Post number 2 has been updated to reflect where folks are staying, at least as far as what they have posted.
:D

Who is Attending the China Eastern Training Facility Tour
 

The following folks have indicated that they will be attending the tour of the China Eastern Airlines Flight Training Facility on Saturday 12 November

I plan to attend. :)

I won't make it, I'm stuck in YUL for a while... :(

I've at last posted my visa application and am checking its progress online.
So far...

• Package received
• Application Being Processed by the Visa Center

more to come...

• Application Being Processed by the Chinese Embassy/Consulate
• Processing result has been returned in Visa Center
• Package released to courier company or postal service

I couldn't retrieve my application online at first since I forgot to include the contact telephone number on the "Application by Post Check List" which I had to send with the application form but I managed to find it later by the mail tracking number. Phew!

I hope they are not going to send the whole thing back just because I failed to include a telephone number on the check list. :eek: I did of course write my home, mobile and work telephone numbers on the application form itself, but why on the check list? :confused:

I have also sent my visa application and, according to the tracking record, it was received by the Chinese Embassy in Wellington this morning. I checked it and checked it before mailing as I know how picky these folks can be. So, fingers crossed that I filled it all out correctly. If everything goes smoothly I should have it back by 21st October at the latest.

Will be in Shanghai in four weeks' time - yippee!

Will attend, thanks.

PS change stay to IC shanghai Puxi

The status of my visa application has now changed to:

• Processing result has been returned in Visa Center
• Visa/Passport will be returned to the applicant(s) soon ^

Let's hope they've issued a double-entry visa for 6 months as I plan to return to PEK in February for another DO. :)

[QUOTE=NewbieRunner;17257328]I've at last posted my visa application and am checking its progress online.
So far...

I couldn't figure out how to get to a Chinese embassy (well,Tijuana maybe - not!) so used the Oasis visa service which appears to be very closely connected to the Chinese Embassy in Wash DC. Handled in 4 days, no expedite fee, got a one-year multilple entry visa for same cost as single entry (I believe $140 for US citizens.) Done and done, easy peasy. Cost $50 for service, but the alternatives were not only more expensive, but extremely time-consuming and annoying.

I'm set for the Le Meridien on arrival. I believe Thursday, may stay longer, will move to Hilton Sunday, may try out the new Indigo in between.

Should I sign up for the Air China tour "just in case"? I'm interested, but my time in Shanghai is short and I'm more interested in the city than air facilties.

Great! There'll be three of us (you, chchkiwi and myself) at Le Meridien at the start. ^ We could organise something for 10th if you like.

According to what I've read in the China visas thread, a one-year multiple entry visa for US citizens seems to be standard. Unfortunately UK isn't such a favoured nation. A double-entry visa at least only costs 50% more and I'll save on the service charge and shipping.

I was also undecided about the Flight Training Facility tour but thought we would get to see something ordinary tourists don't see.

Update: My visa status has now been upgraded to
Package released to courier company or postal service!

Update 2: Saturday morning - got my passport back with a double-entry visa valid till April 2012! ^

Who is Attending Dinner Saturday Night
 

The following folks have indicated that they will be attending Dinner on Saturday 12 November at Di Shui Dong

Count me in for the dinner!

I see from the first post that the tour of Shanghai has moved from Friday to Sunday.

That is true. Unfortunately bschaff1 is not getting in until sometime on Friday and not available to lead the herd until Sunday. If someone else is interested in taking the ball for Friday we are certainly open to any help or suggestions.