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It is now impossible to get a 6 or 12 month multiple entry business visa.
It is now impossible to get entries longer than 30 days.
In many embassies and consulates it would appear impossible to get a double entry tourist visa.
It has been reported that beginning July, it may be difficult to impossible to get extensions.
From Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, April 6:
"Beijing has stopped issuing multiple-entry visas, risking major inconvenience to foreigners who travel to the mainland regularly, especially on business. Hong Kong travel agents say the ban will stay in place until after the Olympic Games.
Travellers are now restricted to single- or double-entry visas valid for 30 days. Multiple-entry visas that have not expired are still valid. "
Please add your experience at specific Chinese embassies and consulates. Please include your passport, where you applied, the cost and the processing time and what type of visa you received.
TIA
Ruth
1) Trying to get an extension on my single-entry Tourist Visa;
2) If I fail, going to HK to try for a double-entry 'rush service' (cheaper than staying in HK for the extra days) Tourist visa.
I will let you all know what happens after a couple of days. Wish me luck!!!!
If you want a same day service in Hong Kong, Forever Bright say they will do it if you get your passport to them before 9am.
+MULTI-ENTRY VISA BAN UNTIL AFTER GAMES HURDLE TO MAINLAND TRIPS FOR FREQUENT TRAVELLERS
Samantha Spiro
Apr 06, 2008
Beijing has stopped issuing multiple-entry visas, risking major inconvenience to foreigners who travel to the mainland regularly, especially on business. Hong Kong travel agents say the ban will stay in place until after the Olympic Games.
Travellers are now restricted to single- or double-entry visas valid for 30 days. Multiple-entry visas that have not expired are still valid.
Andrew Work, executive director of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said the ban would create serious inconvenience for foreigners living and working in Hong Kong.
"This is a real hassle for foreign small- and medium-sized business owners ... it's bound to slow business down and we hope that normal access to the mainland will be restored soon."
One travel agent who declined to be named said: "People have been asking to renew their multiple-entry visas but no one can get more than a double-entry visa. We were told this was because of the Olympics and that the ban would be lifted in September after the Games had finished."
Daryl Bending, of Concord Travel, said even permanent Hong Kong residents who had previously been given three-year multiple-entry visas were affected.
"No one is being given more than a double-entry visa. The reason given was the Olympics but there were suggestions that after the Games things would return to normal," he said.
Agents said they were told of the move on March 27. Hong Kong-based China-visa agency Forever Bright says on its website the ban will apply until October 17.
The Office of the Foreign Ministry Commissioner in Hong Kong was unavailable for comment.
Mr Work said: "I found out at a chamber meeting for the chairs of all the chambers in Hong Kong. It's headed by newWindow">Chief Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen. At the end of the meeting someone mentioned the ban on multiple-entry visas. It took us all by surprise. Even Henry Tang didn't know." _
A senior source from the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce said: "We have got similar complaints and this will hinder business activities."
A government spokesman said: "The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce recently raised concern about new visa arrangements implemented by mainland authorities and the administration is looking into the matter."
Travel agents also said the cost of single- and double-entry visas had risen.
The typical cost of a single-entry visa obtained through a travel agent for a British passport holder is now HK$850 for a single-entry visa and HK$1,050 for a double-entry one. At the end of last year, a six-month multiple-entry visa cost HK$1,080.
Australians, Canadians and most Europeans can expect to pay HK$500 for a single-entry visa and HK$600 for a double-entry one. Six-month multiple-entry visas for these nationalities previously cost about HK$450.
The move has surprised Howard Young, the tourism sector legislator.
"The ban will create a lot of inconvenience. I hope it's only temporary," Mr Young said.
Visas are taking longer to process. Paul Porter, a lawyer and regular mainland visitor, said he had been told a visa now takes four days.+
The full text of the article suggest something shoddy of this piece of news. This dodgy article actually encourages people who normally scan news to register with SCMP's 14 day free offer.
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Chinese Visa Sticky
Until recently, it was relatively easy to get a Chinese visa. The situation has changed beginning about mid March and it is expected to remain unstable until well after the Olympics.It is now impossible to get a 6 or 12 month multiple entry business visa.
