| Author |
Message |
Filip
LoopKicker
Joined: Feb 03, 2004
Posts: 843
Status: Offline
|
 Posted:
Mar 13, 2004 - 09:05 PM |
 
|
| Post subject: Renewing VISA (help!!) |
I'm going to shanghai soon (19th of April) and I got a visa question. I plan to do the following but am not sure if this is allowed.
I would get a tourist L visa for Shanghai. Once I am in shanghai, fly to Hong Kong before the L visa expires. There I would apply for a multiple entry six month F visa. Then before that one expires, fly back to hongkong and renew it.
I really hope someone can tell me if this is possible or not, since I have never travelled out of Europe before and it's rather important!!
The best reply gets a drink and a cookie from me at the weekly meeting in Starbucks  |
|
|
 
|
|
jenming
FooJay
Joined: Dec 20, 2002
Posts: 1675
Location: Right where you wanna be
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
Mar 13, 2004 - 11:24 PM |
|
|
Yeah, this should work ok. people do this quite frequently, in fact. Some people just live in china, going twice a year to Hong Kong for visa renewal/mini-vacation.
But be sure to go to your local police station whenever you come back in, to get your temporary residence permit.
Also, with your L visa, you can probably just go to 333 Wu Song Rd and get it extended for a month or more before you have to fly all the way to Hong Kong. but that can only be done once as far as I know.
jenming
(man I hope i get a cookie ) |
|
|
|
|
|
LeiFeng
Raver
Joined: Oct 17, 2002
Posts: 440
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
Mar 14, 2004 - 03:06 AM |
|
|
As Jenming says, you face no big problems. If you have friends in a company here, you can get an F without leaving Shanghai (but I am not going into the details there right now). F visas in Hongkong grow on trees... 6 month multi-entry are low hanging, but most people are tall enough to find 1 year multis if they look around...
Note: LeiFeng has been on a Z for a while so this is all based on (fairly reliable) hearsay and the experiences of friends and friends of friends. |
_________________
Principal, XLNTE. Experience Excellence.
ben@xlnte.com.
|
|
  |
|
Benoist_Shanghai
Low Seater
Joined: May 18, 2003
Posts: 3057
|
| Posted:
Mar 14, 2004 - 10:22 AM |
|
|
But, unless you got Leifeng's connections, you wont be able to get anything more than 3-months-1-entry-F-visa in SH.
benoist. |
|
|
|
|
|
DaMa
Newbie
Joined: Feb 25, 2004
Posts: 3
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
Mar 14, 2004 - 01:17 PM |
|
|
Goto HK and Get a 1 yr multi F visa no probs! only 1000hkd, photo and passport - no paperwork. Pick up the visa the next day... easy! thats what i do... YOu can even do it in SHA, but i prefer the excuse to go to Hk myself. Otherwise you have to send your Passport to shenzhen and let someone do it for you. Slightly dodgey as you dont get an exit stamp... and you need to know the right people. |
|
|
|
|
|
veronicazhao
Reacher
Joined: Mar 08, 2004
Posts: 304
Location: SH - Holland
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
Mar 14, 2004 - 06:28 PM |
|
|
my friend who from Philippines and right now her job is help people to renew the visa in shanghai if you were interested then can contact me 13601744629
best regards
veronica |
_________________
IK BEN CHINESE, NERGENS BANG VOOR ! |
|
|
|
|
LeiFeng
Raver
Joined: Oct 17, 2002
Posts: 440
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
Mar 14, 2004 - 06:54 PM |
|
|
There are a few companies currently "doing" visas here in Shanghai. To switch from an L to an F you really just need a simple letter with a company chop (seal, red stamp). That will give you at a minimum a 3 month F here in Shanghai, more for some people. There used to be people selling those letters for around 500 RMB. If you have any friends who own a company, they can do it. I do not see a downside for the company. |
_________________
Principal, XLNTE. Experience Excellence.
ben@xlnte.com.
|
|
|
|
|
Filip
LoopKicker
Joined: Feb 03, 2004
Posts: 843
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
Mar 15, 2004 - 12:17 AM |
|
|
Excellent, thanks for the reply's. I was getting a bit stressed about this whole visa thing, but after reading this It seems that I shouldn't worry to much.
