The Commissioner's Office Continues to Facilitate Visa Application of Foreiign Nationals

2008-04-17
The Commissioner's Office Continues to Facilitate Visa Applications of Foreign Nationals

Foreigners are welcome to China. The Chinese visa is issued in accordance with laws and regulations of China, with reference of the practice of hosting countries of previous Olympic Games and other international sporting events. Compared to most other countries, it is relevantly easy and convenient to apply for a Chinese visa. Genuine visitors to China and those attending Olympic Games will not be affected.

Since the establishment of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong SAR, it has always been providing efficient service to facilitate foreigners' visa application. The Office will continue to work in the same spirit.

The recent drastic rise in the number of applicants adds to the waiting time for queuing and processing. To spare applicants of the unnecessary trouble, for non-resident of Hong Kong SAR, please apply for the Chinese visa at the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General in his or her home country or resident country.

The followings are the answers to frequently asked questions from the media and the public:

1. What is the number of entries of a Chinese visa? What is the validity of a Chinese visa?

A single-entry, double-entry or multiple-entry visa can be issued. A single-entry or double-entry visa is valid for 3 months for entry; the validity of a multiple-entry visa can be longer.

2. What kind of documentation is needed for visa application?

A valid passport, one photo and a completed visa application form are basic requirements. A return ticket and hotel booking are required for tourist visa. An additional Visa Notification Form is required for business visa. For detailed student or working visa, please visit the website of the Commissioner's Office at www.fmcoprc.gov.hk.

3. How long does it take to get a visa?

We encourage all visa applicants to apply for Chinese visa well in advance of their anticipated travel plans. The regular processing time is usually 4 working days. Express or rush visa service is available for emergencies. Express visa is issued within three working days after application is received, while rush visa is issued within two working days (24 hours after application is received).

4. Has the multiple-entry visa service been suspended?

The multiple-entry visa service is still available. The visa officer will consider the real need of the applicant when granting a multiple-entry visa.

5. Have the visa fees been raised? How much is charged for a visa?

The visa fees remain unchanged. HK$150 is charged for a regular single-entry visa, HK$220 for double-entry visa, HK$440 for 6-month multiple-entry visa and HK$600 for one-year multiple-entry visa. For applicants of certain countries, visa fees are charged on reciprocal basis. Please visit the website of the Commissioner's Office for detailed information.

6. Is express visa service available? What is the charge?

Express visa service is available for applicants caught in emergency. An additional fee of HK$150 is charged for express visa service and HK$250 for rush visa service.

7. Should foreign citizens apply for Chinese visas in their home country or resident country before departing for China?

Yes, foreign citizens should apply for Chinese visas in their home country or resident country before departing for China.

8. Is there any recent change of the application forms?

There's no change recently. The Form of 2007 Edition is still in use for all categories of application.

9. Where the detailed visa information could be found?

For detailed information, please visit the website of the Commissioner's Office at www.fmcoprc.gov.hk . For further inquiry, please contact the Office by calling (852)34132300, or by email to fmcovisa_hk@mfa.gov.cn, or by fax to (852)34132312. The staff will be available to answer questions at (852)34132424 (10:00a.m.-11:00a.m.; 3:00p.m.-4:00p.m.).

http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/xwfw/gszxxw/t426104.htm

Sounds like all services are back.... just tighter control for L and F.... and multi entries is grant for "people with real need"......base on the assessment of the visa officer.

CaptainCook wrote:
Foreigners are welcome to China.

I'm told now that the Canton show is looking a bit of a SNAFU too - not only can't foreigners arriving in HKG not get visas the Chinese visitors had to apply in advance for a visit pass and get a letter from the police (?) confirming they had no criminal record (hardly surprising this though given the amount of petty crime at these shows in China). Thus many Chinese are not attending the show.

http://hkexpats.com/HKXPosts~ID~15439~F ... PAGE~1.htm

You have to love the Chinese - so determined to show what a wonderful country they have that has come of age in this glorious Olympic year that they can't see the irony or contradiction in implementing all of these policies......f**kwits.

http://thechinavisa.blogspot.com/

Well, this was in the South China Morning Post this morning:

New curbs on travel to the mainland

Travel agents report fresh China visa hurdles; businesses worried
Liz Heron
Updated on Apr 18, 2008


New visa restrictions have been imposed without warning on travel to the mainland by the central government - causing fresh consternation among business leaders and travel agents in Hong Kong.

Travel agents say all travellers - including those taking trips to Shenzhen - must show return travel tickets and hotel vouchers to get a visa; that visitors from 33 countries can no longer get visas in Hong Kong but must apply in their home countries; and that a new visa has replaced the short-stop visa for Shenzhen.

At least one business traveller has been stranded in Hong Kong by the restrictions, which were disclosed on Monday to travel agency couriers and came into effect on Tuesday.

The rules have been issued by the Commissioner's Office of the Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong.

Among the 33 countries whose nationals, travel agents say, can no longer get visas in Hong Kong are Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Nigeria and Turkey. The ban does not apply to people from these countries living in Hong Kong.

The changes come days after travel agents said they had been told on March 27 that no new multiple-entry visas would be issued until October. In addition, immigration offices at the border stopped issuing short-stay visas to Shenzhen on April 1, when the commissioner's office took over the issuing of all visas.

The office said yesterday multiple-entry visas could still be issued.