It is now impossible to get entries longer than 30 days.
In many embassies and consulates it would appear impossible to get a double entry tourist visa.
It has been reported that beginning July, it may be difficult to impossible to get extensions.
From Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, April 6:
"Beijing has stopped issuing multiple-entry visas, risking major inconvenience to foreigners who travel to the mainland regularly, especially on business. Hong Kong travel agents say the ban will stay in place until after the Olympic Games.
Travellers are now restricted to single- or double-entry visas valid for 30 days. Multiple-entry visas that have not expired are still valid. "
Please add your experience at specific Chinese embassies and consulates. Please include your passport, where you applied, the cost and the processing time and what type of visa you received.
TIA
Ruth
4
On 14 March at the Chinese Embassy in Canberra, Australia, I got a double entry tourist visa, each visa for 90 days. Very nice.9
I'll be doing this in the next 2 days in Shenzhen and possily HK:1) Trying to get an extension on my single-entry Tourist Visa;
2) If I fail, going to HK to try for a double-entry 'rush service' (cheaper than staying in HK for the extra days) Tourist visa.
I will let you all know what happens after a couple of days. Wish me luck!!!!
11
Good luck #9. Keep us posted.If you want a same day service in Hong Kong, Forever Bright say they will do it if you get your passport to them before 9am.
14
Full text of THE report from Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, April 6:+MULTI-ENTRY VISA BAN UNTIL AFTER GAMES HURDLE TO MAINLAND TRIPS FOR FREQUENT TRAVELLERS
Samantha Spiro
Apr 06, 2008
Beijing has stopped issuing multiple-entry visas, risking major inconvenience to foreigners who travel to the mainland regularly, especially on business. Hong Kong travel agents say the ban will stay in place until after the Olympic Games.
Travellers are now restricted to single- or double-entry visas valid for 30 days. Multiple-entry visas that have not expired are still valid.
Andrew Work, executive director of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said the ban would create serious inconvenience for foreigners living and working in Hong Kong.
"This is a real hassle for foreign small- and medium-sized business owners ... it's bound to slow business down and we hope that normal access to the mainland will be restored soon."
One travel agent who declined to be named said: "People have been asking to renew their multiple-entry visas but no one can get more than a double-entry visa. We were told this was because of the Olympics and that the ban would be lifted in September after the Games had finished."
Daryl Bending, of Concord Travel, said even permanent Hong Kong residents who had previously been given three-year multiple-entry visas were affected.
"No one is being given more than a double-entry visa. The reason given was the Olympics but there were suggestions that after the Games things would return to normal," he said.
Agents said they were told of the move on March 27. Hong Kong-based China-visa agency Forever Bright says on its website the ban will apply until October 17.
The Office of the Foreign Ministry Commissioner in Hong Kong was unavailable for comment.
Mr Work said: "I found out at a chamber meeting for the chairs of all the chambers in Hong Kong. It's headed by newWindow">Chief Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen. At the end of the meeting someone mentioned the ban on multiple-entry visas. It took us all by surprise. Even Henry Tang didn't know." _
A senior source from the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce said: "We have got similar complaints and this will hinder business activities."
A government spokesman said: "The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce recently raised concern about new visa arrangements implemented by mainland authorities and the administration is looking into the matter."
Travel agents also said the cost of single- and double-entry visas had risen.
The typical cost of a single-entry visa obtained through a travel agent for a British passport holder is now HK$850 for a single-entry visa and HK$1,050 for a double-entry one. At the end of last year, a six-month multiple-entry visa cost HK$1,080.
Australians, Canadians and most Europeans can expect to pay HK$500 for a single-entry visa and HK$600 for a double-entry one. Six-month multiple-entry visas for these nationalities previously cost about HK$450.
The move has surprised Howard Young, the tourism sector legislator.
"The ban will create a lot of inconvenience. I hope it's only temporary," Mr Young said.
Visas are taking longer to process. Paul Porter, a lawyer and regular mainland visitor, said he had been told a visa now takes four days.+
The full text of the article suggest something shoddy of this piece of news. This dodgy article actually encourages people who normally scan news to register with SCMP's 14 day free offer.
