Job Discussion Forums

[jane1]

so i went to a travel agent that was telling me that i could not enter china with a tourist visa (that the company will change to a working one later) on a one way ticket. I"m planning to stay for more than 6 months less than a year.

the reason i want a one way ticket is because i want to travel asia while i'm there and probably wont end up in china. it will make more sense i think if for instance i ended up in japan to fly home to canada from there instead of flying back to china to catch my return flight.

can anyone help me? i htink the travel agent might just be trying to get me to buy a round trip ticket.

[latefordinner]

I don't know how to get around it, but it's a thing with the travel agencies, not the chinese authorities. You might have to work out a deal whereby you can cancel your return ticket once you get to China and get your money back (and how you will get it is the next big Q).

[amandabarrick]

Jane1,

This has been asked more than twice this year... Read the forum please.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=22612&highlight=oneway+ticket

It depends on the airline, some won't let you board without a return ticket out of China before the expiry of your visa. If the travel agent won't sell you a one way ticket, buy it somewhere else. Immigration doesn't check for this when entering, at least not the 5 times I have entered.

AB

[clark.w.griswald]

There is an article aimed at Taiwan that addresses this very question. Although not all of that article is relevant to teachers in China, the various airline regulations would be.

In the case of Taiwan, Immigration Policy states that in order for foreigners to meet the entry requirements they must have evidence of onward passage. This does not need to be a return ticket, just a ticket out of the country within the visa period. People without an outbound ticket may be turned away at immigration as they do not meet the governments entry requirements. This same legislation states that the airline that brought the person here is responsible for carrying them out of the country regardless of whether or not that person has a ticket. The airline would then likely seek to recover this cost through civil action back home.

As a result of such immigration policy airline regulations often stipulate a responsibility upon travellers to ensure that they meet entry requirements or you will face these costs. Sometimes an airline will require proof of this before enabling you to check in.

Of course you can always buy a ticket either at check in or at immigration in China, but these tickets may come at a higher cost than pre-arranged travel.

I am sure that some people will state that they have entered China on one way tickets and I don't doubt them for a second. It happens. I am unsure as to whether the immigration legislation in China requires an outbound ticket.

In the case of Taiwan, many people purchase an outbound ticket to Hong Kong for within the visa period and then either cancel this or use it for a visa run or holiday.

[jeffinflorida]

Jane:

Come via Hong Kong on a one way. I have many times and with no problem. Then I take the ferry to Shenzhen and I have never been asked anything by the Chinese boarder guards.

My last trip was a one way ticket on Continental via Newark and all went well.

As far as coming in via Beijing, Shanghi or Xiamen I can't say. But Even when I got a visa - a tourist visa - in Hong Kong I was never asked to produce an airfare ticket or letter of invitation.

So...You should do the correct thing and CALL - by phone - the Chinese embassy or consulate nearest you and try and get information from them. I once called the embassy in Washington DC and after talking to 2 different people and explaining what I wanted I got the correct person and the correct answer. AND they were friendly!

What city do you plan to arrive in?

[YearOfTheDog]

In October 2004 when I first arrived in China, I flew into Peking from Toronto on a one way ticket with Air Canada.

Maybe things have changed now, but no one seemed to care, although the travel agent did think I was crazy.

[lionheartuk]

I came to China from England in July 2004 on a one way ticket and no one, including the travel agent, asked me any questions about it. When I applied for the visa. I just said that I was touring and would travel to other countries such as Japan and Korea before heading home. Even on arrival in Shanghai I told the customs that I was touring. I did have an offer of a job here but I came on a tourist visa and although the job didn't materialise ( terms of the contract etc ) I kept renewing my visa until I did get a job.
I think travel agents just want more money and that is why they prefer you to buy a return ticket so if you do not use it they pocket the money, or most of it.

[dajiang]

Dont worry.

This has btw been asked a billion times before, but that's okay, it's the bloody travel agent's fault.

you can absolutely yes affirmative arrive in China on a one way ticket.

No sweat
piece of cake
a walk in the park.

Lots of people, most of the backpackers arrive there with the intention of going overland to Russia/Laos/Vietnam/Nepal.

If I were you I'd go to that bloody travel agent and tell em to shove it.
go to another one that doesn't try to rob you.

G'luck
Dajiang

[Keath]

By all means come to China, but do not expect your travel visa to be converted. They are enforcing the new visa regulations these days.

[7969]

[Volodiya]

Keith wrote:

[struelle]

This issue has pretty much been addressed for China ... but in a general situation where a country requires onward passage for entry and you're not sure how long you'll stay, the best way is to go by boat.

In Indonesia, for example, they require onward passage. You can book an open return ferry ticket from Malaysia or Singapore to a nearby island. Yes, such tickets do exist. Last time I went, I chose Batam island from Johor Bahru. From there, you can fly domestically. If you're not sure how long you'll stay, your open ticket gives you a year.

Make inquiries as to other countries as well. If the Chinese ever made such a requirement, the ferry idea to Shenzhen is a good option. Are there ferries to Taiwan? Perhaps. Make inquiries.

Steve

[Yu]

I entered China on a one way ticket... well essentially. I had a round trip from China to the US and then back to China.

My problem came at the air ticket counter in the US when I checked in. They had to make phone calls, and they eventually let me go without purchasing a ticket.

Again, they care at the airport in the US, not at the Chinese border. I am not sure why the US needs to care so much. Apparently there is some law that needs to show there is a return ticket to get back to the US.

I said that I was leaving China via boat to Japan and my boat ticket was waiting for me in China as I could no purchase it ahead of time. OR... any overland train route out of China may serve as a viable reason for not needing the return ticket.

[Babala]

Yu is right. China doesn't care if you have one way ticket but the people at the airport in Canada do. The last time I was home I had a 10 minute arguement with the staff for China Eastern Airlines who did not want to baord without having a return ticket. I explained to her that I was non-resident, had been living in China for over 2 years (at that time) and that I had Z visa. She finally let me go but only after I was able to show her that I had enough money on me to be able to purchase a return ticket (if I needed it).

[cj750]

If question at the counter...tell them you have a job waiting and your return date will be in two years...due to the contract period....