Current China Entry policy
#2641
Join Date: Jun 2020
Programs: FlyingBlue
Posts: 2,437
Any idea whether applying for a M (Business) visa directly in HK is possible/fast these days?
In the past I always did it at my local consulate, but these days they say that it will take "weeks", and I can't let go of my passport for that long.
#2642
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,104
Don't confuse "visa on arrival" (which is indeed hard to arrange) with the five-day Shenzhen-only visit pass (which reportedly is available again).
#2643
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: CRK MNL
Programs: CX Gold
Posts: 1,295
The consulates are being very picky about the exactly family relationship, so you may have to try more than once. As of two weeks ago:
PRC citizen inviting his sibling with a foreign passport - Q2 issued
PRC citizen inviting his sibling's spouse, also with a foreign passport - Q2 issued
PRC citizen inviting his sibling's children - Q2 denied, because they aren't issuing Q2s for "more distant relatives yet." The solution was to have the PRC citizen's mother (the sibling's children's grandmother) issue the invitation letter, since grandkids are considered closer relatives, apparently, even though there's no difference between a grandparent inviting a grandchild vs an uncle inviting a niece.
Anyways, the official list of allowed relatives is:
"Family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers,sisters,grandparents,grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law.
But there's some wiggle room since sibling's spouse is apparently okay even though that's not in the list.
PRC citizen inviting his sibling with a foreign passport - Q2 issued
PRC citizen inviting his sibling's spouse, also with a foreign passport - Q2 issued
PRC citizen inviting his sibling's children - Q2 denied, because they aren't issuing Q2s for "more distant relatives yet." The solution was to have the PRC citizen's mother (the sibling's children's grandmother) issue the invitation letter, since grandkids are considered closer relatives, apparently, even though there's no difference between a grandparent inviting a grandchild vs an uncle inviting a niece.
Anyways, the official list of allowed relatives is:
"Family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers,sisters,grandparents,grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law.
But there's some wiggle room since sibling's spouse is apparently okay even though that's not in the list.
#2644
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,324
Canada on the other hand is officially still applying the pandemic policy on visas. However, some consulates in Canada (Toronto in particular) have already relaxed Q2 requirements on par with the USA.
#2645
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,324
I suggest that you check with the consulate that you are actually applying with. The policy on Q2 visas are not currently uniform. In most countries they have reverted to pre-pandemic policy, but a few are still going along with pandemic restrictions (Canada in particular).
#2646
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: Marriott Platinum (Lifetime Gold), Caesars Diamond
Posts: 1,408
What does this mean in specific? You can get your friend to invite you on a Q2?
#2647
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: CRK MNL
Programs: CX Gold
Posts: 1,295
I suggest that you check with the consulate that you are actually applying with. The policy on Q2 visas are not currently uniform. In most countries they have reverted to pre-pandemic policy, but a few are still going along with pandemic restrictions (Canada in particular).
#2648
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
I suggest that you check with the consulate that you are actually applying with. The policy on Q2 visas are not currently uniform. In most countries they have reverted to pre-pandemic policy, but a few are still going along with pandemic restrictions (Canada in particular).
For Q2 you need a relative to invite you since it's a family visit visa. For Q1 it must be from a closer relative.
A family member applied and received 10-year Q2 visa. The fee was $140.
Old 10-year visa on the passport (still valid for 5 years at the time of application) was canceled.
There are long lines outside of SFO Consulate. They only process 150 applications per day. Normal processing time for Q2 is 10 days.
However, for humanitarian reasons (such as some immediate family member passed away or in critical condition in China), Q2 visas can be granted in 3 days with a fee.
#2649
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,324
The only requirement is that it has to be a relative. As was the case before 2019, there is no definition on exactly what this entails. There is also no requirement to provide proof that the said person is related to you in the way that they have claimed.
#2650
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,324
My understanding:
For Q2 you need a relative to invite you since it's a family visit visa. For Q1 it must be from a closer relative.
A family member applied and received 10-year Q2 visa. The fee was $140.
Old 10-year visa on the passport (still valid for 5 years at the time of application) was canceled.
There are long lines outside of SFO Consulate. They only process 150 applications per day. Normal processing time for Q2 is 10 days.
