Chinese Visa Sticky

hi.. i provided flight details into and out of china, and got a 60 day visa.

Would the visa still stand if i were to change my flights out of china, provided it's still within the 60 day period?

I am currently in Shenzhen and I just got hired to work at an English school. They have been working on getting all of my Z-Visa papers in order. Because of the May day holiday things got set back a little bit...anyway, the problem that I'm having is that my L visa expires this Friday. I have a 6 month 30 day DBL entry visa, that's valid until September. I'm on my second Entry now. I read somewhere that you are only allowed to get an extension on the 1st entry. Is this true because I really need to get an extension on this entry....

another thing. My work wants to fly me to America this friday to get my z-visa because they say there is a problem with Guandong gov't issuing the paper work for Hong Kong to give out z-visas. I don't have any desire to go home right now and going back would be bloody expensive..

So, do I have a chance at getting an extension and where should I go..Guilin or fly to Shanghai...I hear anything can be done in Shanghai..and is there another place I can fly too that is closer to China than America that I can apply for a z-visa..

I'm willing to use a courier to send my passport back to America..from China if I can get an extension or from another country if I don't get an extension...Going back home for a week doesn't fit in my budget...

If anyone can help me, I'd be eternally grateful...

Please don't ask me why i've waited so long...My work has been telling me that everything is almost finished...and that I could pick up my papers and head to HK this mon or tues. I just found out yesterday that HK is out...and that I have to think of another way...

Everbrite,

I checked it again and it does say 90 days for the number of days it's valid for. I have to enter the mainland before August 2nd like I said before.

I'm British and currently in the UK but will be in Japan from the end of the month until August and was hoping to head over to China for a couple of weeks for the second half of next month but the new visa rules are proving to be a bit of a problem.. I don't want to spend money on making plans with no visa, but can't get a visa without providing proof of paid for plans.

It appears that the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo does not accept L visa applications from foreigners apart from long term residents. It says (ONLY FOR THE ALIENS HOLDING A JAPANESE LONG-STAY VISA (MORE THAN ONE YEAR)) although I am not sure how strict that is, or if it is a new rule as when I was studying in Japan last year other foreign students on 6-12 month visas managed to get a Chinese one ok.

So it looks like I should go to the Embassy here in London, but it is quite difficult to book flights originating in Japan from here so if I did I would be gutted if they turned my application down for giving them proof of flights that do not originate in the UK. Has anyone here in the UK applied for a Visa without their flights being from the UK?

Also what is the turnaround exactly.. does 4 working days mean if I submit on Monday that I can collect on Thursday or Friday?

giddygomer - once you have the visa you are fine to arrive and depart within 60 days.

Angelik - you can extend your current visa, either the first or second entry. It should be possible anywhere. A friend extended one in Hailaer same day some years ago when we were traveling in Manchuria. Going to a big city won't help. It generally takes longer to extend in a bigger city.

You must leave the country to get a new Z visa. According to the embassy webpage you must apply in the country of your passport or official residence. You can fly someplace cheaper and then send your passport via courier to a visa service in the US but the visa probably must be obtained from a US based consulate.

Sgt S - If you enter on June 3 your 90 days is up August 29.

brb732 - I don't recall any reports on this thread of people obtaining a Chinese tourist visa in Japan unless they are residents. This is a new rule which was instituted 14 April along with the requirement that you have tickets and accommodations pre-booked. If you really want to go to China this summer from Japan, consider the option of flying from Japan to HK and getting the visa there. Or use a visa service in London that can book fully refundable tickets and accommodations for a fee.

4 working days generally does not include the day you drop off the paperwork.

Ruth

is Xi'an a good option for extensions ? or has anybody gotten the extension in a other city nearby.

#702: Xi'an is not the best place for you to get an extension. Two years ago, cyclists who stayed with me had to wait five days for their visa. Other cyclists a year ago only had to wait a few days. I don't know what it's like now, but like Ruth said, for some reason it's usually faster in smaller cities. I have cyclists staying with me now (a family of four from France!) who renewed their visa last week in Luoyang, Henan Province. I don't know what your route is, but I doubt that the cities in Shaanxi to the south of Xi'an will be able to renew your visas. I know that Yan'an to the north of Xi'an won't do it.

Can you give me the names of the Agency's in America who are helping people like me get Visa's? Perhaps If I can get an extension, I'll mail it from China to America..If not then I need a cheap place to go visit for a couple of weeks.

Possibly Thailand, I have never been so why not...I can mail my passport from there and wait for it to be mailed back to me.. I only have a few more days left to figure things out...

Are there any other countries that are helping people get Z-Visas or Is the only option going back to America or mailing your passport to America...

Thanks for your patience with answering my questions...

What about Guilin? Has anyone got a Visa extension there recently? I did it a year or so ago and it was easy...

AngeliqueS - I am not sure how safe it is to sit in China without a passport. You might want to ask this question in a new thread.

There are several agencies mentioned in the US on this thread:
uschinvisa.com
mychinavisa.com

I live in Bangkok and can't imagine your sending your passport here to an agency unless you send it to a person you know to make the arrangements. If you come here, be prepared to spend a week or so but understand that I really would not encourage it. I don't think a Z visa can be processed here for US passport holders unless perhaps you reside here.

There have been NO reports here of people getting Z visas in countries other than their own.

Ruth

Thank you Ruth...