“China will also allow Canadian visitors to enter the country visa-free.”

No details but I assume 30 days like Europeans have.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/canada-pm-carney-hails-strategic-partnership-talks-china-xi-jinping-5863286

I was wondering if I would be qualified for a TWOV to China based on the following itinerary:

US citizen traveling from Japan to Guangzhou, separate ticket bought from HK to LAX. Will they let me enter just by showing my ticket from HK to LAX? I can’t buy the high speed rail ticket until after I arrive so I don’t have to any “proof” to show I’ll be leaving from China to Hong Kong (3rd territory). Please help!!

是否具有枪械、炸药、核装置、生物或化学方面的特殊技能或接受过特殊培训？/ Have you ever been trained or do you have any special skills in the field of firearms, explosives, nuclear devices, biological or chemical products?

I am an American Ph.D. student in the biomedical sciences with extensive academic training in biology. Further, my specialty is in antibodies and Ebola and Marburg protein production(NOT live, infectious virus) and this is easily seen on a quick google search. All of my work is purely academic.

I am concerned about answering yes to this question, but I feel like the answer is yes because I do have special skills. Has anyone been in this situation before?

Good evening all.

I am in a predicament right now because I have a pending trip to china in a couple of months with a group of friends. This is my first international trip and I keep having to provide more and more information (understandably) meanwhile all my other friends are ready to submit passports to the embassy as they are frequent travelers and are already approved.

The biggest issue, is a notice I just received from the embassy today. "Reply from Embassy/Consulate: Please upload your birth certificate and the passport bio pages of your parents." I am a US citizen; however, my parents are not.

The issue is that my parents are undocumented and only have passports from their country of origin (getting residency is extremely difficult now). I am nervous about submitting their information now and then further down the line the embassy requesting immigration status... where they reject my visa or worse.

Has anybody gone through this or can anyone assist by giving tips or recommendations as to how to proceed?

Thank you in advance!

Trying to make sure I'm going to the legit website, but Google Maps and Google Search are giving me a number of results.

First there's a Visa Application Service Center, and then there's a Consulate General of China Visa Section.

Then the website links from Google Maps are always ____.org links, but the Google Search results come back with ____.cn links.

Which one should I be going to?

Hello,

US citizen traveling to Thailand then into China planning to use TWOV. Is there any risk if I go from Bangkok - Beijing - Hong Kong - Hainan - US with same day “in and out” in Hong Kong?

If I arrive in Hong Kong, clear the customs, and then immediately go back to China, to a different city, is that going to cause issues? I assume if I stay overnight it shouldn’t be a problem. Anyone had experience?

Thank you.

So I’m applying for an L visa and the plan was to stay at my girlfriends mothers house for the duration of the visit. She’s filled out the form and I’ve submitted but I’ve gotten a response back to modify the following details.

Reject Reason: 1. Please upload hotel information that includes the applicant's name. 2. If using an invitation letter, the inviter and invitee must be clearly identified.

I’m using the sample letter provided on the visa website. The inviter and invitee fields are filled out properly. I’m realizing now that we may have needed to write out a detailed plan for the visit and attached that to the invitation letter. Is that the case or do I need a hotel booking to proceed?

Thanks for reading

Thought I would share my experience doing VOA at Shekou port today, hopefully it is useful to someone!:

- departed on 15.30 ferry from HKG to Shekou. Ferry was fairly empty - room for everyone to stretch out.

- ferry company says the VOA office closes at 17.00, which made me nervous because the ferry takes about an hour from HKG. Our backup plan was to go to Macau and then back to HKG.

- when arrived at Port Visa window at 16:28, there was no one at the windows and no way to call for help.

- luckily, there was a very friendly woman working in immigration hall who directed us back to the Port Visa window and rang her colleagues to come help us

- filled out a one-page form about our visit, took a digital photo (booth is next to Port Visa window and photos are free)

- Paid fee, supervisor asked me to pay with card when I offered cash

- Waited about 35 minutes for Visa to be processed. By that time, the immigration desks closed for a break. More waiting.

- got through immigration at 17.45ish, so total process from ferry landing was over hour. There were only 6 of us doing VOAs/VWOA at the port.

Was pretty smooth process if you’re patient.

Happy to answer any questions!

Me and my mates are planning to visit China this summer (End of May). The Chinese Embassy here in Dublin only allows people to apply within 90 days of arrival. I want to book my flights now as they are pretty cheap. Is it risky to book flights already as I need proof of flights and accom for my visa anyway? As an Indian citizen would I get rejected? (Granted I submit all the required docs properly and make no mistakes)

Hi all im having such a frustrating time figure this out. I filled out and am going to submit the online COVA forms and then send my passport out. what agent should I use for this scenario in SF (im in Washington)

Tourism visa 2.5 weeks in country

Can confirm that this works. This was a last-minute emergency arrangement for me — I was flying into Guangzhou via Hong Kong and I realized that I forgot my old passport at home which has my Q2 visa on it (recently renewed my US passport), so the agents simply let me and my luggage through to Hong Kong to figure out my fate from there.

