Current China Entry policy
Oct 4, 2020 | 7:23 pm
#316
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,804
I don’t think so. When arriving in china everyone needs to go threw customs. When transiting in the past to a third country it was possible to obtain a transit visa on arrival. Now all these visas are suspended. Everyone arriving in china now needs to quarantine too.
Oct 4, 2020 | 7:37 pm
#317
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 46
Thank you. Are you sure your last statement is true? I thought United fllights from LAX to Shanghai routes through South Korea to change crews so that they can return. If crew originated from U.S. then they have to stay in Shanghai for 14 days as they cannot not more than certain hours consequtively.
Oct 4, 2020 | 7:48 pm
#318
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,804
I meant all the passengers. The crew change is because then the crew can fly icn-pvg return without running out of working hours. Therefore, they don’t need to leave the aircraft when in pvg and quarantine isn’t necessary because they don’t need to enter china. As a passenger this isn’t possible.
Oct 6, 2020 | 5:02 am
#319
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Beijing
Programs: SK EBG, BAEC Gold
Posts: 985
I meant all the passengers. The crew change is because then the crew can fly icn-pvg return without running out of working hours. Therefore, they don’t need to leave the aircraft when in pvg and quarantine isn’t necessary because they don’t need to enter china. As a passenger this isn’t possible.
Oct 7, 2020 | 9:58 pm
#320
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: IAD/DCA
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It seems that starting 10/21 the sfo-pvg flight will become nonstop.
Oct 12, 2020 | 1:34 am
#321
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For the avoidance of doubt, for immigration purposes you're talking about a Residence Permit in your passport, right? We will call this an RP and not a visa (though it looks like one in your passport). The Work Permit is a different card that's unrelated to immigration. This announcement is about RPs which, from what you say, yours has expired. The critical detail is the date of expiry. Was it before or after March 28?
I went through the previous process to return to Shenzhen from HK in August. My RP is dated until 07 March 2021 but "suspended" as they all were from March 28 for the purposes of immigration. My colleague's RP expired after March 28 which I think is your situation now, right? In both cases, we had to apply for a single-entry business M visa from our local Visa for China office (in my case, HK and in my colleague's case it was Athens) with the supporting documentation that was required at the time. We're both now back at work.
They have now announced that RPs within their validity dates are valid again for the purposes of immigration. So, foreigners with RPs that were valid on March 28 are in one of two situations: (a) your RP is still within its validity date and you can book your flight and return or (b) your RP expired during between 28 March-28 Sept but you can use its existence to apply for a new single-entry M visa from your local Visa for China office, return to China, and apply for a renewal of your RP as normal when you're back. This is what my colleague is now doing.
I'd advise you to contact your local Visa for China office (I've found them to be helpful) and confirm with them after Sept 28 what your situation is.
If your RP expired before March 28 then you're in a different scenario and - from what I can make out - you will need a new Z visa like you're starting from scratch.
In any scenario, you will still need to comply with whatever Covid-19 tests the airline requires and do two weeks quarantine when you re-enter China and the specific details of how this is done will depend on your port of entry.
I went through the previous process to return to Shenzhen from HK in August. My RP is dated until 07 March 2021 but "suspended" as they all were from March 28 for the purposes of immigration. My colleague's RP expired after March 28 which I think is your situation now, right? In both cases, we had to apply for a single-entry business M visa from our local Visa for China office (in my case, HK and in my colleague's case it was Athens) with the supporting documentation that was required at the time. We're both now back at work.
They have now announced that RPs within their validity dates are valid again for the purposes of immigration. So, foreigners with RPs that were valid on March 28 are in one of two situations: (a) your RP is still within its validity date and you can book your flight and return or (b) your RP expired during between 28 March-28 Sept but you can use its existence to apply for a new single-entry M visa from your local Visa for China office, return to China, and apply for a renewal of your RP as normal when you're back. This is what my colleague is now doing.
I'd advise you to contact your local Visa for China office (I've found them to be helpful) and confirm with them after Sept 28 what your situation is.
If your RP expired before March 28 then you're in a different scenario and - from what I can make out - you will need a new Z visa like you're starting from scratch.
In any scenario, you will still need to comply with whatever Covid-19 tests the airline requires and do two weeks quarantine when you re-enter China and the specific details of how this is done will depend on your port of entry.
