Job Discussion Forums

[Seasoo]

Hey guys,

I understand that you must have a return flight to enter china, is this correct? also, I'm coming on an L visa, must my return flight be within 30 days of my entry? or can it be one year from now? I dont want to have to pay $100 to change my flight.

I need to know soon.
Much appreciated.

[askiptochina]

I entered last weekend on a one-way ticket and was never asked about it. I had an L visa with me (tourist visa). They did ask for an address and contact info back home.

I was reluctant to give them anything, but they really wanted a contact number back in the US, even though I am not going to be there for some time.

With that said, if you know when you will leave China, then it might be cheaper to get a round trip anyway. For me, I might work in China, so I am not sure when I will return and if I will go back to the US or another country. So, I only got a one way ticket.

Also, L visa is good for 90 days (I am from the US). That is my understanding, and that it cannot be extended.

[johntpartee]

No, you do not have to have a return flight to enter China.

L visa for 90 days? Did they change it? The last one I had in '09 was for 30 days.

[askiptochina]

"US citizens may apply for a Single Entry (valid for 3-6 months), Double Entry (valid for 6 months), Multiple Entry (valid for 6 months or 12 months) "L" Visa as needed." - http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84246.htm

I am getting my L visa changed to a student visa and the school said they would apply for the student visa to last the length of my L visa. Either they are intending on screwing me because I already paid them for 3 months or they know it is a 3 month or longer visa.

Since I just read on the site above it could be longer than 3 months, I'll look more into this.

[askiptochina]

Looking at the finer details, I see also mentioned that when you extend your visa it doesn't extend after your first 30 days but when you apply. So, you get less than 60 total first time and less than 90 the second time.

I don't know how true it is.

If you overstay, the following site states you won't be fined up to 10 days.

"Q10. If my visa expired and overstay in Shanghai, what can I do and how much fine should I pay?

A: As the Chinese immigration law, if your visa expired less than 10 days, it's not necessary to pay any fine, you have to go to the immigration office, the officer will ask some questiones and put down your words in writing and make a record. They will also notice you don't break that again. If your visa expired more than 10 days, they will charge you fine, the fine is 500RMB per day except the first 10 days, and the maxmium is 5000RMB. for example, if you overstay 12 days, they will charge (12-10)*500=1000RMB. Following are the contact information of immigration office, you can go to there when your visa expired:

Address: No.1500 Min Shen Rd. , PuDong, Shanghai, China.
Telephone: 021-28951900"

http://www.visainchina.com/faqs.htm#q10

So, it looks like you can get 90 full days if you overstay and play the game right.

[johntpartee]

I believe the multiple entry L visas (NOT student visas) mean that you still have to leave the country every thirty days but you can return with the same visa within the valid period.

[randyj]

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

I must admit I'm a little confused. In the past, I had a one-year (L) Visa, with only one entry on it.

[askiptochina]

[johntpartee]

A multiple entry visa was recommended to me by an Embassy employee in Hong Kong after I left the mainland to get a Z visa but didn't have the proper paperwork with me. I had to return to the mainland with ANOTHER L visa and she suggested that I get a multiple entry visa (same price). It was my understanding that the "30 days on the mainland" rule still applied, but once you left, you could return with the same visa WITHIN THE VALID PERIOD of the visa. I never had to use it (I got my Z visa the next time I went to Hong Kong), but I think that was how it worked.

[TexasHighway]

If you are in the US, I recommend using www.mychinavisa.com. The have always provided me with good service and offer 1 year multiple entry L and F visas. According to their web site,

[Seasoo]

Ok. So it seems pretty much undisputed that you can enter China with a one way ticket. Am I right in assuming that? If so that would be great, because I am also going to find work in China but don't plan on staying there or going back home after the contract.

Thanks for the help everyone, you probably just saved me about $500.

[johntpartee]

[askiptochina]

[thessy]