The moves have provoked acute concern from chambers of commerce, who fear the interests of Hong Kong companies will be damaged.

Daryl Bending, senior travel consultant with Concorde Travel, said: "We were told late on Monday with pretty much immediate effect that anyone wishing to travel to any mainland destination was required to have a copy of the airline ticket and the hotel voucher before they apply for a visa.

"We were also told about a new visa for entering Shenzhen, which will effectively replace the on-the-spot Shenzhen visa that used to be issued at the border.

"Previously, if you went up to the border you could get a visa there, which was for approximately five days. We were told on Tuesday that the hotel voucher and proof-of-travel requirement would also apply to Shenzhen whether the passenger goes by boat, train or car."

Mr Bending said: "I think the restrictions will deter some foreign tourists from travelling to China at all and ... put an end to much of the casual traffic from Hong Kong to Shenzhen for shopping and recreation."

The Commissioner's Office yesterday released a statement confirming that a return ticket and a hotel voucher was required for a tourist visa and an additional "visa notification form" for a business visa. It said the measure was "to spare applicants unnecessary trouble".

It did not respond to queries about a new Shenzhen visa or new requirements for 33 nationalities.

A Hong Kong government spokesman said: "The government has reflected the views and concerns of the Hong Kong business community to the mainland authorities."

Rob Schlipper, of Outpac Designs, which makes travel security products with a Shenzhen firm, said the changes were "a devastating blow".

Malaysian consul general Cheong Loon Lai said the consulate had received a request for help from a Malaysian businessman who made a day trip to Hong Kong during a business trip to the mainland and was not allowed back over the border.

foreign citizens should apply for Chinese visas in their home country or resident country before departing for China.

This is likely the KEY difference.

in the meantime, the triumph of logic continues:

I was told yesterday that factories in China had received notification that any factory using coal as fuel will have from June 1st to shut until after the Olympics. No mention of what is to happen to the staff.

The peasants will be revolting.

also, no student visas issued until end of october

edit: and the current students are being harmonized:
http://shanghaiist.com/2008/04/18/foreign_student.php

^Well that messes up that route for some, This Hotel booking thing has got me though, some travelers like to stay with friends to cut costs etc

So for visiting friends and relatives, it will be more convienient now to ask a travel agent to handle all these hassles....or just put off coming here all together till end of this year. Wonder if it is okay for them to cancel their hotel bookings after they arrived and then register at the local PSB the address of the relative/friend's they staying with, for the remainder duration of their stay?

^^Should be ok since local PSB do not check your visa application form for your intended hotel stays.

I will try to keep update the HK visa thing since one of my colleague is doing it this way in 10 days time and the Commissioner's office (above) said that it will be fine.....may be because we have an office in HK.

If this is the case, I think visa agencies in HK can do the same... "resident or permanent working country = Hong Kong"

OK... it didn't work for him! He got everything they asked for including a nice letter from the Economic & Trade Commisioner....(??) in Shanghai which said that he can get a 3 months multiple entries F visa from HK, they now insisted that he has to have a HK ID card (which was not mentioned when the office call them last week). Now, he is go through an agency to try for a 30days L visa with 2 entries. I will let you know how he goes with it.

Yeah, that's been posted on the HK Visa Offfice's website for a long time now.

^^ But their website said that the also process people who work permanently in Hong Kong.... http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/bgfwxx/default.htm

"Visa applicants are increasing in a large number and need longer waiting time in the visa office recently. If you don't reside or work in Hong Kong permanently, you are required to apply Chinese visa from the Embassy or Consulate-General of Peoples' Republic of China in your resident country. You are welcome to China for tourism, business, visit of the Olympic Games."

This guy have been working in HK and SH for the last 4 years. For all intended purposes, his base is in HK.

But then again...... it is them who have the final say on how to interprete their own notice!

CaptainCook wrote:^^ But their website said that the also process people who work permanently in Hong Kong.... http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/bgfwxx/default.htm

"Visa applicants are increasing in a large number and need longer waiting time in the visa office recently. If you don't reside or work in Hong Kong permanently, you are required to apply Chinese visa from the Embassy or Consulate-General of Peoples' Republic of China in your resident country. You are welcome to China for tourism, business, visit of the Olympic Games."

This guy have been working in HK and SH for the last 4 years. For all intended purposes, his base is in HK.

Everybody who works in HK must have a HK ID card.

^^underh20, are you sure about this... you're not pissing on old CC are you? I thought you need to work in HK for 7 years before you can apply for ID card? I will get our HK office to sort it out next week.

CaptainCook wrote:^^underh20, are you sure about this... you're not pissing on old CC are you? I thought you need to work in HK for 7 years before you can apply for ID card? I will get our HK office to sort it out next week.

Not true.

First of all, there are quite a few different types of HK ID cards. Some offer ROA and some only offer RTL. Others are only temporary and offer residency for limited periods of time for various, specific functions.

All who work in HK must have a work visa and a HK ID card. Those who are not there on work visas will not get a HK ID and are not considered residents of HK.

Thanks Under and Dazza..... about your info on HK ID card.

Our HK office got him a 30 days double entries L visa in the short term.

So he was working illegally in HK for four years??

^^Now Now....

He would never work illegally,.... but he may had worked legally without the appropriate paper work...

@alex-hk. Let's not spread wild rumors. Student visas are proceeding as normal.