Current China Entry policy
#211
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IIRC, One visa one passport rule applies to several countries not just China, so don't want to make this a China specific issue. There are also other countries allow more than one visas in the same passport.
I used to travel with two US passports, and had different visas in each.
Under the current travel restrictions, all visa issued before March 25(/) have been cancelled or suspended, so one has to apply for a new visa to enter China.
If you have resident permit (issued before March) while remain in China, you are ok, but cannot leave. If you choose to leave, then the resident permit is voided.
If you manage to secure new visa to get into China (post March 2020) and are able to secure resident permit after entering China, you will be able to leave China without having your new RP gets voided. You will still need to apply a new visa to enter China again.(unless travel restriction is lifted).
I used to travel with two US passports, and had different visas in each.
Under the current travel restrictions, all visa issued before March 25(/) have been cancelled or suspended, so one has to apply for a new visa to enter China.
If you have resident permit (issued before March) while remain in China, you are ok, but cannot leave. If you choose to leave, then the resident permit is voided.
If you manage to secure new visa to get into China (post March 2020) and are able to secure resident permit after entering China, you will be able to leave China without having your new RP gets voided. You will still need to apply a new visa to enter China again.(unless travel restriction is lifted).
#212
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I am not either, which is why I am asking as well as bringing it to everyone's attention. I was specifically told some years ago that applying for a new visa will automatically cause an existing visa to be canceled, even if you do not get the new visa. This is exactly what happened to me, my old visa was canceled but the new Z visa was initially refused because my passport did match my Chinese name. The kicker being Chinese names are never shown on US passports. While I got it straightened out, I would caution anyone to be careful right now on this point.
I can't specifically address the current situation, but in the past the Chinese rule has always been that you cannot have more than one active visa in your passport. The system may in fact sort of be hard-wired to a one-passport one-visa rule, so I wouldn't be optimistic it could be changed for this special situation.
Great information everyone, thanks for posting.
Another visa question: I have had many different kinds of China visas over the years. When I changed types, like M to Z, they canceled the existing visa immediately upon applying for the new one, even if the old one had not expired per their policy. Does anyone know if they are still applying this rule for this new temporary type of visa?
Another visa question: I have had many different kinds of China visas over the years. When I changed types, like M to Z, they canceled the existing visa immediately upon applying for the new one, even if the old one had not expired per their policy. Does anyone know if they are still applying this rule for this new temporary type of visa?
The consular officials told me that since my current Q2 is still valid until 2027, they will not charge fee for me to apply a new Q2.
It is possible the new Q2 will replace old Q2, with same expiration date.
#213
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Join Date: Feb 2003
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i heard from a lot of people that the quarantine hotels are randomly assigned now when you arrive. Most of the time the entire plane is quarantined at the same hotel. In March it was possible to choose between some hotels at arrival, but after a few weeks the random assignments started.
Did the rules in shanghai change again? There are some pretty good hotels on the list.
Did the rules in shanghai change again? There are some pretty good hotels on the list.
#214
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AFAIK the hotels are assigned but you can request an expensive or cheaper option and theyll assign you to a hotel in that range. They were assigning by where you live or stay in shanghai so if youre in Jingan youll get a hotel there, in Putuo you get a hotel there. You cant choose to stay at CP Waigaoqiao just because you think its the nicest unless youre living in that part of Pudong.
I am just in Shanghai for quarantine before flying to Beijing. The location is not important to me. I am looking for faster internet, good service (allow for food delivery) and clean rooms with good selection of TV channels.
If anyone has any good hotel suggestions, please let me know.
#215
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
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Thanks! That is good to know.
I am just in Shanghai for quarantine before flying to Beijing. The location is not important to me. I am looking for faster internet, good service (allow for food delivery) and clean rooms with good selection of TV channels.
If anyone has any good hotel suggestions, please let me know.
I am just in Shanghai for quarantine before flying to Beijing. The location is not important to me. I am looking for faster internet, good service (allow for food delivery) and clean rooms with good selection of TV channels.
If anyone has any good hotel suggestions, please let me know.
#216




Join Date: Oct 2007
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So, what do people do to fill their days during a hotel quarantine in China?
#217


Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,285
For Hong Kong home quarantine, visitors aren't allowed. Only family members living in that home can enter.
I would have thought the Mainland has the same rule. Sort of defeats the quarantine if friends and relatives can freely come and go.
I would have thought the Mainland has the same rule. Sort of defeats the quarantine if friends and relatives can freely come and go.
#218
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 145
for the person I mentioned in my previous post, the old visa was not specifically canceled (I asked)
also, the new visa is of a different category than the old one
also, the new visa is of a different category than the old one
#219



