My wife and I are currently holding US Passports. We are in Bali (5/25/11). We have a flight to Beijing, China scheduled for 6/22/11. Unfortunatley I had to schedule a flight out of Indonesia before they'd let me into Indonesia. We fly to Jakarta, but only for a 2 hr layover before next connection.
I understand there's not a good solution for getting a China Visa in Bali? Could anyone recommend the easiest/cost effective method to obtain these? We plan to travel in China as tourist for about 45 days, no more than 60 days.
We have some time, but want to get cracking on this. We can also plant ourselves in a spot for 2 weeks easily if necessary for mailing, etc.
I've read some other threads but can't seem to decipher a best solution.
Thanks for any insight.
hey
you can now get a 30 day chinese visa on arival in china, you'll probably have to wait in an airport line for two hrs but i think given the circumstances thats your best option. You can talk to the chinese consulate but i think sending your passports away and then waiting around for them to come back to you in the mail in bali is a bad idea.
fauna, that would be an ideal solution, but I've never heard that. I've had quite a bit of feedback saying I must have it (visa) before arrival. Can you clarify? Is this a new thing? I hate to get to China and have to turn around, denied entry. Would waste a lot of money and time.
Is going to Surabuya (Chinese Embassy) just over in Java a slamdunk solution?
Thanks
You, most certainly, will need a visa... No ifs or buts about that. The airline is simply not going to allow you to board a flight to China if you don't have the visa. As I understand it.. with a US passport.. you'll be charged for a 12 months visa.. Something like $150... But I'm not sure what they will actually give you from the Embassy/Consulate in Indonesia... They may only allow you a 30 day visa.. It may pay you to go through a visa service/agent.... But don't waste time.. do it ASAP.
Thanks roadahead, looks like best option is head to Surabaya, but hate to waste a trip if they don't have the jurisdiction to offer China Visa to US citizen.....anybody know for sure if this can be done? hate wasting money and time.
Not sure if you checked out their web-site... Is it possible to call and ask if they will give you a visa.. and for how long?
Vacation or Family Visit Visa (L)
Visa "L" is given to applicants who come to China for tourism, visiting relatives or other personal requests.
I. Requirements:
Original passport valid for at least 6 months from the application form submitted and there is a blank visa pages. 1 sheet of the completed visa application form with 1 passport-size photographs (black and white / color). For American Citizen needs 2 visa application form and 2 photos.
3 .. For the former Chinese citizen who had entered a foreign nationality, when they first apply for the visa must show the original passport of the old China. If a former Chinese citizen who entered the Indonesian citizenship, still need to show the Chinese Nationality Release Letter.
If the visa application form is not filled out completely, correctly and legibly, may result in denial of visa or delay the process.
II. Application Procedures and processing time
Visa applicants must come in person or entrusted others, travel / visa agent to the Chinese Embassy and Consulate-General where the applicant lives, to apply for the visa.
The visa application will not need to be notified first, visa application form must not be sent to the Chinese Visa Authority.
Normal processing time is 4 working days. Taking a visa on the same day requires fast process (Super Express) and an additional fee Rp.300.000, - (visa applications lodged before pk.11.30 morning can be taken between the hours of 3 to 4 pm on the same day). Taking a visa the next day or the next day will be charged an additional fee Rp.200.000, -
III. Visa Fees
Citizenship
1 time in.
2 times in.
Several times entry valid for 6 months
Several times entry valid for 12 months
Indonesian Citizen
Rp. 300.000, -
Rp. 450.000, -
Rp. 600.000, -
Rp. 900.000, -
American Citizen
Rp. 1.200.000, -
Rp. 1.200.000, -
Rp. 1.200.000, -
Rp. 1.200.000, -
Other Foreigners
Rp. 300.000, -
Rp. 450.000, -
Rp. 600.000, -
Rp. 900.000, -
IV. The validity of visas and residence time
Visa only once and twice entered generally valid for 3 months, the residence time (in the count began the first day of admission) is generally 30 days. At the time of visa application visa officer may extend the residence time based on demand and needs of the applicant.
One solution (and possibly the best) would be to use a courier (DHL, Fedex) to send your passports back to the US to apply for a China visa through an agency. This way you are sure to get the visa and the visa duration is likely to be long enough for your length of time in China (45-60 days). Note that applying for China visas outside your home country is increasingly problematic - Hong Kong is one of only places where you can be reasonably sure of getting a visa. If you decide to send your passport back to the US, mychinavisa.com in Houston has been recommended before.Look on the China branch of thorntree for more recommendations.
Just to give an update for future users.
Here's what we did, keep in mind we are US Passport Holders.
You can fly from Denpasar to Surabaya for $32 one way on Lion Air (about a 1 hr flight)
In Surabaya there is a Chinese Visa Processing Center (do not go to the consulate, they can't help).
Unfortunatley for us being US Citizens and "travelling", the consulate would only offer us 20 days to stay in China, not even 30 days. Cost for us would have been $150 (usd) each, plus another $55 processing and handling. Slightly over $200 usd for a 20 day stay in China.
We opted to abort going to China at least for now. They alluded to Jakarta or Hong Kong having more flexible options but were pretty much unhelpful.
So in a nut shell, if you're at least a US citizen, it's expensive and not that helpful to try the help in Surabaya. Hope this info hedges off trials for someone else.
Oh and you can get back to Denpasar from Surabay via Lion air for $32 as well (just ask for the Promotional Price)
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