However, for humanitarian reasons (such as some immediate family member passed away or in critical condition in China), Q2 visas can be granted in 3 days with a fee.
For Q2 you need a relative to invite you since it's a family visit visa. For Q1 it must be from a closer relative.
A family member applied and received 10-year Q2 visa. The fee was $140.
Old 10-year visa on the passport (still valid for 5 years at the time of application) was canceled.
There are long lines outside of SFO Consulate. They only process 150 applications per day. Normal processing time for Q2 is 10 days.
However, for humanitarian reasons (such as some immediate family member passed away or in critical condition in China), Q2 visas can be granted in 3 days with a fee.
To add to what you've said, Q2 does not specify a list of what relatives are eligible, nor does it require any proof of how you are related to the inviter.
Q1 (and S2) on the other hand requires documentary proof, as well as restricting the list of relatives to the listed categories:
"Family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers,sisters,grandparents,grandsons, granddaug hters and parents-in-law.
Notice on the Reopening of the Visa Office & Visa Application Requirements
#2651
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,401
I saw a VISA ON ARRIVAL counter at PVG.
There were some people lined up for it. Didn't know that was a thing in Shanghai?
There were some people lined up for it. Didn't know that was a thing in Shanghai?
#2652
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,324
Companies may apply for VOA in advance for business purposes.
Individuals may apply for VOA for humanitarian reasons, domestic helpers or to study in K-12.
#2653
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: AAdvantage, Skymiles
Posts: 156
Report from returning to China from USA (AA127) on February 23rd:
I used the Rapit-NAAT test from Walgreens (free if you have literally any precondition or have sneezed in the last 3 weeks, and the results come back in 2 hours) and it worked fine. It was only checked at the check-in desk in DFW, no one else looked at either at the gate or at the border. I did have to show a printed copy however. The NAAT (Nucleic acid amplification test) is in fact a nucleic acid test which is ok per the Chinese embassy.
I had poor flight timing coming into PVG, as Lufthansa just dropped off a bunch of Europeans just prior to AA unloading - so immigration took a good two hours.
If you haven't left China, or returned to China in some time, you need more information on your arrivals card than you used to, and they don't hand them out on the plane any more. You'll need the name and local telephone number of someone in China. This was a good part of why immigration took 2 hours, and many people didn't realize you needed to fill that thing out, leading to some confusion in the front of the line.
The self declation "black" QR code is all that remains of the old covid flight controls.
I used the Rapit-NAAT test from Walgreens (free if you have literally any precondition or have sneezed in the last 3 weeks, and the results come back in 2 hours) and it worked fine. It was only checked at the check-in desk in DFW, no one else looked at either at the gate or at the border. I did have to show a printed copy however. The NAAT (Nucleic acid amplification test) is in fact a nucleic acid test which is ok per the Chinese embassy.
I had poor flight timing coming into PVG, as Lufthansa just dropped off a bunch of Europeans just prior to AA unloading - so immigration took a good two hours.
If you haven't left China, or returned to China in some time, you need more information on your arrivals card than you used to, and they don't hand them out on the plane any more. You'll need the name and local telephone number of someone in China. This was a good part of why immigration took 2 hours, and many people didn't realize you needed to fill that thing out, leading to some confusion in the front of the line.
The self declation "black" QR code is all that remains of the old covid flight controls.
#2654
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,109
I used the Rapit-NAAT test from Walgreens (free if you have literally any precondition or have sneezed in the last 3 weeks, and the results come back in 2 hours) and it worked fine. It was only checked at the check-in desk in DFW, no one else looked at either at the gate or at the border. I did have to show a printed copy however. The NAAT (Nucleic acid amplification test) is in fact a nucleic acid test which is ok per the Chinese embassy.
#2655
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,401
I had poor flight timing coming into PVG, as Lufthansa just dropped off a bunch of Europeans just prior to AA unloading - so immigration took a good two hours.
If you haven't left China, or returned to China in some time, you need more information on your arrivals card than you used to, and they don't hand them out on the plane any more.
If you haven't left China, or returned to China in some time, you need more information on your arrivals card than you used to, and they don't hand them out on the plane any more.
Wow, quite the different experience for me: I landed at PVG on the exact same day, with Arrival Cards being handed out during the flight, and immigration taking 10 minutes.