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Getting a Visa for China without having a flight booked?

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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 12:55 pm
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Getting a Visa for China without having a flight booked?

I am flying to China in October with my auntie, who is an airline employee. We will be flying stand-by on her "buddy pass."

I was told that you can not get a Visa unless you have flights booked. Is this true. What can we do in our unique situation?

I am canadian, and we will be flying Air Canada.

Thanks.
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 1:09 pm
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 3:55 pm
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I've always had a flight booked but never have I given them that information. I've got a passport full of Chinese visas.
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 6:34 pm
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No flight info required.
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Old Jul 10, 2009 | 8:36 am
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I concur, no flight info needed for a visa. However for your invitation letter they sometimes ask for the travel dates and/or itinerary - this depends on what rules they are currently following and how strict the person sending your invitation letter out of China is.
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Old Jul 10, 2009 | 4:17 pm
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Thank you very much for the information.
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Old Jul 11, 2009 | 6:04 am
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I got a Chinese visa last month - visa agent had asked for itinerary to be included (not ticket) ..
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Old Jul 11, 2009 | 9:13 am
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Originally Posted by fabricoftruth
I got a Chinese visa last month - visa agent had asked for itinerary to be included (not ticket) ..
Yes, the form asks what cities you are going to visit. It's never been a problem that on most trips we add a city or two. (We generally make some side trip, the location decided after we are already there.)
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Old Jul 11, 2009 | 2:21 pm
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Question invitation letter ?

Originally Posted by vkng
I concur, no flight info needed for a visa. However for your invitation letter they sometimes ask for the travel dates and/or itinerary - this depends on what rules they are currently following and how strict the person sending your invitation letter out of China is.
How do you get an invitation letter when you want to visit China as a tourist and
obviously don't know anybody there ?
Michael
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Old Jul 11, 2009 | 5:36 pm
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Originally Posted by yulmichael
How do you get an invitation letter when you want to visit China as a tourist and
obviously don't know anybody there ?
Michael
you don't need an invitation letter for a tourist visa. the most information you will need to provide is the hotel where you will be staying.

the application form will list this as your "contact".

for a business visa, that is a different story...
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Old Jul 11, 2009 | 9:53 pm
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Originally Posted by vforni
you don't need an invitation letter for a tourist visa. the most information you will need to provide is the hotel where you will be staying.

the application form will list this as your "contact".

for a business visa, that is a different story...
The address of the place you'll be staying, whether it's a hotel or not. We always stay with relatives, putting their address on the visa app has never caused trouble.
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Old Jul 12, 2009 | 11:31 am
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Originally Posted by vforni
you don't need an invitation letter for a tourist visa. the most information you will need to provide is the hotel where you will be staying.

the application form will list this as your "contact".

for a business visa, that is a different story...
Originally Posted by Loren Pechtel
The address of the place you'll be staying, whether it's a hotel or not. We always stay with relatives, putting their address on the visa app has never caused trouble.
Thank you very much vforni and Loren Pechtel , for the info.

Michael
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