eChannel
 

(Starting a separate thread for eChannel. I think it's deserved.)

PEK
(September 21, 2023)

They changed everything....
I came in from the right and there are NO eChannels. All gone.
Every immigration station is new. Foreigners are to the right, where eChannels used to be.
Started filling out the arrival card, as I thought eChannels were removed, until I saw the eChannels are now to the LEFT of the whole thing.
eChannel worked flawlessly, and was fast in recognizing passport, face and thumbprint.

They also added many more normal stations in the same location, and also in the area that used to be open, past the main immigration location, and before the escalators down to the train.
Have a feeling they are either:
1) expecting a large influx in arriving passengers, or
2) going to be taking longer for each passenger, so needing more stations

Note:
on exiting China, I sure hope they will get rid of the horrendous security scanning location before the train in the main terminal. That's the worst part of the PEK experience nowadays.

TL;DR
At PEK, the eChannels have moved from the right side to the left side of immigration

I finally realized I can apply for eChannel, so booked a longer layover at CAN on way back from Vietnam to China. No desk there to apply. Asked someone and they said can only do at some office in Pazhou (by the convention center).

Would be nice if this thread can be used for all aspects of eChannel. Coming from Hong Kong to Shenzhen at Huanggang a couple weeks ago, and I was number 6 in the foreigner line.

35 minutes. They looked over passports with a loupe, felt each page, etc. Couldn't believe it. And it was midnight (which was why I couldn't take a minivan to Shenzhen Bay instead).

CAN yesterday was a little slow per person, but nothing like Huanggang or my last entry to Pudong.

I've had that treatment so often, combined with my own less than careful handling of the passport, the second page is becoming ripped now.
I am 5 years into the 10 validity, and I suspect it won't make it until it expires.

When they go over the passport so carefully, they really beat the thing up; I cringe when I see them inspect the pages the way they do, and tear at the pages while turning them over.

I've had e-channel for a long time. With my newest residence permit (first one post-pandemic), I renewed e-channel at SHA a few weeks ago. They didn't need to take my biometrics or anything, as they could see I was already in the system. All they needed to do was update my visa (residence permit) info in the system with new visa number and expiration date, and I was good to go. I've already used it a few times afterwards with no issues (all at SHA).

Thanks for posting this thread. I used e-channel for many years pre-pandemic, it was a lifesaver. Interesting to hear how things are now - planning to return soon and hope to get e-channel re-set up ASAP.

My peeve is when immigration or hotel clerks break the spine of the passport by bending the covers all the way back. I want to scream, "It has to last ten years!"

Yep. Mine isn't going to make it. I just bought a Passport holder off JD, but I'm afraid it won't help much, as the most damage it gets is when they bend it back, and flipe the pages while tearing at them.

eChannel working well on PEK exit.

(Security has an alternative location now before the train; they move some pax downstairs through a maze, but nice they realized they needed to add more stations.)

Update from a recent trip out of and back into Beijing Daxing (PKX) airport ... Short version - abject failure ...!

Exiting at Daxing: No boarding pass scan needed (good) but the e-gate scanner failed to read my passport so had to use a manual lane.
Entry at Daxing: Scanner read the passport, but gave a "no registered fingerprints" message, so had to use a manual lane.

My wife (Chinese) was with me so convinced them to try and fix the fingerprint issue - I ended up re-registering for e-channel (at desk #24), but for some reason the system would not let them enter my fingerprints (only photo and thumbprint) - so likely to have the same problem next trip :(

I think the failure to read the passport is linked to the new UK passport design (similar to newly-issued passports in many countries now) where the chip is no longer in the passport cover, but is now embedded in a thick polycarbonate photo/details 'page'. Seems that higher RFID power is needed to power up the chip (even when I re-registered their machine could not read the chip and they had to enter all details manually ...).

I can add another exit/entry success story. Had no problem using echannel at HGH for both exit and entry. Since they’ve reopened echannel I’ve been successful now at PVG, SHA, PEK, HGH and Kowloon West Station.

It’s a real help as with the amount of travel I’m doing this year I’d need a new passport soon if not for echannel!

Now you are just rubbing salt in my e-channel wounds ...!! :D

Not sure when you had registered the first time, but the system will need you to manually enter 1 time after registration I believe.

The eChannels I used only require a thumbprint for the 'door' to open.

I thought those entry gates operated by optically reading your passport info page.

I thought so too - but my wife waltzed through the e-gates both leaving and arriving back in to China just by placing her closed passport (cover down) on the "reader".

Possible though that it does both (in case of failure to read the chip - clearly the chip is still required in some way though as having that is a pre-requisite to be able to register for the e-channel).

