Job Discussion Forums

[Long ai gu]

Are the business visas still flowing in Hong Kong? The last time I got one was in the Chong Qing mansions from a guy who had an office there. Has anyone received a business visa lately with this method of not using the Chinese consulate?

[samhouston]

The visainchina people said to use these people:

http://www.chinavisa.com.hk/

It's a lame website. The guy from visainchina said no invitation is required from a company to get the F-visa in HK. I haven't contacted this company in the link above to ask details.

[xiao51]

Contact Forever Bright in Hong Kong. They are the most reputable agency in HK. Their advice and help will be up-to-date and accurate.

[email protected]

[eddy-cool]

It's come to my attention that travel agencies no longer have privileged access to a mainland-based source of visas (a parallel visa service run by a different minstriy out of a Shenzhen office).

They submit your application to the same official Hong Kong-based Visa Office run by the Ministry of FOreign Affairs.

The only advantage of enlisting them is - they save you the time you would stand in their horrendously long lines.

[xiao51]

[ukpower]

u don't have to go to HK to get a business visa...lots of agencies in mainland china can do that. the last time i asked the ongoing price was 4,500rmb for 3 months extension and around 7,000rmb for the 6 months. no appearance required.

[Kibbs]

What does this have to do with teaching in China? Are you retarded?

[ukpower]

i didn't mention anything about teaching in china...lol. my point is, anyone can easily come to china on a tourist (L) visa, then convert it to a business (F) visa. that is an option one can take to exempt himself from the hassles of going to HK

oh...and yeah i'm retardate...lol

[xiong20]

I received a 30 day"F" visa just before Xmas at FBT in Kowloon.This was from an "L" extension by main PSB office in my city on mainland (visa office too busy to renew F after Olympics) subsequently,Jan.21,I extended in Qingdao for 6 months at a cost of 1800 RMB. There is only one visa office in Qingdao (same day service).I had usually sent my passport to Beijing to an agency not realizing it was being sent to Qingdao.The issue location is printed on the visa in Chinese and I never bothered to get it translated I just assumed Beijing.It was Qindao so they "knew" my passport.
The agency takes you to the PSB and all you do is sit in the chair opposite the visa officer and get photographed when your turn comes up.There were 5 other people in our little group.I went and took a friend just to see the city.Could have expressed my passport,photo,copy of Temporary Residence Permit(didn't need this in Kowloon)and waited 10 days.Did not need host.This could not be done locally plus they'd give you an "L" month extension and you need 21,000 rmb (30x$100. x 7rmb) in local bank account/statement.Contact Peter at [email protected]

[Oscolar]

Excuse my ignorance but is this for real? You can't travel around China without visas and at what seems considerable cost and hassle? It will affect my decision to go and work there.

[eddy-cool]

[Hansen]

Oscolar, This isn't Disneyland, sorry to say. There can be incredible hassles with visas. Part of it has to do with the PSB, part with the FAO at your school.

Prior to the winter holiday, I observed, in a back office at the PSB, at least 50 passports belonging to foreigners who were not getting them back prior to the closing of the PSB for the New Year holiday. That means no plane flights, even within China. Can also make lodging difficult.

Most of them may have been foreign medical students who didn't care. Mine would have remained there except for intervention by a friend.
There is also a fine, apparently strictly enforced, levied upon foreigners who play in China beyond the duration of their visa.

China, unlike the United States, respects its own borders.