[dilly]

Hi All-
I am an American and I am moving to HK for 4 months. I have been told that I can get a temporary visa for my stay in HK. Do I get that there?

I plan on visiting mainland China while I am over there. Do I need a visa to enter China from HK?

THANKS!!!

[philippe]

Originally Posted by dilly

Hi All-
I am an American and I am moving to HK for 4 months. I have been told that I can get a temporary visa for my stay in HK. Do I get that there?

I plan on visiting mainland China while I am over there. Do I need a visa to enter China from HK?

THANKS!!!

Being American you represent a threat to China national security...

Gee I should not make jokes like that coz all the stuff we are typing is monitored by "Big Brother"...

Anyway you can get a China Visa in Hong Kong "no problemo".

[ct1]

and you get your visa for HK on arrival at immigration here in HK.

[nemrac]

This travel agent is the official appointed agent that issue china visa:

http://www.chinatravel1.com/english/...hinesevisa.htm

[jhirata]

Hi,

You need a visa to visit Mainland China (PRC), even if your entry point is from HK. You can apply for a visa at the Chinese Consulate.

James

[ct1]

Originally Posted by nemrac

This travel agent is the official appointed agent that issue china visa:

http://www.chinatravel1.com/english/...hinesevisa.htm

No offence nemrac but this agent (CTS) charges the earth to get you a visa. The table of fees quoted does not include visa's for Americans. You will pay more.

I recommend you go yourself and get it. The China Visa office is in Wanchai. Entrance on the ground floor of the China Resources Building, Harbour Drive. They are open from 9-12 and from 2-5.

Get to the visa office as early as possible in the morning and you will not have to wait long. The most I have waited is 40 mins so bring a book. Complete the form they give you, take your ticket and wait for your number to be called. You will need a passport sized photo. They take your passport for a couple of days. In a couple of days go back (no need to take a ticket this time - just go to the cash desk) and pay and pick up your passport with new visa label. Easy peasy.

It is so not worth paying someone else to do it unless you can get your company to pay for it.

[nation]

Agree with ct1. Go there direct in Wanchai and save. However, if you feel the wait will be too long then pop across to a company called China Visa located in the main tower of the China Resources Building. I have used them and they're very efficient and not too pricy for a one day turn around ($200).

dilly - to clarify all the above you don't need to apply for a HK visitors visa before you leave the US. When you fill in your immigration forms on arival in HK you will be granted 90 days (as a US citizen) to stay in HK as a visitor. You will need a tourist visitor to enter China and you can organise that once you arrive in HK. Either go directly to the China Visa Office listed in ct1's post or use one of the agents listed above. Just ensure that your trip to China is within the 90 days otherwise you will fall foul of HK immigration laws. You will be granted an additional 90 day vistors visa on your return to HK from China.

[nation]

On second thoughts scrap what I said regarding Hong Kong. I just read another thread saying that you are coming to HK for a job??? That's a whole different story. You need to apply to immigration and have your company sponsor you. This could potentially be a long drawn out process and you need to convince HK immigration that no local can do the job you are being offered. Without that you can enter HK but you cannot work.

[nemrac]

Originally Posted by ct1

No offence nemrac but this agent (CTS) charges the earth to get you a visa. The table of fees quoted does not include visa's for Americans. You will pay more.

ct1 - no worry at all. As far as I know, the charge for a british passport holder is more or less the same, but didn't realised they would charge a lot more for Americans. Can you actually get the visa on the same day?

[Sleuth]

You can also get the visa to enter China while you are in the US. Plenty of websites set up to offer the service.
We use these:
http://www.visarite.com/index.htm
http://www.traveldocs.com/
Probably cheaper in HK, but you have the peace of mind of having it before you leave.