[jaetee]

If someone has a UK or US passport, can they still get a visa at the Shenzhen border, and thus does not need to go through CTS or a travel agent? Is the Shenzhen visa different from the regular Chinese visa?? What is a economical and convenient way of getting a multi entry for Shenzhen and other areas of China?
Thanks.

[dessie]

Yes, you can get a visa at Shenzhen without having to go through CTS/Other Travel Agents/Chinese Consulate. However, I understand that you are not technically allowed to go out of Shenzhen (although many people do go to other places in China) and also have to exit via Shenzhen.

As regards Multiple-entry Visas, I had been taking the CTS route until recently when I went to the Chinese Consulate in Wanchai on the recommendation of a friend and found that it is not that difficult to get your visa processed - provided you do not go immediately after the weekend/holidays and are there at the office by 9 AM. A lot cheaper too, I must add. For certain nationals, there is a restriction on the duration of each stay. I don't think it applies to UK/USA nationals, though.

[Max]

Originally Posted by dessie

Yes, you can get a visa at Shenzhen without having to go through CTS/Other Travel Agents/Chinese Consulate. However, I understand that you are not technically allowed to go out of Shenzhen (although many people do go to other places in China) and also have to exit via Shenzhen.

As regards Multiple-entry Visas, I had been taking the CTS route until recently when I went to the Chinese Consulate in Wanchai on the recommendation of a friend and found that it is not that difficult to get your visa processed - provided you do not go immediately after the weekend/holidays and are there at the office by 9 AM. A lot cheaper too, I must add. For certain nationals, there is a restriction on the duration of each stay. I don't think it applies to UK/USA nationals, though.

I think not.

US/UK and the passport holders of 22 other nationalities have to apply through CTS/Chinese consulate as the Chinese government has stopped issuing visas at the border for Shenzhen.

As for multiple entry visas, the duration of each stay must not be more than 30 days until the validity of the visa.

[mrcheese321]

I wasn't able to get a visa at the border of Shenzen when I tried in September. They told me that it was changed in April of 2004 for US passport holders.

As for the multiple entry visas, they aren't attainable by US people unless it is a business visa or you can prove that you either own property in PRC or you have family residing there. I was only able to get a double entry when I went to immigration and CTS told me the same thing.

BTW, for US passports, CTS charges 740 or somewhere around there, but the immigration office only charges 590. It takes the same amount of time, but you have to wait in the line at the immigration office (it took me about 30 minutes on a Thursday afternoon to get through it). This was for a double entry.

c

[dessie]

Max, I think visas are still granted by the Immigration Department at Shenzhen (being one of the Special Economic Zones). However, these visas are valid only for 5 days. A friend of mine travelled to China with her family on October 09 on such a visa. She and her husband are Permanent Residents (PRs) of HK although the kids are not. Dunno whether being PRs made any difference since there seem to be different visa regulations for PRs like for instance, they can get a 3-year multiple-entry visa to China while ordinary residents cannot.

[Sazzy]

UK passport holders can get visas at the border, US holders can not.

[Max]

Originally Posted by dessie

Max, I think visas are still granted by the Immigration Department at Shenzhen (being one of the Special Economic Zones). However, these visas are valid only for 5 days. A friend of mine travelled to China with her family on October 09 on such a visa. She and her husband are Permanent Residents (PRs) of HK although the kids are not. Dunno whether being PRs made any difference since there seem to be different visa regulations for PRs like for instance, they can get a 3-year multiple-entry visa to China while ordinary residents cannot.

for other passport holders, yes....

for these passport holders, no...
1. U.S.A.
2. Brazil
3. Belarus
4. Ukraine
5. Uzbekistan
6. Kazakhstan
7. Armenia
8. Moldova
9. Ecuador
10. Angola
11. Ethiopia
12. Gabon
13. Cameroon
14. United Kingdom
15. Panama
16. Chile
17. Bolivia
18. Republic of Congo
19. Iran
20. The Republic of Cote D'ivoire
21. Venezuela

[jaetee]

Thanks. If we go to the immigration office, is it same day turnaround? Also, where is the immigration office located - anything near Central?

[dessie]

Max, thanks for the info. Knew that the Chinese Government had jacked up visa processing fees for some nationals (including US nationals). Did not know the new regulations also disallowed 'instant' visas to these nationals at Shenzhen. Incidentally my friend was not a national of any of the 22 countries listed above - that explains how she got it).

jaetee, the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC is located in the Lower Block of China Resources Building, 26 Harbor Rd., Wanchai (Tel: 3413-2424) and the Visa section, if I am not mistaken, is on the 7th Floor. I think visas can be collected on the same day for a higher fee (not sure about that though, got mine after one working day)

[jaetee]

Thanks for the info!