[drumbrake]

Originally Posted by hktraveller

I was at Zhuahi today and because I was not in a hurry, decided to check out the visa office. The short term visa to Zhuahi SEZ (I believe it is good for 3 days, but I didn't ask) is still available for German passport holders. The lady was very friendly and gave me a phone number to check if things have changed at the time I need it.

I won't publish this number for 2 reasons:
1. if too many people call thay will not answer the phone anymore.
2. Most of them don't speak English, so ther is no point to call if you don't have someone to speak Chinese.

If in urgent need, PM me and I will give you the number. Short term visas are not available for people from the 33 countries of the infamous list.

So, this is only the Zhuhai border- not the Lo Wu one? (before you posted that it was possible in Shenzhen to get a 5 day visa) Also, will the 'new 2 day Shenzhen visa' which is apparently being introduced also apply to Zhuhai? If so, will that mean no more visa on arrival in Zhuhai?

[pin]

another article in the scmp today.

our subscription has run out so can't read it, anyone else seen it?

[neha]

Just checked with my travel agent about the days trips to Shenzhen and Guangzhou , u dont need the hotel voucher, train , flight tickets, but they will issue u only a 2 days visa. no Idea for the charge

[elle]

pin - there are 2 articles, here is the first:


Calls mount for answers on visa policy
Business travel starts to suffer
Anita Lam
Apr 21, 2008


Pressure is building on China's foreign affairs ministry to explain new restrictions on issuing visas to foreign visitors - a move the American Chamber of Commerce calls a "significant step backwards".

Some members of the association said they might scale back their operations on the mainland, while others said they would stop making business trips to the mainland until the situation returned to normal.

The main concerns are the suspension of multiple-entry visas, new requirements to provide a return travel ticket and a hotel voucher before applying for a visa, and higher visa charges.

Chambers worldwide say they are stepping up their lobbying of the central government. British ministers were said to have to have raised the issue with officials in Beijing last week.

Deleted some stuff incase SCMP gets all wound up about copyrights

[elle]

here is the second article:

Travellers despair at conflicting versions of travel restrictions
Anita Lam
Apr 21, 2008


The American Chamber of Commerce has been flooded with letters from members complaining about the new conditions on obtaining mainland visas, with members describing the situation as "ridiculous" and "a complete mess".

One man said a travel agent told his wife their five-year-old son would have to give up his British citizenship to get a mainland visa. Another said his wife, who wanted to go to the Canton fair in Guangzhou, was offered a one-day visa restricted to Shenzhen.

Despite discrepancies between the tales, a common point made by almost everyone was that they had been denied a multiple-entry visa - and were told that would be the case at least until the Beijing Olympics were over. Several versions emerged of what visa options were available.

Cleaned up to prevent any copyright issue fights

[PDLM]

The Standard (which is rapidly becoming a sort of "China Daily" with more sports & local crime stories) of course has nothing on this at all.

[pin]

well, i guess, at least the story is getting reported a bit more now.

the scmp has mentioned it several times over the past week. lets hope the international media picks up on it.

[MovingIn07]

in backchat this morning - so I hung on in there listening to their other stuff but they never got to it, said now it would be "tomorrow". I was pretty pissed off that they advertised it and never actually did it! I hoped there might be some more info on what is actually available - I had been planning a "shopping" trip in Shenzhen but if you have to get a real visa (including a 2-day one if you have to apply in advance) then I won't bother. Some more dollars the chinese economy will have lost - although I doubt it would miss them!

[eirrab]

Travelled across to SZ yesterday while my multiple entry is still valid and popped upstairs to check out the visa office. Long queues out the door and into the hall area - asked one person in the queue and they said it was moving. Sorry no other info - but at least some visas are still being issued.
At immigration an older Australian couple were turned back. They thought they had a multiple entry visa, seems that is what they paid for - but had a single entry only which they had used up the day before - felt sorry for them. That is the sort of confusion being experienced which will only leave a negative impression of China

[elle]

Originally Posted by climber07

I am confirming that a 1yr Multi-entry "L" tourist visa was issued this week to my niece at a Chinese Embassy in Chicago. (Note: She has never been to China before and so this was her first time applying for a visa).

Thus, it seems that for the time being the Chinese Embassies in U.S. are not affected by the "computer glitch." The applications/passports do NOT have to be submitted or picked up in person. If you have family/friends in U.S. you can just mail / FedEx your passport with a signed visa application and photos and ask them to submit on your behalf. Good Luck.

Climber - your niece was lucky. A friend of mine went to the Chinese Consulate in Hamburg last week and only got a 2 entry visa. She has several multiple 6 month F visa in her passport. They would not issue another one, she was told that they are not available - no other reason was given.