Join Date: Dec 2014
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My Invitation Letter is in process at Shenzhen's Foreign Affairs Office and I will apply at the China visa office in Hong Kong if/when I receive it. After I'm back home, we will be able to answer the question definitively. Suspended (for the purposes of immigration) or cancelled outright (and must apply for a new one in China). Current noises from Shenzhen WeChat group is that it's suspended but we won't know until we've done it. The easy way for me to find out will be when the SZ-HK-Macau travel bubble opens up for residents of the three areas and whether I can go through the eChannel on the Chinese side as normal (HK having suspended eChannel for visitors before they shut the border completely to visitors way back).
#220
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,325
Good data point. Until we get someone with a suspended/cancelled Residence Permit on here who has got the invitation letter from the Foreign Affairs Office, received their new entry visa, entered China on it, and determined directly in person whether they need to apply for a new Residence Permit or not (despite the apparent expiry date of their suspended/cancelled Residence Permit being some time in the future) then we're all just speculating about Chinese rules and regulations and what's really changed or how it's been implemented in the current situation. Speculation is fun but it doesn't help people seeking answers to base decisions on.
My Invitation Letter is in process at Shenzhen's Foreign Affairs Office and I will apply at the China visa office in Hong Kong if/when I receive it. After I'm back home, we will be able to answer the question definitively. Suspended (for the purposes of immigration) or cancelled outright (and must apply for a new one in China). Current noises from Shenzhen WeChat group is that it's suspended but we won't know until we've done it. The easy way for me to find out will be when the SZ-HK-Macau travel bubble opens up for residents of the three areas and whether I can go through the eChannel on the Chinese side as normal (HK having suspended eChannel for visitors before they shut the border completely to visitors way back).
My Invitation Letter is in process at Shenzhen's Foreign Affairs Office and I will apply at the China visa office in Hong Kong if/when I receive it. After I'm back home, we will be able to answer the question definitively. Suspended (for the purposes of immigration) or cancelled outright (and must apply for a new one in China). Current noises from Shenzhen WeChat group is that it's suspended but we won't know until we've done it. The easy way for me to find out will be when the SZ-HK-Macau travel bubble opens up for residents of the three areas and whether I can go through the eChannel on the Chinese side as normal (HK having suspended eChannel for visitors before they shut the border completely to visitors way back).
#221



Join Date: Dec 2014
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If you read Chinese then this is the process and documentation required by Shenzhen's Foreign Affairs Office to issue the Invitation Letter:
ڼ뺯ָ-°칫
I believe that the PITA is the documentation rather than any fee. When/if the SZ-HK-Macau travel bubble opens you should head down here and see if it works for your RP from up there. We can all go to Macau for the day and eat egg tarts to test it out.
#222
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,325
It's all done by the visa department in HR of my employer so this entire process is painless (apart from the waiting) and free for me personally.
If you read Chinese then this is the process and documentation required by Shenzhen's Foreign Affairs Office to issue the Invitation Letter:
ڼ뺯ָ-°칫
I believe that the PITA is the documentation rather than any fee. When/if the SZ-HK-Macau travel bubble opens you should head down here and see if it works for your RP from up there. We can all go to Macau for the day and eat egg tarts to test it out.
If you read Chinese then this is the process and documentation required by Shenzhen's Foreign Affairs Office to issue the Invitation Letter:
ڼ뺯ָ-°칫
I believe that the PITA is the documentation rather than any fee. When/if the SZ-HK-Macau travel bubble opens you should head down here and see if it works for your RP from up there. We can all go to Macau for the day and eat egg tarts to test it out.
#223




Join Date: Aug 2002
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Good data point. Until we get someone with a suspended/cancelled Residence Permit on here who has got the invitation letter from the Foreign Affairs Office, received their new entry visa, entered China on it, and determined directly in person whether they need to apply for a new Residence Permit or not (despite the apparent expiry date of their suspended/cancelled Residence Permit being some time in the future) then we're all just speculating about Chinese rules and regulations and what's really changed or how it's been implemented in the current situation. Speculation is fun but it doesn't help people seeking answers to base decisions on.
My Invitation Letter is in process at Shenzhen's Foreign Affairs Office and I will apply at the China visa office in Hong Kong if/when I receive it. After I'm back home, we will be able to answer the question definitively. Suspended (for the purposes of immigration) or cancelled outright (and must apply for a new one in China). Current noises from Shenzhen WeChat group is that it's suspended but we won't know until we've done it. The easy way for me to find out will be when the SZ-HK-Macau travel bubble opens up for residents of the three areas and whether I can go through the eChannel on the Chinese side as normal (HK having suspended eChannel for visitors before they shut the border completely to visitors way back).
My Invitation Letter is in process at Shenzhen's Foreign Affairs Office and I will apply at the China visa office in Hong Kong if/when I receive it. After I'm back home, we will be able to answer the question definitively. Suspended (for the purposes of immigration) or cancelled outright (and must apply for a new one in China). Current noises from Shenzhen WeChat group is that it's suspended but we won't know until we've done it. The easy way for me to find out will be when the SZ-HK-Macau travel bubble opens up for residents of the three areas and whether I can go through the eChannel on the Chinese side as normal (HK having suspended eChannel for visitors before they shut the border completely to visitors way back).
As far as their RPs are concerned, they had been suspended. Unfortunately, they also expired on June 1 so they're having to apply for new ones anyway.
#224
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Join Date: Jul 2003
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I will know the answer soon, if PRC Consulate in NYC issues a new Q2. My visa application is pending.
The consular officials told me that since my current Q2 is still valid until 2027, they will not charge fee for me to apply a new Q2.
It is possible the new Q2 will replace old Q2, with same expiration date.
The consular officials told me that since my current Q2 is still valid until 2027, they will not charge fee for me to apply a new Q2.
It is possible the new Q2 will replace old Q2, with same expiration date.
NYC Consulate has issued a new Q2 visa, single entry, valid for 90 days with a limit of maximum stay of 90 days.
My old Q2 is not cancelled. I can still use it once China lifts the ban, until 2027.
#225

Join Date: Mar 2014
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Messaged with my American friends that flew over to Shanghai on Saturday on WeChat yesterday evening. They're on a 14 day quarantine at the moment in a hotel. Told me that they're one of the first SAS Puxi expat families to make it back in. From the sounds of it, there are a lot of SAS teachers who are stuck out of the country and don't have the resources to get them in. My friends shared a 23 page PDF describing the procedure and requirements. The husband's company, both in the US and in China, had a number of lawyers working to get them back in. The family had gone to Japan for the CNY holiday then back to the US when the holiday got extended. They expected to return back at the end of March but couldn't once the travel restrictions came into effect.

