Chinese Visa Sticky

Hello

I am a British citizen and am currently living in HCMC. I've just finished working here and intended to travel back to the UK via land (train from Hanoi-China, train Beijing-Moscow etc). Given the visa complications this is looking in serious doubt!

I went to the HCMC consulate on Monday, they appeared to still be accepting visa applications from non-Vietnamese. They wanted to see round flights to and from china and hotel reservations. I think you also need to take the immigration card the Vietnamese authorities give you on arrival here, but Im not definite on that. When I told them I wanted to enter by train, they said I should apply for my visa when I'm in Hanoi - at the embassy there (which I've read here would not be wise).

I am booking Beijing-Moscow tickets through a travel agency. They have told me that they can provide definite tickets (plus a faxed copy to me to apply for the visa) up until the 15th July..after that the "government will be controlling tickets" so they aren't sure. Based on this I thought I would book a ticket for 12th July, seeing as I can then take my proof to the embassy here.

I also thought I would purchase my ticket from Hanoi to China while I'm here (I've read that in theory this can be obtained at the Saigon train station - I want to go Hanoi-Nanning). However, I've just read that in order to purchase this ticket I'll need a Chinese visa, or the Vietnamese train company won't give me one. It seems a catch-22, as it would appear I need proof of exactly that ticket to obtain the visa!

Well there's my update. I have a few questions, which if any one can help out on I'd much appreciate it. I hope my anecdote is of some use to others.

1. Does anyone know anymore about buying train tickets from Hanoi through to China? (I have searched this forum endlessly, but am concerned things may have changed given the Olympics).

2. How essential is the 'proof of travel into China'? (Could I perhaps book a $20 bus ticket from Hanoi, and use that to gain the visa..even if I end up taking a train? Or alternatively if I had a flight to Hong Kong would that count?)

3. I am contemplating doing a 2/3 week tour in China, would proof of this surfice instead of proof of booked hotels?

4. Does anyone know of any travel agencies in HCMC (or Hanoi) that could help with getting a Chinese visa?

Many thanks
If I am successful, I'll come back here and drop a detailed reply on how it all worked.

Edited by: RobbieVN

Edited by: RobbieVN

1. no information about train tickets. But have you considered trying a travel agency?

2. Proof of travel is essential.

3. Ask the tour operator. They might know whether proof of booking the tour is sufficient for getting a visa. They might even be able to assist in obtaining the visa. You don't know if you don't ask.

4. I think there are some agencies mentioned. There is another thread here: Chinese visa in Hanoi that might be useful.

While it would seem to cost more to use a visa service or travel agency, there appears to be a much higher likelihood of obtaining a visa this way.

Ruth

hello,
have a question regarding the extension: we are swiss citizen and have a 30 day chinese visa (single entry) on hand. we'll enter china lastest the 24.05 from hong kong/macau and will cycle upto to the mongolian border. after 30 days we are suposed to be somewhere
south of Xi'an. has somebody experience in obtaining an extension in this regions ? is Xi'an a good option for extensions ? or has anybody gotten the extension in a other city nearby. in advance thanks for the info.

Boehnlikacker - Generally speaking it appears to be easier to get an extension in a smaller city than in a bigger city. Why not check if it is possible wherever you will be Tuesday of next week?

Ruth

thanks for the superquick reply ruth. next tuesday we'll be in hong kong. will we be able to get more infos there or what do you mean excactly?

Boehnlikacker - Sorry I misread the dates. Assuming you enter China on 25 May, ook at where you will be about the 17 or 18th of June. It can take several days to get an extension in a large city like Xian.

Arriving in China on 25 May means your 30 days is up on 23 June. Remember that May has 31 days and they count the entry and exit days.

Ruth

So I finally got my visa today after a slight delay. Contrary to all of the reporting here, I got a 90 day L visa. Now I know a lot of you will be surprised by this and I am myself, but I think I'm in a slightly better position to get a longer visa. First, I will be in Shanghai for about a month in July for academic reasons and I had the required documentations with me at the time of applying for my visa. I think that's what really did it for me. Originally I thought I would get 60 days based on what everyone have been saying here, but I'm glad I got a 90 day visa.

Now my questions for the experts is when will the visa actually activate and the 90 day limit start counting? I'll be in HK and Macau from May 24th until June 3rd. I'm entering the mainland on June 3rd and my plane leaves on August 24th. Will the visa activate from June 3rd and giving me 90 days from that day or it'll activate from the day in which the visa was issued, which was May 2nd for me. The visa also say that I have until August 2nd to enter the mainland, but I'll be in the mainland long before then.

If you have a 90 days visa, you may spend 90 days in China from the day you enter.

Solrac,

In order to apply for Chinese Visa you need proof of roundtrip travel to and from China.... that is the reason I reserved tickets before applying for Visa. Thank goodness my travel OUT is a flight, because I read that if you plan to travel in and out of the country by land, you are in trouble!

Sgt S - Look carefully at the visa. There should be three pieces of information. One is the date valid for entry until. You must enter before that date. Then there is a number of days for which the visa is valid and finally there should be a number of entries. Look carefully, despite what others say, it is possible that it is only good for 90 days from the date of issue and not for 90 days once you enter.

Ruth