Shanghai (and Hong Kong) here I come !!! 
| jenming wrote: |
| (man I hope i get a cookie ) |
worry no more, the cookie is yours  |
|
|
|
|
|
Benoist_Shanghai
Low Seater
Joined: May 18, 2003
Posts: 3057
|
| Posted:
Mar 15, 2004 - 09:22 AM |
|
|
| Filip wrote: |
| jenming wrote: |
| (man I hope i get a cookie ) |
worry no more, the cookie is yours |
b. |
|
|
|
|
|
Benoist_Shanghai
Low Seater
Joined: May 18, 2003
Posts: 3057
|
| Posted:
Mar 15, 2004 - 09:26 AM |
|
|
| DaMa wrote: |
| Goto HK and Get a 1 yr multi F visa no probs! only 1000hkd, photo and passport - no paperwork. Pick up the visa the next day... easy! thats what i do... YOu can even do it in SHA, but i prefer the excuse to go to Hk myself. Otherwise you have to send your Passport to shenzhen and let someone do it for you. Slightly dodgey as you dont get an exit stamp... and you need to know the right people. |
Indeed, one always need a good excuse to go to HK... For the ones though that would prefer to avoid the trip, anyone here experienced the agencies ?
How reliable are they and how much do they charge, for Multi6F/Multi1yF for instance ?
b. |
|
|
|
|
|
Sushil
Newbie
Joined: Mar 11, 2004
Posts: 7
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
Mar 18, 2004 - 06:03 PM |
|
|
| DaMa wrote: |
| Goto HK and Get a 1 yr multi F visa no probs! only 1000hkd, photo and passport - no paperwork. Pick up the visa the next day... easy! thats what i do... YOu can even do it in SHA, but i prefer the excuse to go to Hk myself. Otherwise you have to send your Passport to shenzhen and let someone do it for you. Slightly dodgey as you dont get an exit stamp... and you need to know the right people. |
hi DaMa
am getting down from Shanghai to HK this week-end
would appriciate if you could send me the details of the 'agents' you use in HK for your 1 year visa
my e-mail is n_sushil@hotmail.com
thank's in advance,
Sushil |
|
|
|
|
|
shanghaimatt
Seeker
Joined: Mar 06, 2004
Posts: 54
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
Mar 18, 2004 - 06:57 PM |
|
|
I gotta do the same thing. Came for one month, which expires the 25th. Like always with business I need to extend. Is there a time frame? I would prefer to stay in Shanghai...too much work to do. Can this be done in a day or two, or does it take a week? I'm getting short. |
|
|
|
|
|
jenming
FooJay
Joined: Dec 20, 2002
Posts: 1675
Location: Right where you wanna be
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
Mar 18, 2004 - 07:53 PM |
|
|
| shanghaimatt wrote: |
| I gotta do the same thing. Came for one month, which expires the 25th. Like always with business I need to extend. Is there a time frame? I would prefer to stay in Shanghai...too much work to do. Can this be done in a day or two, or does it take a week? I'm getting short. |
usually the L (tourist) one-month visas can be extended for another month no problem if you just go to the visa office at 333 wusong lu. Depending on the mood of the person behind the desk, you can get extended longer. I told them I was here to stay with my dad and they gave me 6 months once! |
|
|
|
|
|
shanghaimatt
Seeker
Joined: Mar 06, 2004
Posts: 54
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
Mar 25, 2004 - 07:07 PM |
|
|
Ok...bad experience! I went to 333 Wusong as directed and found out I made a big green-horn mistake. When you get here, go within 24 hours to your local police station and get a residency permit! I would have except my Boss said not to worry about it when i got here. Not only could I not renew my Visa, but they wanted to fine me 300 kwai! After a little sweet talking, and playing the "dumb American" i got out of the fine, but it still took 2 days to get my Visa renewed, and it was up today! You need this form, temporary residence permit, before you go to wusong rd, then when you get there, take a number at the door, get a form from the information desk and fill it out as you watch the electronic signs for your number to come up. The good news is, once I had my ducks in a row, it took maybe 3 minutes, and they gave me 6 months! |
|
|
|
|
|
Filip
LoopKicker
Joined: Feb 03, 2004
Posts: 843
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
May 07, 2004 - 11:21 AM |
|
|
This question is a bit late, but nevertheless it could be of some importance to the members : When you apply for a residency permit, you probably need to give proof of where you live. Well, the people who are planning to go to hongkong later, probably signed a contract for an appartement while under a L-visa.
Won't the police ask some difficult questions about this?? I mean, why would a simple tourist get an appartement for a year?
PS: Jenming, are you going to the saturday coffee meeting?? I owe you a cookie |
|
|
|
|
|
Shangcouver
Newbie
Joined: May 07, 2004
Posts: 1
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
May 07, 2004 - 01:30 PM |
|
| Post subject: 30 Day F-Visa |
My situation is slightly different and am wondering if anyone can advise. I currently work in Japan, but travel regularly to China on business. I have a multi F visa, but one which only allows 30 days stay per visit. I am planning to move to Shanghai later this year (not with current employer) and am wondering if anyone knows how I can "upgrade" my F-visa to a longer term one, like the previous contributors have been describing. Can I do it during the term of the current visa, or do I need to wait until it expires. Is this do-able without major hassle in Shanghai or should I just go to HK and get it done there? Many thanks for your comments. |
|
|
|
|
|
kiniete
Newbie
Joined: Feb 19, 2004
Posts: 3
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
|
 Posted:
May 07, 2004 - 07:01 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Filip
LoopKicker
Joined: Feb 03, 2004
Posts: 843
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
May 08, 2004 - 05:34 PM |
|
|
| Filip wrote: |
This question is a bit late, but nevertheless it could be of some importance to the members : When you apply for a residency permit, you probably need to give proof of where you live. Well, the people who are planning to go to hongkong later, probably signed a contract for an appartement while under a L-visa.
