Job Discussion Forums

jeffinflorida · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 4:45 pm Post subject: Hong Kong

I'm coming in to Hong Kong and entering Mainland from there. Do I need to worry about visa issues? My Return isn't until Sept 13 th and I arrive on Feb 21.

amandabarrick · Joined: 30 Dec 2004 Posts: 391

Jzer,
I have entered China with a return ticket that was past the expiration of my visa 3 seperate times in 3 different airports. One of those times I didn't have a return ticket at all. I was never harassed or even asked to show my return ticket. In my experience, entering China is easy and painless. The customs dude just looks at your declaration slip that you fill out on the flight, looks at your visa, stamps some stuff, and pushes you through. It seems the only problem you will have is the airline you use requiring a return ticket out of China. I have never experienced this with the airlines I have used. (ie., asiana)
It would be nice to know if any other airlines besides ROYAL BRUNEI require you to have a return ticket out of China within the 30 days in order to board the plane. I'll be sure not to take that airline.
As for entering from Hong Kong, I don't have any experience. I don't know of any 'visa issues' you will face, as long as you have a visa.
AB

jeffinflorida · Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 1:35 am Post subject: Speaking of visas

Ah, speaking of visas, do I need to get one before I board the flight to Hong Kong? I was under the assumption that US citizens got one for 30 days in Hk and also for mainland.

This is correct right? Shocked

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

You will get no such a thing as a "visa" for Hong Kong - not even if you apply to the embassy. Hong Kong is a separate jurisdiction that operates as a visa-free area for most nationals; your passport gets entry-stamped and the immigration person will hand-write the expiry date of your right to sojourn in HK; it will also say in no uncertain terms that "bearer is not allowed to seek employment whilst in Hong Kong" (I am not sure of the accurate wording but it is something like this).
The various nationalities enjoy different lengths of visa-free sojourn in HK. I think Americans have 3 months.

IT is another matter with the mainland: get your visa BEFORE you board a bus or train. You can get a special one-week visa in the Lowu/Luohu checkpoint in Shenzhen (Brits need not apply - at least that was the rule as recently as 1999). The Shenzhen visa is restricted, however, to the territory of the Shenzhen SEZ; going farther north is, theoretically, illegal. There are checkpoints along the motorways and high-ways where they ask travellers to produce passports or ID cards.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

jeffinflorida · Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 1:29 pm Post subject: How Much ???

How much is a visa for Mainland China? yaun or US or HK Dollars?

dajiang · Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 663 Location: Guilin!

Try getting a 6 month F visa when you're in HK.
I had that one once and was perfect. Even had 2 entries on it.
Otherwise get a 3 month one, and make a visa run halfway though or extend it through the school (never a problem for me, only after you've extended it for a whole year, after a year you have to leave the country).
Save the receipt and the school will re-imburse.

As long as you're not on an L-visa you're allright. The visas aren't a big thing really, they're cheap and easy to get (for US citizens more expensive than others though. Sorry I don't know how much more, but others on the forum will.)

Of all the problems you might/will encounter, the visa issue is the least.

Good luck,
Dajiang

jeffinflorida · Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 6:22 pm Post subject: Visa

I'll probably try and get a 6 month visa while in Hong Kong if that is the easiest thing to do. Can I get a work visa in HK or do I have to wait for the school to do it? Question

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

mike w · Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 9:35 am Post subject: Roger's got it right !

Well done Roger.

The ONLY way to work legally in China is on a 'Z' visa. Working on any other type of visa is illegal.

Many so-called 'FT's' post on here about how badly they get treated blah blah blah ..........................

If the 'FT' is prepared to flount the law, and the 'school' is prepared to flount the law - what do you expect? It is no different here than in the west - if you are working illegally, and your employer knows it - then you will be taken for a ride because you have no recourse.

Any reputable school or institution will arrange for all the necessary documents to be sent to you so that you can get your 'Z' visa BEFORE you leave your home country.

Current PSB regulations in Beijing and Shanghai do not allow F or L visas to be changed into 'Z' visas.

jeffinflorida · Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 12:28 pm Post subject: Reply from the school

The foreign affairs liaison from the school wrote:

"Haven't you got a L visa? If not, there is no need to worry, you
should be able to
get a one month L visa or an F visa for longer time.

You can contact the following information (In Chinese and English)if
you need. I'm
not sure if there is any other way you can get visa cheaper."

Considering they never gave me any insight that I should get a different visa before coming to the school I figured it was work out that they obtained the proper visa once I arrived...

mike w · Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 2:24 pm Post subject:

jeffinflorida · Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 2:32 pm Post subject: Re: Visa

"You are one of those guys that clog this avenue with repeat questions that have been dealt with ad nauseam. "

Roger, my understanding of this forum is for those of us that don't know can get input from those that may know. I feel that I can ask questions as I choose. If you think that I am "Clogging up the avenue" then please try this: STICK ONE FINGER IN YOUR MOUTH AND THE OTHER IN YOUR ARSE, COUNT TO 3 THEN SWITCH...

Razz

bradlarsen · Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 74

Amen.
Many a FT - or is it "FT"? - is a disgrace, as are you. People of your description are spongers. No wonder so many FTs get tripped up; when this happens they protest their "innocence" and "ignorance". When the other guy has the connections, then it is called "unfair".
But then again, the CHinese economy just loves parasites of your kind too; you are the oil that greases the machine.[/quote]

Ahhh..yes Roger the dodger, thanks for your compliment, I agree with you, and all my parasitic friends do too, we pray on the weak, so the strong will survive!