I've done the nostril test in the States. The nurse simply swab around the frontal part of the nose, and I thought oh it was nothing. Then I did it in Taiwan. The doctor pushed it up, and I can definitely feel it deep inside my nostril, but again, not too bad. Then it's China. They pushed it up so far up my nostril I though they're going for my brain. And in the US and Taiwan it's both only one swab, but in China they did it twice (one up each nostril). Definitely not a very pleasant experience.

But I've seem they would switch to mouth for younger children. Make sure to ask for that if you are coming in with children.

I wonder what's the turnaround time from any of the consulates to email the approval.

Using the international health app, the initial delay when submitting documents for approval was a couple of hours, which turned out to be a rejection cos stuff wasn't clear, then resubmitting information was being rejected and accepted within a few 10s of minutes. Surprisingly efficient...

What's the point in having a separate international app? The domestic app works fine on Wechat, Alipay, and as standalone.

There isn't a separate app - it is actually a Wechat program (health code, international version mini program), but every English language reference that I have seen for this refers to it as an app, e.g.

Chinese embassy in Ireland - notice on PCR and IgM antibody tests

Is it only Chinese passport holders that use the app and then foreigners get the stamped document scans?

Probably, although depending on how well authenticated your identity is within WeChat you might be able to use the mini-program as a foreigner. I guess that might apply to some of those who do have permission to go back to China at the moment.

now you have to have a double negative test on the virus no longer than 48hour prior to the departing day

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-he...-idUKKBN27L09F
Notice on the Temporary Suspension of Entry into China by Non-Chinese Nationals in the UK Holding Valid Chinese Visas or Residence Permits

China has barred non-Chinese travellers from Britain, France, Belgium, the Philippines and India.

rumor that Air China- CA988 , from LAX to beijing ( Quaranteen in Tianjin) on Nov. 9th found 9 Covid+ cases. Might be another new policy or more cancelled flights ?

Today, someone in our Wechat group posted the following article about newly introduced policies regarding domestic travel to/from Shanghai because there has been a surge (e.g ~20) in imported cases here recently:

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzI...gw&wx_header=0

The stated policies don't seem especially onerous to me on the surface. Basically, as long as you have a green health code, you can avoid quarantine in most cases, but might need a recent nucleic acid test even to go to nearby cities like Hanghzhou and Suzhou. However, things aren't quite as rosy if you are going to or from a "high-risk" area (if there is a map in the above article, I didn't notice it, but I assume it is highly specific, and "high-risk" appears to be focused on parts of Pudong in the Shanghai case).

Looks like the Chinese border is further tightening up.

Saw an announcement today that new passports / renewals are on pause (you can claim hardship, but don't know how possible that actually is). The main reason cited is that the winter season is coming up and virus prevention needs to toughen up, but I'm not sure what the real reason is.



Article (in Chinese)

Furthermore, 46 land crossings have been closed.

That is what I referred to a while back in my post below about Current China Exit Policy - passports are just not being renewed.

I've just went to Hangzhou for business and return. There were absolutely no checks (yet) on both sides of train stations (Shanghai Hongqiao and Hangzhou East Station) - nobody check the color code or temperature. However, when JW Marriott in Hangzhou found that I'm from Shanghai, I needed to sign a couple of documents swearing that I've never been to Pudong, Shanghai, and then have to download an app and the code on it needed to be green. I had a foreign phone ID so the app wouldn't work from QR code scan, but I manually key in the search term in Wechat and it show up.

This was 2 days ago.

Has anyone been able to get a Chinese visa for "humanitarian" reasons? E.g. if a Chinese national has to go back to China for an urgent family matter, will the Chinese consulate at least consider issuing a visitor's visa for the spouse to come along? Or will the consulate outright refuse to entertain the idea?