Thorn Tree travel forum

1

I think you should be fine carrying both passports and with my experience i doubt it will do you much good to try explaining as the officials who generally check the passports arent always that cluey and are generally yes-men who will report anything slightly left of center to their nearest superior...love it but all i think it means is you might take longer than expected when they are checking your visa...i havent done that particular route but can liken it to an experience in shanghai airport where I was detained for being in TRANSIT therefore didn't need a visa but because I was flying from Hong Kong back to Shanghai then straight out to Thailand..blah blah blah China! Don't get me wrong, I'm not badmouthing it, been living and working Nanjing for a few years now...honestly, I really think you will be fine, just know that even tho your situation seems sensible to you, it may well puzzle those glorious chinese authority types...hope I helped a little?!?!

-Vika-

2

It happened to me once: Multiple visa in old passport, travelling on new one. I left China and re-entered without any questions being asked. I have to say, the thoughts of any problems never entered my head. Maybe I was lucky!

Keep banging those rocks together, guys.

3

Thanks for the advice. Will give it a go. Hopefully it won't end in me being sent back to Laos and having to pay $35 to re-enter.

Most other countries I would try without thinking but , you know, China can be a little temperamental and by it's very status, officious.

The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail. Travel too fast and you miss all you are traveling for  [Louis L'Amour]
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page  [St. Augustine]

4

Well despite the official line that a visa in an expired passport is invalid and you must buy a new one (as you can't transfer it) I had no problems at the PSB or at the border just showing both old and new passport.

The entry stamp went in the new passport and I got a new visa extension at the PSB which has gone in the new passport also.

You do need to make sure when you get a new passport the old visa isn't defaced as I've heard that some countries do this.

The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail. Travel too fast and you miss all you are traveling for  [Louis L'Amour]
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page  [St. Augustine]