers must undergo the process, while the missions in Kazakhstan, Sudan, Egypt and Pakistan said the restrictions would apply to Chinese citizens."

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/scie...ays-quarantine

This may be a retaliation that US puts on Chinese citizens. I know a couple in Shanghai that wants to fly to the US for their daughter's wedding. They had to be quarantined in a third country first (no direct flight to USA) and it's a QUARANTINED (they thought they can just tourist for 14 days in an approved country, but then they've realized they had to stay in the hotel for 14 days to be eligible to board the US-bound flight). Needless to say, they were not happy.

The optimist in me would say by May (and into the summer), the situation should lighten up. Especially if you can travel on business reasons. But then again, that's the optimist in me talking....

I myself are more nervous on a business trip I needed to take in October 2021, it's into the winter and if there's a "third wave" I may be stuck long term....

You are giving too much credit to the Chinese government. I assume they will be on a tourist visa to visit U.S. and I don't think the Chinese government is even allowing any U.S. tourist to enter China at all, not directly and not through any 3rd countries. The Chinese givernment is just scared (and they have all the reason to be), check the restrctions they have put on their own citizens returning from U.S.

Apart from the fact that none of mentioned countries are remotely related to the US, my view is China simply doesn't want people (of any race/nationality) coming or going.

If you follow the regular 5 / 14 day flight / route suspensions due to arriving passengers on certain airlines into China (including Chinese Airlines), a lot of the route bans have been placed on flights originating from the listed countries. Feel that will be more the reason than 'political' reasons..

I booked my flight last week (just before the Feb 18 announcement made by PRC consulate at San Francisco) to return to US this Saturday for 4 weeks and return at end of March. Now It looks like it may not happen, because of the new approval process. I have written to the Consulate to seek approval. If I don't hear back by Thursday morning (need to get tested before getting onto the UA flight), I will just cancel the trip.

I've got my flight to the US on June 15, so have a little more time. But also in wait-and-see mode.

I have heard back from SFO PRC consulate and I have been told to postpone my return trip at end of March. They are unable to issue me the green health code due to Covid-19 consideration.
Based on the uncertainty of returning to China, I have postponed my trip back to the US later this week.

Alternatives for travel USA to China
 

Given the current entry situation, especially from the United States, I'm trying to think of alternatives on re-entering China after a trip to the US. The ideal criteria would be:

- No quarantine required for arrivals from the US
- Relatively lax criteria for entry into China
- Direct flight to Shanghai

Obviously the situation is fluid, but can anyone think of a destination that fit the above criteria?

-Your RP presumably gives you better odds than a visa
-I expect things will be easier in June
-a friend of mine got that special letter just 2 weeks ago, but procuring it was a PITA

I want to go to the US in May, myself. I'm less concerned a timely return than I am about the sky high ticket prices.

Hopefully what you say is true, but I have to finalize my plans in March, so want a solid Plan B in place. Right now my Plan C is to go through Taiwan (dual citizen), but I would have to quarantine for 2 weeks which I'm trying to avoid.

If you are able to go through Taiwan and use the Mainland Travel Permit to get into China then that is the best option you will have. Yes, it'll suck to quarantine twice, but maybe by that time they'll ease up on quarantine from Taiwan/HK/Macao. The wish list country you posted above doesn't exist currently.

if you're thinking about June, probably Turkey

South Korea technically has a quarantine requirement, but the rules mention that you can leave early if it's specifically for the purpose of leaving the country (you'd be out the full payment for quarantine, though, I think)
and direct flights to Shanghai seem really sporadic and only on Spring Airlines (...)

you may wish to consider, though, that if you stay in an interim country for less than 14 days, most destinations will consider you to have transited through that interim country (instead of originating) for the purposes of their (destination country's) entry restrictions - I don't know the specific details for China

I caught a news blurb over the weekend, effective today, March 1, TPE is allowing international transit if the transit is under 8 hours and flights under the "same airline program", whatever that may mean. It may change, but hopefully any changes will be for the better and not worse. It may be worth checking into and see if flights to/from China are included in this.

Yeah the above is my plan C. I want to avoid using Mainland Travel Permit to enter China though as all my bank accounts, driver's license, etc. are linked with my US ID..

Under the current requirements my plan is to stay 14 days or more.

I saw that too, but my understanding is under current rules China would consider anything less than 14 days as having traveled from the US.

I looked at where China Eastern currently has direct flights into PVG, and spot checked several. All of them require blood serum tests and the special green code from the local embassy. Sucks.

This rule stems from the Chinese immigration authorities. As it stands no transits are allowed at all since you won't be able to obtain the green QR code from the local embassy/consulate if you transit. You have to be a resident in the country of origin (of the direct flight to China) to obtain a green QR code that would then allow you to board.

Ok this is useful and effectively shuts down most options for me.

I'm not being funny but I believe that what you seek is what most people returning to China would want and it's just not possible right now for pretty much anyone irrespective of the country you travel from or your residency/citizenship status.

They've been very effective at sealing off the borders to incoming travellers and strictly controlling who gets in and what happens in the first few weeks once you are in. They have their reasons and whether you believe it's an effective method of controlling imported Covid cases doesn't matter. It's the process now.

At the very least, avoiding quarantine in China is not a realistic goal. It's difficult enough to get entry if you're not a PRC national right now.

PRC nationals with long term visas for the countries they are in (like a USA green card) are also being denied the QR code needed to board the plane and come back to China. It’s not a good time to be leaving China now if you want to get back in a timely manner.

Those jokes just write themselves :D

Speaking of China Entry...
 

Not if you're the, ah, butt of the joke... :td:

China makes COVID-19 anal swabs mandatory for foreigners

I think this was specific to the USA. This certainly hasn't been the case in low risk countries like Australia.

Yes it looks like under current circumstances re-entering China wouldn't be something pleasant that I would want to pursue.

My return flight would be the end of July / beginning of August so the gamble I'd take would be in June when I need to decide whether to exit China or not...

One could argue that 5 cm up the bum is less unpleasant than 8 cm up the nose...

Believe it or not, I'd take it up the rear than the nose, having heard that the nose test by Chinese officials are downright brutal and painful.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...16de52b8c8.gif

I have it on good source this is the size of the swab being used:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a9cc5afc1.jpeg

I had a nasal swab a few weeks ago, and either I've simply gotten used to them, or the current version is a LOT less painful than the my first one was (in Thailand) last year.

Having recently experienced the nasal swab in Australia followed by another one at PVG I can say that it wasn't as bad as I anticipated. The main difference is that at PVG they leave the stick up your nose for five seconds rather than pulling it out straight away.

The PVG up the nose is really up the brain, maybe one can get used to it, but for first time travelers, it's a very painful experience. And yes, they leave it there for 5 seconds or more, and it's up both nasals.

As for up the rear, are there any scientific studies that concludes COVID virus is most populated there?