Does this mean a person who secured new RP post March 28, 2020 and the RP won't expire until the second half of 2021, is now able to leave China and return to China without needing to apply for a new visa?
Oct 12, 2020 | 2:19 am
#322
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,376
You need:
-passport
-employment contract from PRC company (I can issue this for you, if needed)
-criminal background report (even your local government can pull this off, so you don't need to wait 5 months on the FBI)
-university diploma; this is supposed be translated into Chinese, but this rule isn't enforced
While the above might seem like a hassle, 5 year RPs are much better than 10 year visas (which, aren't offer now) because you don't need to think about when you need to leave, and you can get Echannel.
ETA: The medical check is also essential, but you only need to this once, and the process is pretty quick.
Last edited by moondog; Oct 12, 2020 at 2:25 am
Oct 12, 2020 | 2:57 am
#323
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Lisbon
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I do not know of any foreigner yet who has returned since September 28 purely on the validity of their RP but that's the new regulation. Also, I am trying to find a foreigner with a RP who has successfully gone to Macau from Shenzhen and backfor a weekend without quarantine as there's supposed to be some travel bubble there but I won't be the first one to try that without knowing it's actually been done.
Oct 12, 2020 | 8:48 am
#324
Join Date: May 2010
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Oct 13, 2020 | 1:41 am
#325
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Join Date: Dec 2000
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-In order to get an A, you need make a lot of money from the Mainland (HK is better) and/or ace the HKST test
-I only have a B because I don't have enough salary from here, and haven't ever taken the HKST
-the current rules here have pretty much replaced the scoring system; just use a good agent, and you can get a 5 year RP
-during the past, I have advised against agents, but this is well worth the cost for first time applicants; they have 关系 that we don't, and the health check alone justifies the cost
Oct 13, 2020 | 4:30 am
#326
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,259
I think that’s the way it works now. I’m hoping so as I’d like to visit family I haven’t seen for a year at Christmas time. I’m sure I’ll need to suffer through the 14 day quarantine upon return to China but I consider it worth it.
Oct 13, 2020 | 9:43 am
#327
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,376
For Bs, the minimum is only 5k for month, and you agent can slice this to zero.
The bottom line is that if you work for BCG in China, you will get an A and an RP. However, if you just travel here for business, settle for a B, and pay an agent yourself.
Oct 13, 2020 | 6:04 pm
#328
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,259
Since you have an A, you are golden, but none of us can get A's unless we are paid more than 100k from China per month (MNCs count)
For Bs, the minimum is only 5k for month, and you agent can slice this to zero.
The bottom line is that if you work for BCG in China, you will get an A and an RP. However, if you just travel here for business, settle for a B, and pay an agent yourself.
For Bs, the minimum is only 5k for month, and you agent can slice this to zero.
The bottom line is that if you work for BCG in China, you will get an A and an RP. However, if you just travel here for business, settle for a B, and pay an agent yourself.
Oct 13, 2020 | 7:04 pm
#329
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,376
-we can definitely reenter
-the quarantine is 7 days at hotel and 7 days at home, from which you can probably go outside
-for people without RP's (temporary is okay), then 14 days in a hotel is a firm rule
My Chinese friend came back from NY 2.5 weeks ago, and told me the following about his quarantine:
-the hotel sucked, but he didn't really care
-bad food was delivered to his room 3 times per day
-the internet was good, but he brought 20 books with him, and spent his time reading them
-he got an apartment on Yanping on day 3, but couldn't move in until day 14
Oct 13, 2020 | 7:43 pm
#330
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Lisbon
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The quarantine experience really depends on your port of entry back into China. My colleague was booked on a flight from Athens to Beijing but it was redirected to Chengdu where everyone had to do quarantine for two weeks in a hotel before continuing their journey. Apparently decent, modern, hotel with meals provided.
I've had colleagues touch down in Guangzhou and been able to do one week in the quarantine hotel in Guangzhou and then one week at home in Shenzhen.
I crossed the land border from HK and did one week in a mid-range hotel with no meals provided (great - I ordered everything off Meituan Waimai) and a view of my apartment block and then was able to move home for the second week.
Once your travel arrangements are booked, you're throwing yourself at the mercy of the system receiving you when you get back so just be prepared with enough entertainment, coffee bags, snacks etc. that you think you will need in the worst case (two weeks in a poor hotel with bad internet) so that anything better is a bonus.