Job Discussion Forums

BiancaT · Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 74 Location: Toronto

I was wondering would it be better to apply for a visa first and then buy my ticket or vice-versa? I know that I have to have a return ticket booked but can I still get a visa without it? Also do I need to have a visa to book a flight?

B

China.Pete · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 547

"I know that I have to have a return ticket booked but can I still get a visa without it?" - Bianca T

First, I don't see why you would have to buy a return ticket. You could just as easily buy a one-way ticket. Of course, if you are certain you will be returning home within the next year or so, it may be more economical. Fact is, I don't believe your visa application and your air ticket are linked. Assuming you and your school have provided the requested documents, you should be given a visa in a reasonable period of time. Therefore, unless you are in a frightful hurry, there is no reason you couldn't wait until the visa issue is resolved before booking your air ticket - the more economical ones are not easily refundable.

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

Based on my experiences, and that of others I know:
Q1. It doesn't really matter, as long as you know your visa is a certainty. Of course, having it before you come is the more certain.

Q2.Where did you hear this? I understand some airlines will pull this one, but neither I, nor anyone I know, have ever been asked to show a return ticket at immigration in China. Buying a ticket and having a visa are seperate issues, though again a few airlines my try to bully you on this.
The other thing of course is that a return fare is cheaper than two singles, depending on your time frame. Many will recommend having a return ticket in case you need to exit quickly. Its up to you.

Q3.
Not to book, but to get on the plane, again in my experience, yes. There's not much point getting on one anyway without a visa unless you are going in via a country/SAR where you don't need a visa to get in, and can arrange the Chinese visa while there. Hong Kong and Singapore are good examples for some passport holders.

Airlines I've travelled with hassle free include Singapore, Qantas and China Southern.

HunanForeignGuy · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 989 Location: Shanghai, PRC

Dear Bianca,

Do I remember correctly that your school told you to come over on a tourist visa and that they would process the Z visa / work permit / residence permit here?

If that is the case, then just go to the Consulate in Toronto to apply for a tourist visa. You will need an airline reservation -- you can make an online reservation and then print it out -- that will suffice.

As China.Pete wrote adroitly, you do not need a return ticket to come here. It is true that sometimes the airlines will make a fuss over this but usually Chinese Immigration does not, provided you do not arrive with 25 suitcases in tow for a stay of one month...

The Consulate in Toronto, by all reports, is not the most user friendly Chinese Consulate in the world so you should give yourself a window of time to work in that is reasonable, thus allowing you to apply for the cheapest tourist visa (I believe that is the one with a five-day turnaround).

As one previous poster mentioned, you can arrive in Hong Kong without a visa, if you are planning to arrive in Hong Kong and then obtain a Chinese tourist there relatively quickly.

If, however, you are planning on arriving in Guangzhou directly, then you will need a visa prior to departure.

All the best,

HFG

therock · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 1266 Location: China

I would assume in order to apply for a Chinese visa from any embassy/consulate abroad you would need to provide proof of an air ticket. However if you are planning on working in Guangzhou, as previous posters have said obtain the visa in Hong Kong. It's painless, quicker, probably cheaper and you get to see a great city in the process. Then from Hong Kong it's a 2 hour train trip to Guangzhou.

BiancaT · Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 74 Location: Toronto

I haven't booked my flight yet, but I think that I'll probably end up flying through Hong Kong, Shanghai or Beijing. Since I'm still unsure I'll go ahead and get my tourist visa here in Toronto. I had posted this question because I do recall hearing once that a return ticket was necessary to arrive in China. I had found it quite odd but nonetheless stashed it away in my mind until it was required-- (Dreamcatcher-esque).

Thank you all for the quick replies. I had someone looking into the issue for me elsewhere and she was also unable to come up with a concrete answer.

B

u24tc · Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 125 Location: Dalian, China

If you know you will get the visa, book the flight.

Where on earth did you hear that you need a visa to book a flight?!?!

That is not true.

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

Mister Al · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 840 Location: In there

The Rock said

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

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

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

Z visa (two options):

(1) Buy round-trip open ticket after you have your visa.
(2) Buy one-way ticket after you have your visa.

L visa:

Your travel agent should be able to submit your passport, visa application form, visa application fee and photos on your behalf. At least, they do in Vancouver (Canada). Check-in agents at YVR generally don't allow passengers to get their boarding pass with a one-way plane ticket. If you are 99.99% certain you have a job secured and you truly believe the employer can "convert" your L visa into a FEC and RPF, then buy a round-trip open ticket.