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Matt_22
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
Posts: 193
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 Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 1:15 am Post subject: Question re: flights and visas - |
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| I want to fly into Hong Kong and stay for a few days prior to moving to Yangshuo for a short teaching gig. Will I need seperate visas for Hong Kong and the mainland? Also, I'll be flying in on a one-way ticket. My worry is that they might not let me into the mainland without proof of return/exit. I'm planning on purchasing a refundable ticket back to the states to get past this, so would it matter where it departs from (Hong Kong vs mainland China)? |
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propertee
Joined: 07 Jan 2008
Posts: 88
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:09 am Post subject: |
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| Hong Kong and China are very different "countries" when it comes to visas. Both require their own visa - very basic thing. You will likely have no issue entering China without a return ticket, but it is possible they will look for it and then you're out of luck if you don't have it; best to get it as you said. |
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jwbhomer
Joined: 14 Dec 2003
Posts: 876
Location: CANADA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:55 am Post subject: |
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| OP, you didn't say what kind of visa you were planning on getting to enter China. Have a look at the first two stickies on this board. Whoever you're going to be working for in China should advise and assist with the PRC visa. The visa for HKG should be no problem since you'll just be in transit. |
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DistantRelative
Joined: 19 Oct 2004
Posts: 367
Location: Shaanxi/Xian
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:58 am Post subject: |
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propertee wrote:
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| Hong Kong and China are very different "countries" when it comes to visas. Both require their own visa - very basic thing. |
Lord knows I've been wrong before (but not about you propertee), but, since when does HK require a Visa? I know when I came through, and stayed over a few nights before entering mainland, it didn't require getting a Visa, only a stamp in my passport upon exiting the airport? Maybe it has something to do with your country of origin (In my case US)?
Shawn |
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propertee
Joined: 07 Jan 2008
Posts: 88
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 5:09 am Post subject: |
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| DistantRelative wrote: |
propertee wrote:
| Quote: |
| Hong Kong and China are very different "countries" when it comes to visas. Both require their own visa - very basic thing. |
Lord knows I've been wrong before (but not about you propertee), but, since when does HK require a Visa? I know when I came through, and stayed over a few nights before entering mainland, it didn't require getting a Visa, only a stamp in my passport upon exiting the airport? Maybe it has something to do with your country of origin (In my case US)?
Shawn |
The "stamp" you talk about is called a LANDING VISA
And, while I'm sure everyone appreciates responses, I did not refer to what you seem to be doing - A TOURIST visit for up to 90 days. You still go through Immigration at the airport and at some point receive a stamp - called a landing visa.
My simple sentence was 100% accurate; that both countries "require their own visa" without specificity to a person entering for purpose of a visit.
Per the U.S. State Department
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| ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A passport with a minimum of six months validity remaining and evidence of onward/return transportation by sea/air are required. A visa is not required for tourist visits of up to 90 days by U.S. citizens. U.S. citizens who arrive in Hong Kong with an expired or damaged passport may be refused entry and returned to the United States at their own expense. The U.S. Consulate General cannot provide guarantees on behalf of travelers in such situations, and therefore encourages U.S. citizens to ensure their travel documents are valid and in good condition prior to departure from the U.S. An extension of stay may be granted upon application to the Hong Kong SAR Immigration Department. Visas are required to work or study in Hong Kong. |
And, the point of my response was that a person entering Hong Kong has no additional right of entering China |
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Matt_22
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
Posts: 193
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 6:26 am Post subject: |
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| jwbhomer wrote: |
| OP, you didn't say what kind of visa you were planning on getting to enter China. Have a look at the first two stickies on this board. Whoever you're going to be working for in China should advise and assist with the PRC visa. The visa for HKG should be no problem since you'll just be in transit. |
I have been told (by a reputable school in Yangshuo) to come in on a tourist visa, and after arrival my information will be registered with the local authorities and I will then go through the process of getting a work visa. I'm only going to be working for three months, however, and I've been told that it's not even worth the time or money to do this in my situation. |
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Matt_22
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
Posts: 193
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 6:28 am Post subject: |
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How feasible is this plan:
Book one-way to Hong Kong (visa stamp on arrival no hassles, right?)