I think you are right here. When I re-registered in June they also told me that I should take my fingerprints again the first time I arrived back in China before the e-gates would work. I stupidly assumed this meant that I needed to use to the pre-immigration area passport scanners before trying the e-gates, which I did - and the system collected my fingerprints (but didn't ask for photo or thumbprints - I assume as these were already in the system). More likely it seems now that they actually meant one more manual entry, with fingerprint collection at the booth.

The re-re-registration procedure has in all likelihood reset the count now, so I'll have to do this all again next time I return after a trip in November!! I am moderately confident it should work after that, though more concerned about the complete failure to even read the RFID chip (on exit at Daxing), as that it is an issue that can only be fixed by upgrading the scanners - assuming that it is because the chip is buried deeper inside the polycarbonate data page compared to one in the cover (if you haven't seen one of these new-style passports you may be surprised at how thick that polycarbonate data page is ...).

Yes, that is also my recollection - but the error message that came up was definitely "no fingerprints" - so those need to be in the system at least (possibly as a back-up in case of thumb-print failure?)

I have now confirmed that both CAN and SZX immigration do not have desks for applying for E Channel. Still don't know when I'll enter China through a port that allows me to apply.

What do you mean? Dedicated desks? At PEK I just asked when I went through normal immigration. They made me wait a bit, scattered to find someone who could help, made me sign a form agreeing to data collection, and then processed it at an empty desk. There were no special eChannel application desks.

At a lot of airports, it's not possible to apply.

mainly the ones I've been using this year. Going to US tomorrow, back to PVG after Thanksgiving, so I'm hoping to finally get eChannel this month.

I somehow imagined that would be the case, but upon landing at CAN earlier this year, they told me the only place to apply in Guangzhou is in Pazhou, where the Canton Fair is. Pretty counter-intuitive.

In SZX, similar story, but the place allowed to apply is Shenzhen Bay Port, which would be nice for flights out of HKG, but my last flight into HKG arrived 2 hours late, past Shenzhen Bay opening hours, so had to go to Huanggang and wait in line forever (as posted above, iirc).

eChannel still working fine at PEK on exit and entry, although my thumbprint takes a while to work.

Note: the [rudimentary] secondary security screening after passport/exit check is no more.

I registered when returning last week. At PVG T1, the registration desk is just behind the eGates (don't go down to baggage claim). It took a little time but was not complicated. Last time I registered I had to complete a form, but this time they did everything for me and I just had to sign an electronic form.

E-channel worked for me this time (Nov 13th) exiting China at PKX (Daxing) - though I had to try three different gates before finding one that could read my passport chip (embedded in a thick polycarbonate passport info "page"). Post-midnight flight (PKX-DOH) so the airport was eerily quiet (and no queues either at security or passport control/e-gates).

I also finally got myself registered, at that same little dark brown desk behind the e-channel gates. When the guy stamped my passport, I asked "where is e-channel registration?" He said go to the little desk by the gates down "that" and ask someone. I did, and 1 minute later a guy showed up. Took photo, fingerprints, and asked me to sign on the screen. Seems I am signing an electronic entry card, giving them authority to use this electronic one instead of a paper one, therefore we're allowed to use the gates and not even talk to anyone.

Can't wait to try it upon my next exit.

Report:

On Dec.2, applied e-channel at PKX after flight from KIX. International arrival at PKX was pretty empty. It took 5 min to get e-channel registered.

On Dec.12, tried to use e-channel at PVG to exit China. Passport scan worked but finger print did not open the gate. I had to go to regular passport control for manual check.

One official told me that it may not work for the first time after you get e-channel approved. He asked me try next time.

Is this nonsense?

Mine worked on exit the first time after getting eChannel, but didn't work on 1st entry. YMMV.
I do find their thumb print machines are a bit, err...dodgy. Either that or my thumbprints aren't 'clean', and get too damaged from manual labor.
It takes a few goes sometimes, but eChannel has worked really well overall.

I am returning in 10 days. Will test again :-)

Just did my first time exit at Kunming (guy seemed really surprised I wouldn't listen to him and go get in line for manual processing), but photo and fingerprint both worked fine. Then return was at Guangzhou -- same thing although there was someone checking all Chinese passports before letting them go to the e-Channel side. I said "I'm registered 我有申请” and he let me pass without even scrutiny of my passport like he was doing to Chinese citizen's passports.

My fingerprints seem good -- I never have ever had to place my four fingers again on the normal print reader.

Someone made a point on the TWOV since 2024 thread that impacts e-channel so I thought I'd bring it up here too.

I believe that itineraries and passenger manifests are reported to Chinese immigration at the point of departure. Chinese immigration then uses this info in a variety of ways, one of which is to approve entry via the e-channel. Case in point: I boarded a flight yesterday using one set of credentials, then tried to enter China via e-channel via another passport (the one registered for e-channel and that has my residence permit). I scanned my passport and was allowed into the fingerprint and facial rec check, but it wouldn't work. One of the workers came and asked me what flight I was on, clicked a few buttons on the other side, and my facial rec and thumb print went through.

