30

Thanks guys. I was going to fly into China from Nepal, probably with China Airlines.

31

I got my Chinese visa yesterday - yippee! xChina here I come. I'm so excited, can hardly wait.
Interestingly I was chatting with a lady while I waited and she told me the damndest story - last week she came in, gave her application to the woman at window 2 (the same woman was there behind the window yesterday) and was told they couldn't accept it there were some things missing, She said she knew it was filled out properly, mentioned it to the guard on duty who told her to get another ticket and go through another window. She had to leave, her husband handed it in at window 3 - no problems.
Weird huh?

32

If you fly from Kathmandu to Chengdu, then you can get a regular Chinese visa and not a special group one. In the past it has been relatively easy to obtain such a visa in Nepal but I can't recall any recent reports since the visa requirements were being enforced.

Ruth

33

Ok thanks Ruth.

34

I just went to the Chinese Embassy here in Chicago to get a new L Visa, my old one was multi entry/exit 90 days per entry, good for 2 years, due to my wife is Chinese but we live in the States *( she is a perm resident) and the embassy here could not of been more pleasant or nice about it, and I picked it up 4 days later. Basically the the same process as 2 years ago. My BF just got his, a regular tourist Visa, and didnt even have to provide the hotel reservations...just copy of flights..

35

I think it makes sense to give another update as of Feb. 27th 2013 -

I've been trying since last Friday to get a simple tourist visa here in Bangkok and this is my experience. A few things I have learnt:
Show up early and with complete , complete documents (if in doubt about something, bring it anyways!). Better to many docs than too less.
The Consulate opens doors at 9am to 11.30, and it can get supercrowded by 11, the queue outside last Friday and yesterday Tuesday was endless. They close the doors exactly at 11.30 so whoever is outside does not get in anymore.
I came at around 8.30am this morning and it was pleasant, not many people, wait until 9am and you get in, get issued a waiting ticket upstairs and then anohter approx 30min waiting for the window.

The girls behind the windows are miserable, but I ended up again at window No. 5, which must be the notorious one. She must hate her job and I had the impression she's playing with you, e.g. she asked me for copies of some random stamps of my (old!) Thai visa for example so I had to go get this from outside. (Btw - if you need to get copies, a couple of meters beyond the Consulate on the right side there is a copyshop, blue sign outside). Further on past the 7/11 on the left there is a Internet cafe (one of these game shops but decent Internet also for a couple of baht).
If you only need to bring additional documents tell the security lady/guy downstairs that you're just going to copy, then come back and she'll let you right in.

Documents DEFINITELY needed are
Passport copy, plus of course your passport
Copies of your Thai departure card, Thai enty stamp
Flights in and out of China
Bookings of at least first accommodation (don't know if she would have refused my visa if I only would have one booking, I made sure and booked all). This can be screenshots copy/pasted also.
Bank statement (NEEDED). Any bank is fine, a screenshot will do, no minimum amount needed.
Letter of employment (This one is tricky - make sure it has a letterhead on it (they asked me for this), plus has to be official looking). I dont know if they take past employers but they are dev. picky (and suspicious) about past and present work circumstances.

Filled out application forms A and B, can download them on the website or get it there.
One picture

Don't count on them not looking at the dates of flight, if the hotel bookings make sense, or comparing what you wrote on the application form - they are in NO hurry at all behind the window and will check absolutely everything. Many people, incl. me, got turned back for additional docs or othe-r stuff.

I still don't know if I get it , apparently they didnt like my letter of employment and my past employment history.

Good luck - I wouldn't go trhough the hassle again if I wouldn't have booked flight already.

36

Since when do Chinese visa people care about Employment history?

37

Nice_But - I am thinking that the consulate in Bangkok is accustomed to seeing applications for Chinese visas from persons who are looking to work in China....asking employment history or current employment is a way to weed out those people.

Ruth

38

It's relevant if applying for a job (at a school, etc), or an associated work visa, yes.
But for a tourist visa?

39

I know, but with flights in and out within 10 days, plus a confirmed flight back to Europe beg. of April I don't think I look like I want to work illegally in the country.
I understand why they want to look into it, it's just going a bit too far.

40

I think Chinese usually need to provide employment letters (and a lot more information) when getting visas to go overseas, so probably a case of tit for tat.

erendis - please update the thread with details of your visa (hope u get it), how much you pay, what length of visa and how many entries, and what passport your holding.

Thanks