Thanks for your advice. My current first choice is now KE. The flights don't show up online because of the overnight layover, but I can easily book them over the phone (with fee waived). I don't think DL will pay for my hotel near ICN; hopefully DL or KE can simply book a room for me.

Many of the ICN airport hotels are quite far from ICN, although you can get to some in downtown Seoul in about the same amount of time; they need to be close to the train station or subway line from the airport. OTOH, I've never explored how one gets from T2 to the train or subway station, which is outside from T1. [I don't know whether the lines were extended to T2 and given a new station or whether some long shuttle bus ride is necessary.]

It's not cheap, but I've generally liked the Grand Hyatt ICN (not to be confused with the GH Seoul, which is IMO in an inconvenient location near downtown). It has shuttle service to each terminal every twenty minutes (when I last stayed), and is also walkable (through a surface parking lot) from T1. It's about as close and convenient to the airport as it gets at ICN.

DL and KE use the new T2 at ICN. It's new and spacious, with some Korean cultural exhibits if you have time to kill. The KE lounges are disappointing, IMO much worse than when everything was in T1. For the TPAC flight, you might have an option of a very late afternoon departure which would give you most of a day to spend in Seoul if you wish.

If your trip is in May, I doubt that you can enter Korea without subjecting to quarantine. You may want to search up for the airside transit hotel at ICN.

Correct, visa exemption is currently suspended for South Korea. So unless you have an actual visa issued after the pandemic started then you can't enter Korea at all.

Journey status : Conditional to board.
Based on information last updated on Apr 19 2021 12:00 am GMT
Shanghai Pudong International Airport
China
Seoul Incheon International Airport| April 19, 2021
Republic of Korea (South)
Please check the messages below to see if travel is permitted.

• Visa is not required for transit through Republic of Korea (South).
• All passengers must complete the "Health Declaration Form" at ??????? on entry and exit from China.
  
  The form will only be valid for 24 hours starting from being completed.
  

Additional Information

• Visa exemption is temporarily suspended due to the outbreak of Covid-19. This does not apply to crew members.
  
• Visa or additional documentation is required if the passenger leaves the international transit area of the airport, due to the outbreak of Covid-19.
  
• Passengers are not required to quarantine on arrival in Korea (South) provided travelling under the 'Business Track' scheme, due to the outbreak of Covid-19.

1. according to the Korean government, stays of less than 24 hours are not subject to quarantine
2. I like the lesser hotels because the area is cool. All of them have shuttle buses

Hello members, in order to keep the discussion in this China forum, focused on its thread of the Current China Entry Policy forum, let's curtail the extended discussion of hotels and other details of a stay in South Korea.
Thanks, Ocn Vw 1K, Senior Moderator.

We're currently in a bit of a pickle because coming to or departing from China is not easy. Please advise me if you want me to expunge my thread in the "Other" forum.

Why don’t you take the UA or DL direct flights? It’s much easier and you won’t need to get off the plane in ICN. Shouldn’t be too much money nowadays either.

I haven't been keeping up-to-date with China entry requirements, so was wondering what is currently considered the most effective way to enter China from the US?
Really need to get back to China sometime this year. Had a RP that expired May 2020, but still have a valid WP.
I see an announcement made a month ago, that mentions recipients of a Chinese vaccination to be granted entry, but that vaccination isn't easily obtained in the USA it appears.

existing line has been extended to T2
not too useful at the moment since those subject to quarantine are not permitted to take the train
suspensions are based on country and done for reciprocity reasons; Americans were never barred and the only recent (sometime this past winter) change was the addition of a pre-departure COVID-19 testing requirement
see moondog's suggestion:
as for the vaccination thing, someone either here or in the Hong Kong forum suggested using your US vaccination as a basis to get somewhere Sinovac is offered
there is no such place right now, of course, but possibly forthcoming

Given recent news they might be willing to accept foreign vaccines in the near term which would make this strategy not relevant. Recent notice posted here, can't find an English version so here's an autotranslated version: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ce/ceus/chn...z/t1869583.htm. A lot of Chinese people overseas are getting non-Chinese vaccines.


Explanation on the testing requirements for people who take the flight to China after receiving the new coronavirus vaccine
2021/04/16　　At present, the Embassy in the United States is still responsible for reviewing the "dual testing" certificates of passengers travelling to China on Dallas flights. I would like to remind everyone to carefully consider the risk of infection during the epidemic, and be sure to keep in mind "If it's not necessary and not urgent, don't travel." At the same time, further specifications and explanations will be made on the relevant requirements for the detection of passengers who have an emergency travel need and who have tested positive for IgM antibodies due to the new coronavirus vaccine:

　　1. If the nucleic acid test is negative and the IgM antibody test is positive after inoculation with the inactivated vaccine, you can apply for a health code normally. Please click the attachment to download the "Vaccination Statement", fill it out and sign it by hand, and upload it together with the "dual testing" certificate and the vaccination certificate through the "health code" applet or web page for review.

