Dianauni - Your post is very interesting and quite accurately describes how rude the Chinese are. If you lived in China, you would have to put up with that rudeness every day, but I can assure you (as unbelievable as it may sound) that foreigners are treated with 10 times more respect in China than are the natives, or anyone that looks native for that matter. When I lived there, I was always glad to cross the border to Hong Kong where people have been taught some manners and even happier still to be in any other East Asian country where respect is the name of the game. As you say, Dianauni, you now understand why the Chinese had to be taught even to smile for the Olympics. If you lived in China, you would find that people rarely smile, but very frequently shout, get angry and shove documents at you whereas, in the rest of Asia, they smile, tilt the head and pass your documents to you with two hands very politely.
This is a great thread, a lot of info as the changes unfolded. However, I could not find an answer to my question.
I have a US Passport. I hold a 1 year F visa with "enter before" date of 28Feb 2009. Since I already hold this visa, should I expect any particular problems with entries in Oct and Nov 2008?
Any guesses if this kind of visa will still be possible to get in HK after the previously noted 17 Oct date? Will things return to "normal" like before July of this year or will we need to provide extra documentation and invitations for future visas? Except for Canton Fair time I've never bothered to have transportation documentation or hotels booked very far ahead of time because it was so easy to do close to dates and allowed me to shift plans as opportunities opened up.
I hold a 1 year F visa with "enter before" date of 28Feb 2009. Since I already hold this visa, should I expect any particular problems with entries in Oct and Nov 2008?
No.
Thanks, FireArm!
I was asking for a look into your crystal ball, Ruth. I guess we really have to wait until later in the year to see if things go back to "normal" or if it will be more difficult than a year ago.
Edited by: RussNobbs
RussNobbs I don't have a crystal ball and certainly could not have predicted the current level of enforcement of the rules 6 months ago so there is no way to know what things will be like in October or next February.
Currently it is possible to get one year multiple entry business visas for US passport holders if you have the necessary documents which include some paperwork whose titles I can't recall but you still need tickets and hotel reservations for the first entry.
Ruth
I am British. I arrived in HK today and got a visa at Everbright, it was 11am when I got there but they said that the fastest service they did was 5pm the next day. It cost me 980HKD for 1 entry + 30 days.
They told me there is no same day service at the moment.
I called the CTS at the airport before my arrival (twice), they told me apply Monday morning, get your visa back Wednesday morning.
I have a plane to catch 6.45pm tomorrow night. As mentioned above I only get my visa back 5pm tomorrow. If anyone happens to be in the same situation and wants to share a taxi, please get in touch ASAP.
I asked and apparently a taxi should be around 300HKD (another night in HK would cost me 150HKD + airport express 100HKD)
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