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hayansekki724
Squeeker
Joined: Nov 09, 2008
Posts: 15
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
Nov 04, 2009 - 12:27 PM |
 
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| Post subject: Applying for tourist visa through visa center in England |
It's time for me to get a new tourist visa, and I was wondering if anyone's gone through the visa application service center in London before? My British passport has one previous dual entry 90 day duration of stay 6 month validity L visa on it. If I apply for a new one, what's the maximum duration and number of entries I can get these days? Are they requiring any documentation?
Thanks in advance for responses. |
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Christal
Newbie
Joined: Nov 02, 2009
Posts: 7
Status: Offline
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Nov 07, 2009 - 09:47 PM |
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hayansekki724
Squeeker
Joined: Nov 09, 2008
Posts: 15
Status: Offline
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Nov 07, 2009 - 10:47 PM |
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Why would you go through a visa agency in London? Aren't all visas processed through the visa application service center now anyway? Or can agents still get better prices or visas under the table?
Do you know what duration and number of entries they can get for a tourist visa now?
Thanks |
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miss_t
Talker
Joined: July 20, 2009
Posts: 81
Location: Shanghai Via Essex
Status: Offline
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Nov 08, 2009 - 01:25 AM |
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It is all on the service centres website about what visas you can buy etc etc! |
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You can take the girl out of Essex.... |
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hayansekki724
Squeeker
Joined: Nov 09, 2008
Posts: 15
Status: Offline
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Nov 08, 2009 - 12:06 PM |
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| miss_t wrote: |
| It is all on the service centres website about what visas you can buy etc etc! |
In my experience, it's never that simple. I'm very familiar with the general visa types and issuing requirements, but details such as the total validity period available, the maximum duration of stay, and the maximum number of entries available seem to vary with the location of applicant, the country issuing the passport, the time of the month, and the direction and speed of the wind, among other things.
For example, the website says that one and two year validity multiple entry tourist visas are available. However, I have never heard of someone being issued a two year tourist visa. When I last used my British passport to apply for a Chinese visa in Bangkok, the maximum they told me I could get was 90 day duration of stay, 6 month validity dual entry.
Americans can typically get 1-year multiple entry L visas, but lately people I've talked to have been limited to 60 day duration of stay.
I would really appreciate if anyone can offer specific advice on what's currently being provided in London. The service center does not respond to my email. 
Thanks, |
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Christal
Newbie
Joined: Nov 02, 2009
Posts: 7
Status: Offline
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Nov 12, 2009 - 11:30 AM |
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Well, reason you want to use a visa agency is first you won't have to queue like crazy people outside the visa center for at least 3 hours........, second is if you have clicked the link I pasted above, you would have already found the tel no of the visa agency and by giving them a call you would have all your questions answered...(about the visa validity, multiple entries and etc). I think I paid about 50pound for their service last time, comparing to the waiting and confusion, I think it's good value, but it's your visa, your decision. |
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Shangstar
Fire-eater
Joined: Feb 07, 2008
Posts: 2772
Location: Spitland
Status: Offline
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Nov 12, 2009 - 11:42 AM |
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you dont have to queue anymore with the Chinese consulate. Like the OP said, they have set up their own "agency" with charges a small fee, but guarantees you an allotted time to submit your application, so no queuing. In may be the case that all visa applications need to go through this agency now. From what I recall appointments and tracking services can be done online. You can now also do everything by post, before you couldnt in London.
http://www.visaforchina.org.uk/visaen/visaView.html?method=index
Like I said, this is an official Chinese embassy service, and there's a lot of useful info on their site.
I think duration depends on reasons for visiting. More info, more cities, more people to visit the better |
_________________
Charles Darwin: Differences between humans are differences in degree, not differences in kind |
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lostatsea
Seeker
Joined: Aug 27, 2009
Posts: 59
Status: Offline
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Nov 12, 2009 - 05:30 PM |
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funny enough i just tried to renew a visa (in china) the other day through a agency which was charging 560rmb for a tourist 1 month extension when they told me i would have to go to the pudong entry exit with them. i asked them if i have to go there why would i pay an extra 400rmb to them for this they said cause i need a photo with the entry exit office? which if i was there i could do by myself for 160rmb all included, so the visa agent is not always best. sorry to go off topic but just thought it was a related and strange situation |
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hayansekki724
Squeeker
Joined: Nov 09, 2008
Posts: 15
Status: Offline
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Nov 12, 2009 - 10:44 PM |
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Crystal, thank you for the agent link. One reason to consider using them is that they respond to emails, unlike the visa center. Their response to my question is below if anyone else is interested.
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You can still get single or double entry visas with a maximum stay of 90 days each visit.
Multiple entry visas have a maximum stay of 60 days. Multiple entry visas are only issued for business, which requires an invitation letter from a Chinese company, which is on their letter headed paper, contains your full name and passport number and is signed and/stamped be the inviter.
We can return your passport to Beijing however the embassy will need to see an "Exit Stamp" corresponding to your last entry to China. |
Shangstar, it does appear that all applications have to go through the visa center, so unless the agents have another source, their fee I presume their fee must be higher than the center's. The visa center apparently accepts mail service, though I don't know if they'll mail the passport back overseas. They require a local address. NOTE: I have multiple passports, which is why the question of mailing it came up, nobody should ever try to mail the passport with their active Chinese visa overseas for a new visa. (and yes I would have to leave China anyway).
Lostatsea is right that his "agency" was providing no service for their fee, since anyone can get the tourist extension themselves with no documentation of purpose, although here in Beijing they want a local bank book showing 20,000 in the account (no hold required). |
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yixingdan
Squeeker
Joined: Sep 05, 2009
Posts: 15
Status: Offline
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Nov 14, 2009 - 11:32 AM |
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I used the same service about 2 years ago for a 30 day tourist visa. They were very efficient and I had my passport back with visa in about a week. I filled in the visa form, provided travel plans, photocopies of passport and a special delivery envelope so they could post my passport back to me. It wasn't expensive. I've applied from the Chinese Consulate in Manchester before and that was a hastle - the place is only open weekday mornings and there's usually a big queue. The consulate won't send your passport back to you, you have to return and pick it up or use their same day processing service at extra cost plus you have to submit the application before a certain cut off time might have been 10.30am. (If you do it in person, you have to check on the UK Chinese embassy website to see which place to go to London, Manchester or Glasgow to apply depending on where you live in the UK). |
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hayansekki724
Squeeker
Joined: Nov 09, 2008
Posts: 15
Status: Offline
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Nov 15, 2009 - 02:48 PM |
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http://www.visaforchina.org.uk/visaen/visaView.html?method=index
It is no longer possible for general passport holders to apply through the consulate, the the options are to go through an agent or through the visa service center. The service center will mail the passport back to you, and they accept the application by mail as well. Their fee is 34.5 GBP for regular service, on top of the visa fee. I don't remember what the agents charge, but I guess it must include the visa center's fee as well. |
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GC
The Ginger Prince
Joined: Dec 01, 2003
Posts: 22183
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Nov 15, 2009 - 03:03 PM |
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^Yup. Two years ago i had to apply for a visa at the consulate in Edinburgh, prior to this it was always London and therefore I always used an agent. Current visa was issued using the new "inhouse" system you talk about and I found them to be very efficient, they even phoned to clarify the length of visa I could actually get.
Not much point in using and agent anymore. |
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You turned on the lights, Fuelled U boats by night, That |
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