Originally Posted by jiejie (Post 21485832)

If you are legally living in Turkey, get the Chinese visa there. Whatever trouble you think it will take to get your visa there will be worse (or impossible) just about anywhere else. B.A. is unlikely and you're not in Tokyo or HCMC long enough for the process to play out reliably. For one thing, China over the last two years has really made it difficult for third-country nonresidents to get Chinese visas in other countries. For another issue, Norway has been on China's s--tl!st for some time now, and things that might be possible--even with hassle--for other western passport holders might not be possible for Norwegians. Note that while most Chinese missions will not accept applications by post, they may be willing and able to return your passport with visa, by post or courier, which could save you a return trip to the Consulate in Istanbul. You might check into this possibility but also make sure that any return service is trackable. I suggest you apply as soon as you return from B.A. You should get this settled well before the Chinese New Year run-up starts to affect processing, definitely by early-mid January.

Originally Posted by geirfugl (Post 21486201)

I could do this,say 2-3 jan,returning in a week or so for pickup,at a pinch going the first time between Xmas and new year,do you think early jan would be sufficiently early,I think CNY is abouth 28th jan or so and I would not think that Chineese missions in T are very bussy,but then again the Applications are probably refeered to China,where there is offcs a botleneck. My trip is the second week of feb.

Originally Posted by Shimon (Post 21486867)

What is the current situation with applying for a rush visa in Hong Kong? Have all the visa agents shut down or is it still possible to get same day visas?

Originally Posted by jiejie (Post 21487765)

So noted about not trusting the Turkish Post/courier. I don't blame you on that! The applications will be processed in Turkey by Chinese Consular staff--they won't refer back to China for that, and I'd also assume they aren't that busy with local applicants. January 1-3 is a short Chinese holiday, but applying right after that is OK. There is one other possibility but you'd need to be able to stay put in Turkey without your passport for a couple of weeks: Send passport, application, and supporting materials off to Norway for processing using an intl courier service like DHL. Note that the visa section is not at the same address as the main part of the Chinese Embassy. If the visa section will not accept courier delivery, then you'd have to send to a willing family member or friend who would walk it over, pick up the finished passport/visa, and courier it back to you. This is likely to be more trouble and expense than dealing twice with Istanbul Consulate. Note that the Consulate will want to see evidence that you reside legally in Turkey--which can be as simple as the type of visa you are holding, or employment papers, etc. Make absolutely sure you get every possible piece of support document together so you aren't faced with a trip-in-vain the first time you go over. They will almost certainly want your confirmed flights in/out of China and your hotel bookings.



Under the new regulations, situation is murky right now for certain third-country nationals without HKID to get visas at all--there's no consensus on what the success vs failure pattern is. Some have been getting directly at Commissioner's Office, some through agents, others going direct or through agents have been turned down. Same day processing AFAIK not available any more, next day or +2 days should be. No more Saturday processing, only M-F. Until on-point success stories come in this fall, I'd be leery of advising a Norwegian passport holder to bet on getting visa in HK. And unfortunately, Norwegians are not eligible for extended 72-hour TWOV's, only 24 hours....so going visa-less with a truncated visit is not going to work.

Originally Posted by CaptRobPhD (Post 21499478)

Clarity check for US citizen & 72-hr TWOV:

ORD-PVG (66 hrs)-BKK-CNX-BKK-PEK (66 hrs)-ORD

Okay to double dip like this?

Originally Posted by jiejie (Post 21487765)

Under the new regulations, situation is murky right now for certain third-country nationals without HKID to get visas at all--there's no consensus on what the success vs failure pattern is. Some have been getting directly at Commissioner's Office, some through agents, others going direct or through agents have been turned down. Same day processing AFAIK not available any more, next day or +2 days should be. No more Saturday processing, only M-F. Until on-point success stories come in this fall, I'd be leery of advising a Norwegian passport holder to bet on getting visa in HK. And unfortunately, Norwegians are not eligible for extended 72-hour TWOV's, only 24 hours....so going visa-less with a truncated visit is not going to work.

Originally Posted by AJCU (Post 21513945)

I am looking to go from Hong Kong to Hanoi for as cheap as possible. I hold US and EU citizenship, do I need a visa if my time in China is less than 72 hours on trains from HKG to Hanoi? Or what is the cheapest way to get there that is the least amount of money? I was looking at some of the posts on Seat 61 for trains between the two. Thanks in advanced!

Originally Posted by seaskybound (Post 21514616)

I have had a one year multi entry visa for every year since 2007

Do multi year visas exist. I just checked the UK visa service

http://www.visaforchina.org/

doesn't seem to exist

Originally Posted by TRAVELSIG (Post 21514704)

There is a 2 year visa for China for many passports. At the moment it seems to be quite difficult to get- but it does exist.

Originally Posted by AJCU (Post 21513945)

I am looking to go from Hong Kong to Hanoi for as cheap as possible. I hold US and EU citizenship, do I need a visa if my time in China is less than 72 hours on trains from HKG to Hanoi? Or what is the cheapest way to get there that is the least amount of money? I was looking at some of the posts on Seat 61 for trains between the two. Thanks in advanced!

Originally Posted by seaskybound (Post 21514616)

I have had a one year multi entry visa for every year since 2007

Do multi year visas exist. I just checked the UK visa service

http://www.visaforchina.org/

doesn't seem to exist