Jun 4, 2013, 2:02 pm
Last edit by: mnbp
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Visa Information for the People's Republic of China (PRC, Mainland China)
Important: China's visa terms and conditions changed effective 12 Nov 2014 as far as duration, and 1 July 2013 for requirements and procedures. Do not rely on information posted prior to that date.
Note new FT thread regarding up to ten year visa duration: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...ov-2014-a.html
The PRC allows certain foreigners to transit China without a visa if they will be exiting the country within 24, 72 or 144 hours provided various other conditions are met. Please see the separate China 24, 72, and 144 hour Transit Without Visa ("TWOV") rules master thread and Wikipost for detailed rules and discussion.
The best source of current visa and travel document requirements is IATA'S TIMATIC, as that is what the airlines rely upon to determine whether they will permit you to fly. Star Alliance provides a free, easy-to-use TIMATIC tool to help you identify your exact requirements based on nationality, residency and specific itinerary. The SkyTeam alliance website contains a link which also allows you free use of TIMATIC, including good printouts of the information.
Note that posts made prior to 1 July 2013 have been archived, but are still available for reference at China Visa / Visas Master Thread (ARCHIVED). The old FAQ: Visa-Free Transit / TWOV thread is also closed but available for reference.
China Forum Ambassadors: moondog----------anacapamalibu----------jiejie----------mnredfox
(lower right wiki corner).Visa Information for the People's Republic of China (PRC, Mainland China)
Main source: Visa Page - Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America (external website)
Important: China's visa terms and conditions changed effective 12 Nov 2014 as far as duration, and 1 July 2013 for requirements and procedures. Do not rely on information posted prior to that date.
Note new FT thread regarding up to ten year visa duration: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...ov-2014-a.html
The PRC allows certain foreigners to transit China without a visa if they will be exiting the country within 24, 72 or 144 hours provided various other conditions are met. Please see the separate China 24, 72, and 144 hour Transit Without Visa ("TWOV") rules master thread and Wikipost for detailed rules and discussion.
The best source of current visa and travel document requirements is IATA'S TIMATIC, as that is what the airlines rely upon to determine whether they will permit you to fly. Star Alliance provides a free, easy-to-use TIMATIC tool to help you identify your exact requirements based on nationality, residency and specific itinerary. The SkyTeam alliance website contains a link which also allows you free use of TIMATIC, including good printouts of the information.
Note that posts made prior to 1 July 2013 have been archived, but are still available for reference at China Visa / Visas Master Thread (ARCHIVED). The old FAQ: Visa-Free Transit / TWOV thread is also closed but available for reference.
China Forum Ambassadors: moondog----------anacapamalibu----------jiejie----------mnredfox
China Visa / Visas Master Thread (all you need to know)
Jan 24, 2017, 2:34 pm
#1426
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: China and Canada
Posts: 1,886
Interesting.. I'm not going to be particularly busy in DC so I'm tempted to go down there, drop everything off, and have Oasis do the pickup (I just gotta make sure it's really $20). The agencies are all super expensive from what I've found. It's a good $100 per visa and $25 shipping each way. I can literally fly Spirit to DC and stay in an AirBnB for 5 days for less than that. Plus, I get to spend time in DC.
Anyhow, to throw another wrench into all of this: I'm going to be in China for about three days at a time. I'm planning on visiting a neighboring country for a 3 days in the middle of my trip. As a US citizen flying into Beijing, could I get away with the whole 144 hour visa free period? This is probably the wrong thread for that..
The way the timing looks is like this:
Fly into Beijing on the 21st at 2:30 in the evening.
Leave Beijing to go to a neighboring country (not HK FWIW) on the 24th at 1:00 in the evening at the latest..
Return to Beijing 10:00 AM on the 27th
Leave Beijing to go to the US on the 30th at 5:00.
The only hanging "chad" would be that I have two separate reservations. One for my flight in and out of Beijing and one for the neighboring country trip.
Thanks a ton!
Anyhow, to throw another wrench into all of this: I'm going to be in China for about three days at a time. I'm planning on visiting a neighboring country for a 3 days in the middle of my trip. As a US citizen flying into Beijing, could I get away with the whole 144 hour visa free period? This is probably the wrong thread for that..
The way the timing looks is like this:
Fly into Beijing on the 21st at 2:30 in the evening.
Leave Beijing to go to a neighboring country (not HK FWIW) on the 24th at 1:00 in the evening at the latest..
Return to Beijing 10:00 AM on the 27th
Leave Beijing to go to the US on the 30th at 5:00.
The only hanging "chad" would be that I have two separate reservations. One for my flight in and out of Beijing and one for the neighboring country trip.
Thanks a ton!
Jan 24, 2017, 10:10 pm
#1427
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: YSC (and all its regularly scheduled flights)
Posts: 2,521
I suppose that this isn't a standard visa issue for FT members, but I have been told that part time workers in China (just Jiangsu?) will no longer be allowed to receive FECs. For me, at least, this means that my University can't extend my contract unless I switch to full time from 50%. I know that they want me back and they know that I'm not moving to China to work full time, so I suspect that it's not made up.
It seems a bit strange that I'm an expert if I work full time there, but not if I don't, but this may be of interest to others with FEC/residence visa in China.
If someone has better information or an easy way around it that a Chinese university will accept (I have thought of a few ways around, but they won't budge), then I'd love to hear it!
Thanks
Dr. PITUK
It seems a bit strange that I'm an expert if I work full time there, but not if I don't, but this may be of interest to others with FEC/residence visa in China.