　　2. Personnel vaccinated with non-inactivated vaccines.

　　(1) The existing Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccines in the United States are all non-inactivated vaccines. According to requirements, two doses of Pfizer and Modena vaccines are required, and one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccines. If those who intend to go to China choose to be vaccinated, they must arrange their trip to China after completing the prescribed number of vaccinations.

　　(2) At present, the IgM antibody test in the "double test" is mainly the IgM antibody test against the S protein. After the non-inactivated vaccine is inoculated, the IgM antibody test against the S protein may have a positive result. In order to distinguish whether the positive is due to vaccination or infection, passengers who have completed the non-inactivated vaccination and travel to China from Dallas, if the test result of IgM antibody against S protein is positive, when applying for a health code, in addition to submitting a ticket or itinerary, In addition to the "dual test" report, the IgM antibody test report against N protein, the "Vaccination Statement", and vaccination voucher should also be uploaded. The relevant vouchers should be true and include necessary information as much as possible to help determine personal identity, determine the type of vaccine and the situation of vaccination.

　　(3) For the latest list of nucleic acid and antibody testing laboratories accepted by the embassy in the United States, please see the attachment. If necessary, passengers can choose the laboratory that provides IgM antibody testing against N protein in the list for testing. Please note that this test must also be sampled at the departure place within 48 hours before boarding. In addition, please inform the sampling agency and testing laboratory to agree to announce the test results and other personal information to the embassy during the test. The embassy will verify the "dual test", the results of the IgM antibody test against the N protein, and the vaccination certificate with the issuing agency. If the vaccination situation cannot be determined to be true, the declaration is not true, or the vaccination certificate or test report is falsified, the health code will not be issued, and all the responsibilities arising therefrom shall be borne by the parties themselves.

The consulate in LA also adds the following sentence at the bottom: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ce/cgla/chn/gdxw/t1869604.htm

This arrangement is an arrangement for the testing of vaccinated people applying for a health code, and does not involve adjustments to the current entry policy to China, isolation and observation and other anti-epidemic policies.　　

Any chance fully vaccinated Americans (non-Chinese vaccine) will be allowed in on "reinstated" 10 year visas by October? Without quarantine?

About as high of a possibility as Xi Jinping personally greeting you upon arrival.

If you held a valid RP when China's borders closed in March 2020, which then expired, you are eligible to apply for a visa to re-enter China and obtain a new RP:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The People's Republic of China National Immigration Administration Announcement on Entry by Foreign Nationals Holding Valid Chinese Residence Permits of Three Categories

It's nothing to do with Americans. Everybody needs to have an actual visa to travel to South Korea. You cannot enter on the old exemption policy unless you are a crew member.

I take that back. Upon further review, USA is one of the few (only?) countries that can still enter Korea through the visa exemption process, as it's not on the list of 90 countries where this policy has been suspended:

http://viewer.moj.go.kr/skin/doc.htm...86503947805100

https://www.bloomberg.com/toaster/v2...46000b3ed.html

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...a-and-the-west

Technically, yes. Unfortunately, since my WP is also expiring soon, I have to renew the work permit first, and since my RP is expiring, it means the work permit has be re-applied for from scratch, incl. medical examination, background check, etc. etc., all requiring authentication by the embassy....
Oh, what fun,

Well, at least it is the same fun as a Chinese citizen trying to return home from U.S.;)

As far as I understand authentication does not expire, but the underlying document may. So if a diploma is authenticated the document is good forever. But background check is only good for 6 months and of course health check won’t be valid (can’t remember if that was 90 days or 6 month or 1 year validity pre covid) ... :)

Im currently living in China with a residence permit and planning to take a 6 week trip back to the US in august. Is there any indication that a vaccine in China or a vaccine in the US will provide any benefit to travel? I’m assuming it’s still going to be a firm “no” but I may sign up for a Pfizer vaccination x2 just in case something changes shortly after.

I am expecting the world to be chaos for international travel for another few years minimum with China being the least likely to end quarantine.

I don't know a single person who renewed this year, and was asked to start from scratch.

I also live in China, Handan, with a residence permit, want to travel back to the UK in early July to sort out some family business. I've been told by our Public Security Bureau that my only chance to return back to China is if I am fully vaccinated with a Chinese manafactured vaccine, so that is one benefit to travel.....

The Chinese Embassy in London seem's to confirm this...IV) Non-Chinese nationals in the U.K. holding valid Chinese residence permits for work, personal matters and reunion will no longer be affected for entry into China.

2. Please be noted that the above-mentioned visa facilitation applies only to applicants who have been inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines produced in China, having either received two doses of Chinese-made vaccines with the stipulated gap in between, or received a single-dose Chinese-made vaccine at least 14 days prior to the application, and obtained the vaccination certificate.

3. The requirement that personnel intending to travel to China need to present double-negative certificates of nucleic acid and antibody (IgM) tests remains unchanged. The relevant Chinese quarantine policies shall be observed after entering China.

The only problem is, here in Handan there is no policy in place to vaccinate foreigners, we just keep getting fobbed off with wait a while, maybe next week, next week comes and we ask again and get the same answer....So it looks like if I can't get the jabs then I stand the risk of being unable to return to China for quite a while, my wife will not be very happy....

