[KnowItAll]

Boris - Not as bad as the security you have to go through at the UK Consulate ...

[But then, they give multi entry visas....]

[Alby]

Originally Posted by Boris

The line was just as long as normal . Its always a pain to get in the building because of the security you go through. However -- it was a happy queue !!

I am sure as the weather gets more humid and muggy and the lines get longer the moods will change

I am happy I took the advice of a geo thread a few months back and pushed for at least a 1 yr multiple entry 2 weeks ago .... after Slueth's posting thinking I should have pushed for a 2 yr but hey I am happy with what I have... can't be too greedy.

[Boris]

If you are a Perm HKID holder you can ( could ) get a 2 yr visa. Ordinary HKID holders they restrict(ed ) to 1 yr.

Are you a Perm HKID holder?

[reinkarnation]

I guess this does not affect passports that do not need a visa for traveling to China?

[pat_togo]

If you work in SHenzhen/Guangdong from HK, isn't more simple (and cheaper) to get a resident permit/working visa in China?

[tommyhk]

I am an Austrian passport holder. currently i was formidablely living in Shenzhen on a multi-entry visa writing on my master thesis. UNTIL NOW....my 6 months visa expired today!
i've been trying everything since sunday...when i heard first rumors about the situation.

tryied to get a visa at the entry and exit administration in shenzhen.....this would have worked if only my greedy landlord in shenzhen would have paid the tax on my rental contract and i could have registered it as my residency.

if anybody of u can get a local residency...u can get a visa there for just 160 RMB. (i dont know what they do if u live at a hotel ). The downpoint is, it's just a 30 day visa too with no re-entry. Meaning it's only useful for someone wanting to extand the 30 days granted now.

anyway not giving up i went to HK today and got on the guangzhou through-train. I remembered as i was working in guangzhou before that some people did get visas before on the spot in the arrival hall there. when i got there the girl actually admitted that this was the case before, but she said now people need a chinese company to register with them first and then u have to show an invitation. AND SHE REFUSED TO GIVE ME A VISA. a korean arriving with was facing the same situation. after a lengthy discussion she called some immigration office who actually confiscated our passports!!!! and we got deported on another train back to HK!!!! where we got our passports back on arrival....what did they think...i'd jump off the train....really i felt like being the odd gweilo cast in a really bad chinese movie.

well now i am here in HK ...luckily wasnt sent to the asylum.... HK is a civilized country and accepted me. staying with a friend now and going to wan chai in the morning...guess i have to stay till wednesday, which is pretty bad.. cause as an optimist i didnt bring any fresh clothes

was going to apply for jobs in HK in the upcoming months....well this is gonna be hard now!

screw the chinese government...just made me realize even with all the gliss and hype arround me, i am living in a underdeveloped country.

no civilized country would do this without advance notice! if my visa just expired 2 weeks ago....everything would be fine!

[vmlinuz]

Originally Posted by Boris

If you are a Perm HKID holder you can ( could ) get a 2 yr visa. Ordinary HKID holders they restrict(ed ) to 1 yr.

Are you a Perm HKID holder?

When I applied for my 1 year visa, they called me about half an hour after I left the office to say they'd noticed I wasn't PR, so they might only be able to issue me a 6-month visa - they called to ask if that was the case, would I prefer to get the 6-month one or cancel my application. I told them to go ahead, of course, and when I went back to collect my passport, I had a 1 year visa inside it.

It may or may not have made a difference that in the 3 months before I applied, I had had an at-the-border visa and a 2-entry visa, which were obviously still in my passport. This was at the PRC government office at China Resources, not at a random China Travel branch, and even they weren't sure of the rules...

[Sleuth]

Originally Posted by vmlinuz

This was at the PRC government office at China Resources, not at a random China Travel branch, and even they weren't sure of the rules...

Sort of sums up a lot of things about PRC.

[Boris]

Originally Posted by vmlinuz

When I applied for my 1 year visa, they called me about half an hour after I left the office to say they'd noticed I wasn't PR, so they might only be able to issue me a 6-month visa - they called to ask if that was the case, would I prefer to get the 6-month one or cancel my application. I told them to go ahead, of course, and when I went back to collect my passport, I had a 1 year visa inside it.

It may or may not have made a difference that in the 3 months before I applied, I had had an at-the-border visa and a 2-entry visa, which were obviously still in my passport. This was at the PRC government office at China Resources, not at a random China Travel branch, and even they weren't sure of the rules...

I think that is standard procedure. Its what I remember happening when I had to renew a 3yr Visa and blindly thought I could have another issued on expiration. They never guarantee you a 1 yr but seems if you have a required history of multiple travel then, the 1 yr is issued. I believe they are mandated to advise you of a possible ONLY 6 months.

It seemed the 3yr is ONLY available in your host country which, with a crystal ball, I wish I had got in one of my visits.

[tommyhk]

i just came back from the VISA office in wan chai. seriously it's pretty chaotic there. there was a queue of about 50 people outside the building at 9:30, when i left now there was no more queue outside. i advice people to come there later not right in the morning

AND NOT THE GOOD NEWSat least for europeans)
quoted prices are wrong, I applied with a Austrian passport for a DOUBLE entry visa. (wasn`t even questioned why i need double)

NEXT DAY PICK UP is 470 HKD
regular prossessing is 270 HKD (needs 4 working days including the day of application)

so i'll be happy to go back to china on monday!