If someone has better information or an easy way around it that a Chinese university will accept (I have thought of a few ways around, but they won't budge), then I'd love to hear it!
Thanks
Dr. PITUK
Jan 24, 2017, 11:41 pm
#1428
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Asia/Europe
Programs: CX, OZ, MU (+AY, DL), Shangri-La, Hilton
Posts: 7,236
http://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-to...02909?mod=e2fb
If the new administration feels tightening reciprocal visa rules with China will make good headlines, they'll go ahead.
If the new administration feels tightening reciprocal visa rules with China will make good headlines, they'll go ahead.
Jan 25, 2017, 5:59 pm
#1429
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
I suppose that this isn't a standard visa issue for FT members, but I have been told that part time workers in China (just Jiangsu?) will no longer be allowed to receive FECs. For me, at least, this means that my University can't extend my contract unless I switch to full time from 50%. I know that they want me back and they know that I'm not moving to China to work full time, so I suspect that it's not made up.
It seems a bit strange that I'm an expert if I work full time there, but not if I don't, but this may be of interest to others with FEC/residence visa in China.
If someone has better information or an easy way around it that a Chinese university will accept (I have thought of a few ways around, but they won't budge), then I'd love to hear it!
Thanks
Dr. PITUK
It seems a bit strange that I'm an expert if I work full time there, but not if I don't, but this may be of interest to others with FEC/residence visa in China.
If someone has better information or an easy way around it that a Chinese university will accept (I have thought of a few ways around, but they won't budge), then I'd love to hear it!
Thanks
Dr. PITUK
.
Jan 27, 2017, 9:38 pm
#1431
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,099
Section 9 of President Trump's new immigration directive orders enforcement of reciprocality: "If a country does not treat United States nationals seeking nonimmigrant visas in a reciprocal manner, the Secretary of State shall adjust the visa validity period, fee schedule, or other treatment to match the treatment of United States nationals by the foreign country, to the extent practicable."
My understanding is that Chinese citizens visiting the U.S. on ten-year visas are normally permitted entry for 90 days, while Americans on ten-year visas are normally permitted a 60-day stay in China. Presumably the State Department will be addressing this lack of reciprocality in accordance with the President's order.
My understanding is that Chinese citizens visiting the U.S. on ten-year visas are normally permitted entry for 90 days, while Americans on ten-year visas are normally permitted a 60-day stay in China. Presumably the State Department will be addressing this lack of reciprocality in accordance with the President's order.
Jan 28, 2017, 12:05 am
#1432
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
Section 9 of President Trump's new immigration directive orders enforcement of reciprocality: "If a country does not treat United States nationals seeking nonimmigrant visas in a reciprocal manner, the Secretary of State shall adjust the visa validity period, fee schedule, or other treatment to match the treatment of United States nationals by the foreign country, to the extent practicable."
My understanding is that Chinese citizens visiting the U.S. on ten-year visas are normally permitted entry for 90 days, while Americans on ten-year visas are normally permitted a 60-day stay in China. Presumably the State Department will be addressing this lack of reciprocality in accordance with the President's order.
My understanding is that Chinese citizens visiting the U.S. on ten-year visas are normally permitted entry for 90 days, while Americans on ten-year visas are normally permitted a 60-day stay in China. Presumably the State Department will be addressing this lack of reciprocality in accordance with the President's order.
Jan 28, 2017, 12:27 am
#1433
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,099
As I understand the technicalities, it's not the State Department that determines length of stay, it's the immigration officer on arrival, who's part of Homeland Security. So the State Department alone may not be able to change the policy. But if Trump is serious about enforcing reciprocity generally, that's a good sign.
Jan 28, 2017, 9:10 am
#1434
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,807
Be careful for what you wish for - between Trump and Xi, they will just whittle down each other's visa privileges, not increasing anybody
(Not my problem until Trump really does need VWP country nationals to attend US consulate interviews)
(Not my problem until Trump really does need VWP country nationals to attend US consulate interviews)
Jan 28, 2017, 11:33 am
#1436
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,112
Feb 4, 2017, 12:13 pm
#1438
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Silver, Skywards Silver
Posts: 102
Had an interesting response in the UK London office a week ago when presenting a photo of my wife that exactly matches the one in her passport. The request was to remove her small earrings and tie her hair back so that it did not obscure part of one ear. This was checked by the male operatives team leader and still rejected.
When producing a new photo a few days later the female operative asked who had checked and rejected the original photo, and when told just rolled her eyes.
When producing a new photo a few days later the female operative asked who had checked and rejected the original photo, and when told just rolled her eyes.
Feb 4, 2017, 7:07 pm
#1439
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: EWR-SEA-IAD
Programs: UA 1P MM, AS MVP G*, SPG Gold, Hyatt Plat, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 977
Had an interesting response in the UK London office a week ago when presenting a photo of my wife that exactly matches the one in her passport. The request was to remove her small earrings and tie her hair back so that it did not obscure part of one ear. This was checked by the male operatives team leader and still rejected.
When producing a new photo a few days later the female operative asked who had checked and rejected the original photo, and when told just rolled her eyes.
When producing a new photo a few days later the female operative asked who had checked and rejected the original photo, and when told just rolled her eyes.
Feb 21, 2017, 2:21 pm
#1440
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Oslo, Norway
Posts: 819
Seems like things are easing up for Norwegian citizens nowadays. I got a double entry visa with 30 days of stay on each entry, even though my maximum stay is just a couple of days. Earlier I had been issued 15 and 5 day visas from the embassy here in Oslo depending on length of stay. Things are happening only short after the Norwegian and Chinese governments normalized relations with each other.