Report on "visa run" to Laos at Mohan
Replies: 10 - Last Post: Mar 22, 2013 5:49 PM Last Post By: bai3feng1
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Report on "visa run" to Laos at Mohan
Pretty sure this has been discussed before, but it doesn't currently appear to be searchable in the parts of the forum archives that have been resurrected. (At least I couldn't find it.)I hold a one-year, multi-entry China L (Tourist) visa, with the duration of each entry set at 90 days. (US Passport.) Last week I left and re-entered China at Mohan 磨撼 (Yunnan Province, Xishuangbanna Prefecture) just to get a new entry stamp. Had taken a mini bus from Mengla 勐腊, which took slightly less than an hour and cost 17 Yuan. Used the bus station in the new part of Mengla.
I didn't need to get a Laos visa, though I was prepared to do so at the border if necessary. Didn't buy any Laotian Kip. Also didn't actually enter Laos. Didn't want to go to Boten, Luang Namtha or any other places in Laos. Only wanted a new visa stamp to restart the "90 day clock."
Did the usual "leaving China" formalities at the border point (口岸,） exited the building, turned around and walked back in the other side three or four minutes later. Filled out the entry card and waited my turn in a short line.
Encountered no problems and it didn't seem to raise eyebrows or be an unusual thing to do. Had lunch in Mohan, and took the mini bus (about 10 or 12 seats) back to Mengla. Was told at the station that they run every 20 minutes during daytime (白天。)
2
There had been many, many past reports that to do this, one actually had to go all the way to the Laos border, get a VOA and get stamped in, turn around and exit, then go back to Chinese Immigration to get stamped back in. In other words, the Chinese would not stamp you back in without seeing the Laos stamps in the passport. So either something has changed about Chinese policy at this border crossing, or you happened to pick the right day/time to accomplish this.Good info though, and those trying to repeat the feat without wanting to visit Laos should give it a whirl, but also be prepared to shell out for a Laos visa and enter/exit there before returning to China border post, should the Chinese refuse to allow the quickie express turnaround.
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AFAIK and IME, you have to actually enter HK, then leave HK, then return to Shenzhen. While theoretically it could all take a matter of minutes if you get your timing right and have no queues, I can't recall any accessible "no man's land" where it would be possible to exit Shenzhen then run right back to enter Shenzhen. At the Laos-China border, there is an interstitial between-border "no man's land" where it physically is possible to do this.6
At the Shenzhen - Hong Kong border i suppose it depends which crossing you use. At Lo Wu, I'm pretty sure after leaving China and getting an exit stamp, you need to enter Hong Kong, then take the train one stop to Sheung Shui and then the train back to Lo Wu, in order to get back to Chinese immigration.At other crossings, such as the Shenzhen bay crossing, both sets of immigration are under one roof. I think you still need to go through Hong Kong immigration and enter HK, and then turn round and reverse the process there. As there is no charge to get the visa in Hong Kong, the only 'cost' is the space taken up in your passport by the visa stamps.
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