Job Discussion Forums

lollercauster · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 418 Location: Inside-Out NYC

I read a poll that said a lot of people choose one-way tickets. But I'm having a hard enough time securing a visa from the Houston consulate. They don't allow mailed-in applications anymore and I'm just trying to get...what..a tourist visa I guess? I have two friends in Shanghai and they thought maybe I could go to Hong Kong and just get a Visa there (business) and then take a flight to Shanghai. However, they apparently don't let you into the country if you have a one-way, so how exactly does one use a one-way ticket? I need the cheapest way of getting there basically and nothing is working out.

Anything?

Itsme · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 624 Location: Houston, TX

???

Unless they changed things as of two weeks ago I would say go for it.

There is a difference between someone telling you that you are not supposed to fly in on a one-way ticket and then actually going through a travel agency and stepping onto the plane.

Get the school that you want to work for to fax you an invitation letter and then take it to the embassy when applying for your business or work visa.

I don't see why you would need an invitation letter to come in on a tourist visa but then you might have to leave the country and come back in if you want to change it to another type of visa- not much fun.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

immigration at the chinese border (land crossings) will not stop you from getting in with a one way ticket (they wont even be checking) . the problem you might encounter is at the airline check in counter in the states. if you try to board a plane to hong kong or anywhere outside the US on a one way ticket, they might refuse you boarding as they have no proof that you have the means to return home if immigration at your destination refuses you entry.

has happened to me twice and on both occasions i had to purchase full fare (and fully refundable) tickets from my destination to home. its a pain in the ass but sometimes necessary.

7969

lollercauster · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 418 Location: Inside-Out NYC

I just want to get there cheaply; that is my major concern. I would rather fly directly to Shanghai, but if I have to fly to Hong Kong first then I'll do it. I was mainly doing that since I have to go through a travel agent to secure a tourist visa from the consulate. However, if I just buy a one-way ticket from an online vendor and they don't stop me at the US airport, then I shouldn't have a problem you say? They really don't check it in China? Because I can come up with all kinds of stories.

Oh yeah, and I don't have a job lined up yet. My friends suggest I not do that and I don't want to commit to it full-time anyway. I'd rather get there and get settled in for the first 2 weeks while I look for a job. That was their suggestion.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

all depends on the airline. i was refused boarding by air canada twice, once going to thailand and once going to europe as i had no proof of onward travel. however when i flew with northwest to hong kong on one way tickets, with chinese visa in passport on one occasion, i had no problems. some airlines seem to understand that many of us enter countries by land crossings and ext to a third country by another land crossing and thus a return ticket is redundant. however it has more to do with policy. if you're refused entry to china on a one way ticket, then the airline that allowed you to board the plane in the first place is responsible for getting you back to point a.

7969

lollercauster · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 418 Location: Inside-Out NYC

Is it worth the risk? I really would rather get a one-way and I can find a decent one from maybe...United Airlines. Wasting around 300-500 will really piss me off.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

call the airline you plan to fly on. they'll tell you their policy over the phone, and get the person's name too. if they say a one way is ok, then when you check in with a one way ticket, chances are you'll have no troubles. you can soemtimes find this info on airline websites too. if not, you can always buy the refundable return portion of the ticket, go to china and then send the unused ticket back for a refund. altho with air canada, this took 6-8 weeks to process. further, sometimes, a return ticket is nearly the same price as a one way anyway. many factors involved.

7969

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

KES · Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 722

The solution is simple. Buy a REFUNDABLE return ticket to malaysia or somewherse close to China then fly over. Cash in the extra ticket when you arrive.

lollercauster · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 418 Location: Inside-Out NYC

Oh, yeah, I see what you're saying. That would be much cheaper too I imagine. I have very limited cash, so buying a refundable ticket home probably wouldn't be very affordable. Well, first I'll need to secure a one-way ticket and if I have to buy another ticket there, hopefully it'll be possible. Most of the travel deal websites aren't very good.

EDIT: And I'm aware tourists don't hop over for a year, I don't plan on telling them that. I'll figure out something. I don't want to procure a job beforehand, that defeats the purpose of being in Shanghai and not being tied down.

lollercauster · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 418 Location: Inside-Out NYC

Well, I am getting a one-way flight for either May 31st or June 7th becaue they both offers fares of around $610. I'll have my original birth certificate by tomorrow and I'll begin the passport process; at most 6 weeks. I hope it doesn't take that long though, because I need it to apply for the tourist visa. So hopefully by mid-May I get the passport and then I send that in with my application to a travel agent in Houston (I've talked to a few) and I should get it in a few days, ...ideally before I'm supposed to leave!

Should I go ahead and buy the plane ticket now given that it's going to go up in price significantly? It's with United Airlines and I talked to a woman who works there and they said that they only require a visa and passport officially. She said the Chinese might not let me though. But from what I've gathered here, they are lax? Or they just didn't check you that time.

Should I get my ticket if the time is so close? It's an extra $60 for expedited shipping with my passport.

Thoughts once again?

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

lollercauster · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 418 Location: Inside-Out NYC

Why thank you kind sir. I decided to just get the expedited shipping for the passport. It may be $60, but it's worth it in the long run. I'm getting it through GatewayLAX, so I don't know if they allow changes of dates. But with the expedited shipping, I'll have time to figure out the visa.

KarenB · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 227 Location: Hainan

I've flown in to China dozens of times on a one-way ticket. However, I've always had a valid work permit for China at the time. Perhaps that makes a difference.

lollercauster · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 418 Location: Inside-Out NYC

Well did they check that? Because mine is merely going to be a visitor's visa.