Won't the police ask some difficult questions about this?? I mean, why would a simple tourist get an appartement for a year?
PS: Jenming, are you going to the saturday coffee meeting?? I owe you a cookie |
Just got my own question answered. Getting the 'registration for of temporary residence' was surprisingly easy. The police was very friendly and asked not one question, You just have to fill in a form with easy questions. The only tricky question on the form was the 'relation to Houseowner' but again no verbal questions were asked .
Sweet. |
|
|
|
|
|
heroditus
Lurker
Joined: May 24, 2004
Posts: 22
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
May 24, 2004 - 05:53 AM |
|
|
LeiFeng,
Anthony - NY attorney - need desperately to get out and to live in Shenzhen or Shanghai. I have a girl in Shenzhen and really like her. Need a good connection for long term visa. I don't want to come back to NY ever!!! ANyway, you can feel free to ask me anything as well. I have been a lawyer for fifteen years.
ANthony |
|
|
|
|
|
hongbozi
Squeeker
Joined: Mar 26, 2004
Posts: 13
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
May 24, 2004 - 07:08 AM |
|
|
Okay, I have a question:
I live and teach English in Lishui, Zhejiang Province and plan to take a job in Shanghai in September. I will fly back to the States for a short vacation, and probably return at the tail end of August. My residence permit is good until August 31st, 2004. What are my obligations as far as a visa goes and re-entering China? Will my residence permit get me through customs as long as it's earlier than August 31st, or will I need to renew my visa before I re-enter? If so, will this entail another trip to the Chinese Embassy in the US? If not, will I need to get my current school to write a letter to release me from their employ so I can get the new school to vouch for me?
I have heard everything imaginable from my Chinese friends, including that I must directly get a Z (Work) Visa before I go to China, I can't get an L (tourist) Visa. Anybody got the latest scoop on that one?
Thanks, if anybody read this all the way down here in the thread. A million thanks if you can offer some insight. |
_________________
"Hmmm. The guanxi is strong with this one." |
|
|
|
|
meepoktah
Lurker
Joined: Oct 29, 2003
Posts: 39
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
May 27, 2004 - 10:52 AM |
|
|
Oh and after all this banter about renewals...how much then, does it cost to do so here in Shanghai? Specifically a Multiple-Entry F visa? |
_________________
"With enough courage, you can do without a reputation." - Rhett Butler
|
|
|
|
|
LeiFeng
Raver
Joined: Oct 17, 2002
Posts: 440
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
May 27, 2004 - 04:11 PM |
|
|
You want to get it renew with a corporate sponsor or you need someone to provide a corporate sponsor?
In the first situation, the fees are fixed depending on tlength of the visa, the number of entries you receive and your nationality (the fees generally being set on a reciprocal basis, so the fee you pay is theoretically comparable to fee a Chinese citizen pays to get your country's visa) but tend not to be too much. One year multi entry visas can be expensive for some nationalities (I believe it used to be around 1700 RMB for a UK passport, now done to something like 600-700 RMB). American's used to have it good until recently when the price went up. It's most likely < 1000 RMB, possibly significantly under, and is unlikely to break the bank.
If you need an agency to find you a visa sponsor, I would not pay more than 3000 RMB for a 6 month multi F. It could be much cheaper. Bargain with agencies because their margins are rather high. |
_________________
Principal, XLNTE. Experience Excellence.
ben@xlnte.com.
|
|
|
|
|
wugehaize
Talker
Joined: June 15, 2004
Posts: 101
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
June 29, 2004 - 01:17 PM |
|
|
| meepoktah wrote: |
| Oh and after all this banter about renewals...how much then, does it cost to do so here in Shanghai? Specifically a Multiple-Entry F visa? |
In general, does a visa renewal cost the same as the original visa? How about for L visas? |
|
|
|
|
|
Filip
LoopKicker
Joined: Feb 03, 2004
Posts: 843
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
June 29, 2004 - 03:36 PM |
|
|
I paid 500rmb for my L visa in Belgium and here are some prices for F visa's from the Japanese Travel Agency. Price of F visa varies to the degree of urgency
http://jta.com.hk/jtav3/index.php |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forum FAQ
Search
Preferences
Watched Topics
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