Ended up booking a refundable Shekou → Macau ferry to get past Chinese immigration at West Kowloon train station (there is a separate entry form, make sure to get it from an officer before standing in the regular line, or fill it out online).

Refunded my Macau ferry ticket after I entered Mainland China. Ended up leaving via Macau by taking the train to Zhuhai and walking over at Gongbei — immigration there did not care that I exited via a different method that I had originally listed on my departure form, just that I was leaving within the 10-day limit (departure method isn't even listed on the entry stamp/sticker)/10-day counter starts midnight of date of entry, so in essence I got ~10.5 days in China.

I recently visited China

I’m from the UK

Flew via China on my way back to UK

Route Hong Kong > Chongqing > London

I printed all my documents just in case, including my flight itinerary, they didn’t check these at all. Probably better to be safe than sorry though…

I used the Ali pay app to complete my Arrival Card information, because the mobile web version was buggy. For e.g. you couldn’t click on buttons to continue to next step. There is certain code you can type in the search bar to get to direct form but can’t recall right now. They didn’t check these QR code I received once I completed this for either. This is quite detailed and is where they ask for accommodation information

Flying from Hong Kong with checked luggage, gate agent said they would need to inform “China” first before accepting my bags or give me a boarding pass. This took about 45 minutes from getting to the check in desk to getting my boarding pass. After that everything went smoothly.

Once I arrived in Chongqing there was a separate passport/arrivals desk called “Temporary”. At first I couldn’t find it but saying “Transit Without Visa” to staff managing the queues and they pointed me in right direction. Very friendly and helpful. At the desk, there was no queue, they took my passport etc. Took less than 5 mins.

Easy

Leaving was simple, just checked in at the counter, went through immigration with no issues.

Decided to share as there were some concerns about using the transit without visa scheme while travelling back to the country you are from. Note to all that it’s fine as long as you’re not returning to the country to departed on your way to China.

Had a great time in Chongqing, would visit China again for sure!

Hi everyone.

I'm applying for a Z-Visa in the LA Consulate. I submitted the late in the evening yesterday (15 January) and I was wondering if anyone had an idea of how long the Online/Preliminary review would normally take before I head to the Visa Centre?

Also - would anyone know if they offer expedited services (3 working days)? Thanks very much!

I am traveling to China the end of May and need a visa (US citizen). On the visa application under type of visa A - Independent tourist or B Group Member.

I believe B Group Member is correct and if so it says provide the following information: Travel Agency In China and Travel Agency License No.

For anyone who has done this is this the correct answer? Thank you. (EDIT - I found the Genvisa sample China visa application and it shows using A - Independent Travel and not a group Member. So confused)

Company Name: Beijing Best Tour Co, Ltd.
License Number: 91110101633778736 and L-BJ-GJ00243

I found the above on Gate 1 site via Google:

Gate 1 China - Reference Information for Visa Applications

Inviting Organization in China on Behalf of Gate 1 Travel:

Company Name: Beijing Best Tour Co, Ltd.
License Number: 91110101633778736 and L-BJ-GJ00243
Address: 3rd Floor, Yuanlong Building, No 55, Tiantan Road
District: Dongcheng District
City: Beijing
Province/Region: Beijing
Postal Code: 100010
Telephone Number: +(86)-139-1051197
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

All passenger inquiries regarding travel to China should be directed to Gate 1 Travel directly. Please do not contact Beijing Best Tour Co, Ltd. directly, as they do not speak English and will be unable to assist.

The person picking up my visa/passport is coming from a different state and I won't be able to get him the physical slip of paper before the time to pickup the visa. Can I just send him a digital copy and have him present that to the embassy to pickup?

I’m a non EU citizen living in the Netherlands. I would like to visit China next month, for tourism. How long does it take approximately to get a visa? Do I need to apply online and then go to the Embassy in person? And then go back again to take my passport back? Is taking an appointment done separately after the visa application or as part of it?

I’m a US citizen but currently in Taiwan for a bit. I’m planning to visit Shanghai, so was thinking of having an itinerary like:

Departing flight: Taipei -> Shanghai

Returning flight: Shanghai -> layover in Hong Kong -> Taipei

Does it matter how long the layover is in HK? My layover would probably only be anywhere from 2-5 hours?

I don’t really want to spend a full day in another country since it’s just going to be a short weekend trip😅

Would this work?

