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Chinese visa fun and games

Replies: 10 - Last Post: Dec 8, 2012 8:56 PM Last Post By: JPDeM

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beast_milliontooth

beast_milliontooth avatar

Dec 8, 2012 10:12 AM
Posts:  3

Chinese visa fun and games

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to hit China from about mid March once I've finished this ski season in Japan. But I'm faced with some inevitable visa problems. My plan is to get one visa, spend the 30 days going from Beijing to Hong Kong and get a second visa there before heading back into China. The problem is, for visa #1 I have no proof of an onward journey, as my onward journey is back into China and visa dependant. Is it ok just to bring a hotel reservation for HK as proof? I can't pre-book train tickets 5 months in advance, and I'd rather not buy a flight solely to show the visa people.

The way my flights are booked, I would need a 90 day visa really, but I don't know how realistic that is! The other option is the 60 day multiple entry visa, but that makes my flight dates a bit awkward and is still pretty hard to get.

Help!

JPDeM

JPDeM avatar

Dec 8, 2012 10:51 AM
Posts:  353

1

You book a flight for this purpose and promptly cancel it after printing the details. Attach the printed confirmation to your visa application. you can do the same with the hotels. Are you in the US? If so then apply for a multiple entry visa, same price as a single entry visa.

westwood

westwood avatar

Dec 8, 2012 2:54 PM
Posts:  8,798

2

A big hint is OP saying once I've finished this ski season in Japan so safe to assume he isnt in US.

JPDeM

JPDeM avatar

Dec 8, 2012 4:05 PM
Posts:  353

3

So what? Americans cannot ski in Japan? You think he/she is Japanese? I am 100% sure it is not the case.
Edited by: JPDeM

Edited by: JPDeM

westwood

westwood avatar

Dec 8, 2012 4:12 PM
Posts:  8,798

4

Boy, you've really twisted around what I said.

beast_milliontooth

beast_milliontooth avatar

Dec 8, 2012 5:23 PM
Posts:  3

5

Cheers guys, that was rapid! I'm not American and am in Japan, so good sleuthing.

What's the best place to look for an extremely budget flight from HK to anywhere except Macau and China? Obviously could look myself, but that would take ages......

drumbrake

drumbrake avatar

Dec 8, 2012 5:44 PM
Posts:  2,208

6

www.skyscanner.com but read #1

JPDeM

JPDeM avatar

Dec 8, 2012 6:03 PM
Posts:  353

7

@westwood - sorry if I read this differently than you as english is not my first language. All we knew for sure from the post is that the OP is not Japanese. Ski season in Japan starts in mid-December. Even if the season has started, the OP had not said he had arrived yet.
in any case, now we know more.
Applying for a Chinese visa when you are not in your country is not a sure thing.
What you can do is book a flight to Beijing, print it then cancel it. Same for the hotels. They will not actually check your bookings. Just need to satisfy the bureaucracy.

beast_milliontooth

beast_milliontooth avatar

Dec 8, 2012 6:18 PM
Posts:  3

8

Well so far it seems I can't get a flight that will refund me, but for £40 I can get a flight that is transferable so I can also use it for visa #2 coz flight home is a bit complex. Gonna cost me, but its not too pricey.

Do I seriously have to show bookings for the whole trip? That's a pain in the @$$.... Was gonna book Beijing but the whole thing...... Can I just book 30 days in Beijing?! Saves the hassle.....

drumbrake

drumbrake avatar

Dec 8, 2012 6:28 PM
Posts:  2,208

9

1. Book full priced air tickets. They are fully refundable. Often you have 3 days to pay, so you can print out the itinerary as flight proof.

2. Are you a legal resident in Japan, or on a tourist visa? That might make a difference as to how easy or hard it is to apply for a Chinese visa.

3. You do not need to stay in the hotels you make bookings for. Make the bookings using an agency such as bookings.com, get the visa, and then cancel the bookings.

JPDeM

JPDeM avatar

Dec 8, 2012 8:56 PM
Posts:  353

10

You do not need to show your true itinerary. Just make a simple one, book, print then cancel.
As Drumbrake says, more expensive flights can be cancelled usually. Same with 5-star hotels.

Edited by: JPDeM
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