Job Discussion Forums

[Voldermort]

Matt_22, just how 'reputable' is this school? I think most of us here know how this will turn out. Your intention is to work for 90 days. You will arrive with a 30 day tourist visa, the school will leave it untill the last possible moment to 'extend' this visa a further 30 days. Since now you only have a month left with the school what is the point of going through all the hassle of changing your visa from a L to a Z when a visa can be extended up to 3 times? But, of course, it's illegal to work on a tourist visa so will push them to convert it, at which point the school will come put with the old "the PSB cannot convert it for only 3 months, but don't worry 'they' assured us you will be ok to work on a L visa..."

Anyway, back on topic, depending on your nationality you don't need a return ticket into HK. Each time I have travelled between HK and Guangzhou ( by train ) I have no ticket out of China, and was never asked for one. The airlines will ask you to provide proof of exit, but this is only to cover their own backs since they can be fined for allowing to enter the country. There is no need for you to purchase a return ticket to your home country, all you need is a ticket, any ticket, out of China. And that includes a train ticket from Guangzhou to HK which is dirt cheap and can be easily purchased in HK.

[bearcanada]

There seems to be a bit of confusion on terms here. I believe the most commonly-accepted definition of a 'visa' is that of a sticker pasted into your passport (or some such), for which you must complete an application, provide photos and pay money. It consists of permission in advance to enter a country (permission prior to departure from the home country, in fact).

For citizens of many countries travelling to many other countries, a 'visa' is not required. What is being referred to as a 'landing visa' in this thread is really just an entry stamp. For e.g., Canadians (and many others) travelling to HK do not need any kind of 'visa', and HK and other Western countries have no 'visa' requirements at all for Canadians. They are simply given an entry stamp on arrival; prior permission is not required and the passport holder cannot be refused entry (barring existence of some specific causes).

Entry and exit stamps are not visas, and the respective consulates do not refer to them as such. They are simply called entry and exit stamps.

There is such an animal as a 'landing visa', but this is not the same as an entry stamp. Taiwan, for e.g., requires such a visa, but obtaining it requires an application, photos, and a fee of NT2,000. Definitely not an entry stamp, and essentially the same as any other regular visa except that it is obtained at the time of entry rather than prior to departure.

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[DistantRelative]

bearcanada,

Thats what I thought too. I know it was simply a stamp in my passport, and I never paid any money for it. Similar to what occurred when I visited Amsterdam. I'm sure there has to be some sort of time limit on it though.

Zhuhao,

Shawn

[bearcanada]

I believe that's correct.

So far as HK is concerned, this is the present situation:

Visitors to Hong Kong must hold a passport that is valid for at least six months after the planned departure date from Hong Kong. Nationals of most countries are [u]not required to obtain visas [/u]and can stay for periods varying from seven days to 180 days, depending on nationality.

If you want to stay longer than the visa free period allowed, you must apply for a visa or entry permit before travelling to the HKSAR.

Citizens of Canada and the US have a 90-day 'visa-free' period (UK citizens, 180 days). No 'visa', no 'landing visa', nothing but an entry stamp.

A visa or entry permit is required if you want to work, study, establish or join in a business or to take up residence in HK, but not for visiting.

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[Trish Flurman]

http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=%22landing+visa%22&btnG=Google+Search

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?db=dictionary&q=visa

My father is an Immigration office in New York. Different countries, Different Rules.

My husband is stationed in the middle east - when I visited him, I filled out a paper or two, landed at the airport, gave them the papers and they put a stamp in my passport. It's still a visa. It also said "landing/arrival visa."

[bearcanada]

Hello Trish;

I was astonished to learn that your father is an 'Immigration Office' in New York. And your mother is ........... :)

We aren't disagreeing here, and we don't want to start arguing fine points of definition or word use. Your example is to the point: You had to complete documents to facilitate your entry to a country - that's called a visa. Usually, we must pay a fee, but if you didn't, that's ok.

When you completed your 'visa' application, your entry could have been refused - for no reason. When I travel to the US, Europe and other areas, I make no application and, based on the strength of my passport alone, my entry to that country cannot be refused. Normally.

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[Matt_22]

[arioch36]

heard of them often enough, can't remember anything good or bad, which I guess is good

Do us a favour, let us know what happens, so we can tell others