Book refundable flight home from HKG that I'll just cancel later.
Find a visa to the mainland while in Hong Kong (how long would this take?)
Would something like this be my best bet? |
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jeffinflorida
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Posts: 2024
Location: "I'm too proud to beg and too lazy to work" Uncle Fester, The Addams Family season two
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 7:59 am Post subject: |
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HK does in fact require a visa... Its called a visa on arrival and depending where you are from is the factor how long you can stay.
But last I looked all civilised Western countries are welcome... As long as you have money that is...
Dude HK does not care about your round trip flight status
I have went to HK on a one way from New York many times... Never a hassle... |
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DistantRelative
Joined: 19 Oct 2004
Posts: 367
Location: Shaanxi/Xian
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 8:43 am Post subject: |
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jeffinflorida wrote:
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| HK does in fact require a visa... Its called a visa on arrival and depending where you are from is the factor how long you can stay. |
Learn something new everyday, thanks Jeff 
Zhuhao,
Shawn |
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jwbhomer
Joined: 14 Dec 2003
Posts: 876
Location: CANADA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 12:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Matt_22 wrote: |
How feasible is this plan:
Book one-way to Hong Kong (visa stamp on arrival no hassles, right?)
Book refundable flight home from HKG that I'll just cancel later.
Find a visa to the mainland while in Hong Kong (how long would this take?)
Would something like this be my best bet? |
Did you read those stickies yet?! 
You can get a tourist (L) visa for China within 48 hours in HKG, quicker if you want to pay extra, but if you get caught working/teaching on an L visa you could face a real hassle. As you can see from the stickies -- READ THEM -- the law is only spottily enforced, but the law IS that you're not supposed to work on an L visa.
If a reputable school asks you to enter on an L visa with the promise that they'll get you a proper visa after you get there, that's OK. Many of us, including myself, have done that. But that kind of deal is usually given to people who are coming to work on a one-year contract, not to those coming for just three months or so.
As I mentioned in another post, my nephew's wife went to China on the basis you're talking about. The promised visa never materialised and she and some other teachers -- this was a volunteer group -- were gone within a few weeks.
In conclusion...follow your plan at your own risk!  |
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ontheroadagain
Joined: 09 Jan 2008
Posts: 66
Location: PRC since 07/04
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 12:29 am Post subject: |
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Matt_22 why didn't you apply for a visa (any kind) from your home country to China, indicating province and town? You have said working for someone, he must have sent you a "Letter Of Invitation" with legal address, purpose, and hopefully his own License Number :/
HK sux, unless you love downtown Manhattan...
If you do not have a visa for the PRC... you are already on a very bad start... read threads about how to get a visa for PRC...
Working for a short time, no less than 6 month. Then you will face a new Visa challenge. Note that the penalty to leave the country with an expired Visa is not less than 500RMB per day, some have paid much more than that. It will all depend of your attitude... |
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Matt_22
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
Posts: 193
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:40 am Post subject: |
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| i'm not planning to work on a tourist visa, but i'm planning to arrive on one. i'm moving to china from korea, and i have a lot of money saved up if need be. it's not like i'm coming in on my last dimes. if the school in yangshuo chooses not to upgrade me to a z-visa, i can always just head down to thailand or cambodia to keep myself afloat. i'll have 30 days to figure it out once i get there, so i just don't understand why this plan is so bad. |
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Matt_22
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
Posts: 193
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:42 am Post subject: |
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| ontheroadagain wrote: |
HK sux, unless you love downtown Manhattan...
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to each his own, but i know a lot of people who disagree with you. |
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arioch36
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 3589
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:45 am Post subject: |
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| like others, I have never known for a school to actually get a z-visa for a three month stay. My knowledge of the bureau here in Henan, is that they would deny a schools request for a z-visa for someone to only be here 3 months |
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Trish Flurman
Joined: 28 Jan 2008
Posts: 92
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:51 am Post subject: |
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| I came to China during the summer on a 2 month Z visa and then went home and came back this month |
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