This leads me to believe that e-channel checks (at least) 4 pieces of info:

1) Passport and whether you're registered for e-channel
2) Facial rec
3) Thumb print
4) Your arrival flight info

I always knew about 1-3, but 4 also makes sense... the fact that I used a different passport to board a flight meant that this info wasn't transmitted to China immigration ahead of time, and e-channel wouldn't allow me in without confirmation of #4 above.

Another implication is that China immigration can use this information to find out if someone has multiple passports, depending on what information is transmitted to China immigration by the airline.

I think you might be overthinking it, I’ve gotten locked in sometimes and they had to manually come over and let me out and it was a simple one way ticket. Were you one of the first from your flight off the plane? I’ve had the locked inside and flight number question when I’m the first from my flight to enter the gates. When I was flying on an AMS-PEK-TPE ticket earlier this year and skipped the last leg, I also got through the gates with no issue when presumably I’d be marked as a transit in their system. Also, I think somehow the system is integrated nationwide and that includes the land border echannel where flight info wouldn’t apply. I doubt they segregate the system between air and land arrivals.

Anyway, most important is that it seems to be working smoothly for everyone and we can save alot of time!

Perhaps. But it's fun to try to figure out how this thing works and contribute to the collective knowledge.

I was one of the last, but probably one of the very few foreigners on this very large and full flight.

True.

Yeah, I also don't think there was anything going on with flight reporting, etc.
I've had various times when the machine needed intervention, although mostly due to bad thumbprint reading at PEK on exit.
Sometimes it just doesn't all work automatically, it seems.


For sure! The more we know, the better we are capable of navigating the system. :tu:



I've been at the eChannel machines first (by a hefty margin) a few times now on PEK entry with no one else in sight, and had no issues whatsoever.

Chinese nationals can request for a print-out of their last ten years of entry/exit records. That always includes flight information. This must have been sent by the airlines as Chinese nationals do not need to fill in entry/departure cards.

I was the first foreigner off my flight yesterday at Hongqiao to reach the gates and I got locked in. The guy came by and asked my flight number. I told him and he punched in some code and the thumb scan worked and opened the gates.

Just back from a long weekend break to Thailand with my wife - with regard to e-channel certainly a "囍" (double happiness) trip, though with certain caveats ...

Worked both leaving and re-entering China - though in both directions I had to try several different gates before finding one that could scan/read my passport details. When exiting China one of the helpers at the e-channel eventually came to assist and suggested using gate #8 (she was familiar it seems with the problem) and that one worked first time trying. Coming back into China I was eventually able to scan my passport using gate #9. No idea if that was luck, but I will use those two lanes again on my next trip!

Which airport?

No luck scanning my passport on my PEK exit a few hours ago. Tried several stations. No go.
At least they put me through the barrier of the special [manual] lane, so no waiting.
No idea what went went wrong.

This was at PEK. I tried four different lanes at the e-channel before someone came over to help. She seemed familiar with the problem of failing to read the passport details (the screen just showing the spinning green arrow) and immediately suggested using lane #8 - which worked within seconds.

In my case I have a newly issued UK passport, where the problem could either be (just guessing here though ...) that the chip is embedded in a thick piece of polycarbonate, or that the photo-page is highly reflective (probably some security feature). It does seem though that some of the scanners work better than others.

In any case good that you were directed to the special lane, but it would be better and less stressful if this worked smoothly every time. Hope you have better luck on your return to PEK (try lane #9 - that one worked for me after trying several others) !

Thanks.
#8 going, #9 coming back. Definitely noted. :tu:

I must give off a bad vibe, as I wasn't really helped at all. At the first sign of my passport not scanning, I was immediately approached by someone wanting to move me to manual processing. Then, when I tried another station and that didn't working either, a different attendant just kept asking if I really did have eChannel.

Another issue to consider for China e-channel is China's disallowance of dual citizenship. There is a lot of discussion for how Chinese citizens who also hold foreign passports to deceive or circumvent the system, and one of them is to register for e-channel so they don't get questioned by immigration. So perhaps they flag certain people, or perhaps it's random, and if the operator sees that you're obviously not a candidate for dual citizenship, they just punch a few buttons to let you through.

Based on the discussion on this reddit thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/PassportPor...tes_now_can_i/
one of the key issues is that entry via e-channel by a dual China-foreign passport holder might be fine, but what to do upon exit? China checks passports on exit as you know, and if you travel to a country that normally requires a visa for a Chinese citizen, what do you do when you show them a Chinese passport? Personally this issue isn't relevant to me as I don't have a PRC passport, but again it's an interesting intellectual exercise.

No issues coming back to China at PEK.

And finally printed out that entry receipt this time at the machine immediately after the eChannels. Definitley helped with a hotel stay!
(Thanks to whomever posted that...can't find the post; must be in another thread)