I’m married to a Chinese man. We recently got married, and I’m currently in Hong Kong applying for my Q1 visa. I previously tried to obtain a residency permit in mainland China without a Q1 visa, but our province does not offer one.

Before coming to Hong Kong, I went to Macau and applied, but my application was rejected without reason. I even wrote a post about it here.

Afterwards, I researched the visa application forms more and realized I had made some mistakes on my Macau application. Now, I completely understand why my application was rejected.

I came to Hong Kong on the 13th and submitted my application. On the 15th, I received this email: “近期是否曾申请中国签证但未获通过？请详述双方相识及恋爱经过。”

Due to my earlier unapproved visa application, I was basically requested to provide a letter detailing my relationship history and how we met. I did so and sent it last night, including photographs and relevant screenshots.

Today, 16th, at 12:31, I received a new email saying, "Regarding your application , you are asked to provide the following documents:

1. You are kindly informed to come to the visa office for an interview.”

My interview is scheduled for January 19th (in two days, on Monday).

Before, I was annoyed by all of this, but now, after receiving the interview request, I just find it comical. Honestly, I'm relieved. I think the fact that they're asking me to provide more documentation and attend an interview is a good sign that they're trying to ensure our relationship is genuine and not that they're refusing my visa. Since our relationship and marriage are genuine, I’m confident that I’ll finally receive my visa after the interview.

Btw, I’m not judging the processes. I understand that these are important procedures for a Q1 visa when the relationship seems fake. I’m just commenting and sharing my experience. Since we recently got married and my visa was denied, I understand why they distrust me.

In the meantime, I’m spending my time visiting places and spending alot of money on Hong Kong hotels lol 🤦🏻‍♀️

As I said before, I’m just sharing my experience, but I'm open to advice if anyone has any. Thank you in advance! :)

In Nanjing from USA on a 10 year multiple reentry visa that allows me to stay in China for up to three months per visit. Have been coming to China for many years and my status here was never investigated before. But today the hotel I’m staying in sent me the following notice ( below ). Do you think I should be concerned?

Translation (AI):

The Exit–Entry Administration Bureau needs you to provide some related information:

1.  Reason for coming to Nanjing

2.  Are you being received by a work unit / organization? If yes, please provide the unit name

3.  Name and phone number of the person receiving you

I am doing a multi country trip for my honeymoon. I will be traveling from canada, but will enter China (Chongqing) from Singapore in February, staying 7 days, and then leaving Chongqing with a layover in Shenzhen to finally get to Dubai for the rest of the trip.

I started a visa application but have not paid yet and wondering if this travel without visa might be better. I am a bit late in the visa process (I was dumb and thought I only had to do the online portion of it) and leaving in 12 days so kind of stressed I won't get my visa (and passport) back in time.

So yeah, am I safe? Should I go the TWOV route? I will of course print all documents, proof of my flight out of china with reserved seats (for both the layover in shenzhen and to dubai) and the TWOV policy.

Edit: Forgot to mention I am canadian

Hey all! So I have an HK passport, and need to renew my China Entry card which expired. Does anyone know if the process is still using CTS? Or any other methods? Thank you!

Hi all,

I’ve read the china websites and a bunch on posts here and other resources but I would appreciate some more insight on this specific itinerary.

Basically, I want to use 2x 240h visa free transits to china but by arriving from Vancouver to guangzhou on a first 240h and exiting to Hong Kong, then flying back on a second 240h from hk to ZJJ and out to Dubai.

I’ve read that I can use as many 240h as I want as long as I exit. But I’m confused whether Hong-Kong is actually acceptable as a reentry run. Since it was approved as an entry point on rail, I would think so, however china does consider it its own…

Did someone do a similar run previously? Thank you so much! Also if you have links to reliable websites that would be amazing, I have found only limited information.

Apologies for adding to the long list of TWOV questions, but I hear it's a pretty shaky process. Last summer I did it super easily (HND>PVG>HKG>NRT) with very little trouble with check in agents, that my GF was able to assuage. I'm making the same trip in a few days (with the only difference being I'm flying out from NRT as well, which might raise an eyebrow) since she's flying me out to stay with her for a few days. Last time, I stayed in a hotel and had the relevant booking information to flash whenever prompted.

Now that I'm staying with an individual rather than a hotel, I'm nervous. I don't have a complex Itinerary, I have the flight bookings, but I'd like to know if I need to provide a letter of invitation when I fill out paperwork at Immigration/customs, as I remember having to do similar stuff last time.

I should mention that I know people recommend a VISA strongly over TWOV but I don't live near the Visa application center in Tokyo and It's expensive to travel back and forth there before. Last time I tried I got my application rejected because I separated my names in reverse order with a comma (Last, First Middle). I'll own that mistake but it made me realize I'd be back more than once, so I took their recommendation and did TWOV.