I think it's clear to most who read this board regularly, but might be important to repeat (and test / challenge my understanding), that there is a difference between gaining entry in China once you're at the border (i.e., Pudong Airport) vs. at the point of departure.

At the point of departure, it's highly dependent on where you are and local policy. I know from the US you'll need Chinese embassy "permission" to board a flight, and this in turn requires a negative PCR test plus blood antibody tests (with Chinese vaccines possibly helping). These requirements may vary in other countries.

However, once having arrived in China, treatment is pretty much* the same. As Steveb1955 wrote above,



Actually it's not just in the UK, it should be anywhere, once you arrive at China's border.

*I say treatment is pretty much the same because as far as I know, you'll be allowed entry and will have to quarantine. The exception is Macau. If you can get into Macau somehow and stay there for 2 weeks, you can enter mainland China without quarantine.

Are you saying Macau is somewhat of a loophole or is there more to this story? I’d gladly bop around Macau for a few weeks to avoid a China 14 day hotel lockdown. I’ve already been through 2 of those.

AFAIK getting into Macao as a foreign citizen is even stricter than mainland, so it's not really a loophole.

To be fair, this policy was made before there was any notion that China would approve any foreign vaccines. Since then, it looks like BioNTech (called Pfizer in the rest of the world) will be approved by July at the latest, Chinese media confirms the same. https://www.fiercepharma.com/manufac...y-new-china-jv

Per the quoted announcement Notice on Providing Facilitation for Visa Applicants Inoculated with COVID-19 Vaccines Produced in China, if I'm reading it correctly category IV (residence permit holders) are not applying for visas so it doesn't matter if you have the Chinese vaccine or not.

Hong Kong is reducing quarantine requirements for vaccinated travellers: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...1050700821.htm
But think if one goes Hong Kong -> China the normal quarantine procedures apply still

There is still an entry restriction for Hong Kong unless you have a
visa or PR

I don't think the vaccination requirements apply to you as a residence permit holder. It's only relevant for people with no visas who are trying to get one.

If you are coming to Hong Kong from a low risk country like Australia/NZ then you may enter without a visa.

Thanks tauphi...I did start out thinking that as well, but when we visited the PSB they made a phone call and told us that without a Chinese vaccine I would not get the permission to fly back. Not sure what it's like in bigger Chinese cities but here in Handan it's proving very hard to get solid information out of anyone in a position of authority regarding this....

That's correct. And even if you enter Macau, you can't just bop around for 2 weeks. The quarantine requirement is actually 3 weeks for most entrants...

The part about getting permission is correct - currently you need a go-ahead from the local Chinese embassy or consulate. I wouldn't give any credence to the Handan PSB though.

The bolded is true in any city in China or from any Chinese mission abroad. They don't give firm answers to any questions regarding these issues at the moment. Likely you'd be able to get back in with your RP but it's not guaranteed. The green QR code required for boarding is the wildcard. The embassy in the UK can refuse to give you this green code and you're out of luck no matter what they say in Handan. IMHO the people in Handan have no idea what the embassy in the UK will do so I'd stop asking for info from them and try to start communicating more closely with the embassy in London (if they deign to answer your emails/calls).

But only citizens and their immediate family, or existing visa holders can enter Australia, NZ and Singapore

How many of those are in Beijing? (see *)
Apparently (or so I've been told) it would be easier if I were working in Beijing, Chaoyang District, but alas, it's Beijing, Tongzhou District which happens to be the district where much of the govt. is moving to, which is apparently making things even more difficult/stringent.

* It was suggested by China Visa consultants I should just get a work permit in Shanghai to get back to China, as that would be not much more than a formality, but I reckon that won't help me in the long run.

My visa agent takes this strategy a step further, and encourages people who aren't based in Shanghai to set up consulting companies so they can sponsor themselves. He doesn't have an opinion on Beijing v Shanghai, but all of his 关系 is in Shanghai. The entire process is surprisingly easy and inexpensive.

Cheers.


(bolding mine)

THAT I don't believe.....EVERYONE has an opinion Beijing vs. Shanghai! :D

Aye, I do believe there's easier ways to get back to China, than the "official" way I'm embarking on in what is likely one of the most difficult districts in all of China.
However, it wouldn't go down too well -I could imagine- should we get inspected (as we do often); having my head buried deep into some hydraulic machinery with greasy, filthy overalls, and when asked to produce my work permit, I leisurely whip out one for a consulting firm in Shanghai! :o

And this is why the Shanghai vs Beijing argument is a no brainer.

Moondog, wondering if you can share more information here or over DM:
Assume someone who is interested in this is not a Chinese citizen and does not have any existing visas, residence permit, work permit, etc.

• Is this a Chinese consulting company or a foreign consulting company? Can one set this up if they are not a Chinese citizen? Can this process be done entirely online?
• What's the overall cost of this (upfront and is there an annual cost to renew the company license or similar)?
• If one gets a residence permit through this process can they start working at another company in China in the future? Is this location dependent based on where the consulting company is set up?

Thanks in advance... :)

Any guesstimates if China will open to US tourists this year?