Job Discussion Forums

[maimai]

I am on a L Visa while I look around for esl work.
Need some real urgent advice (TOURIST L VISA) ................

[Visa info on eslcafe/the beijinger is sketchy at best and usually out of date, so thats why I post here]

A chinese friend rang the PSB on 8402 0101 and was then put through to another number. He thought he was speaking to a receptionist rather than an officer. For a 30 day L extension he was told :

I need to pay 469rmb (UK citizen). BUT most forums talk of it being 160 RMB. I thought it was US citizens that paid more money for visas???

I need 3000us in a chinese bank. BUT my money is in a UK bank. I have statements to prove sufficient funds.

Forums talk about it being best doing all this in a PSB office out of BJ - where they accept foreign bank statements.

Where is the nearest place to do this?

I really don't want to go to HKG or Mongolia.
Would like to know if any UK citizen has done a Mongolia visa run recently. Was the Mongolia visa on-arrival? How much did it cost? Or did you get away with just walking straight back into China and not going to the Mongolian immigration.

May.

[ttorriel]

Yes, these are the fees. They are finally hitting those that are here for purposes other than "travel" or "visitor" with the L visa. Widespread changes seem to be happening on all visa situations recently.

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

maimai, dont rely on the word of one PSB officer. Contact another one and see what they say. Then compare.

As for the money not being in a US bank, those are probably just guidelines and if you have the equivalent amount of money in a UK bank, I'm sure its fine. Just point that out to them.

[englishgibson]

i completely agree with that that you should not rely on one chinese officer's words. i've got quite similar answer in a nanning's officer on the phone. however, when i went there in person, i was given some other directions to how to apply. that also proves that phone call conversations aren't as effective as if one comes in person to inquire.

the 160 yuan or so fee was the fee that i paid in may this year. and, any bank account was not necessary as i proved to them i had a place to stay. a local police station near my home wrote a letter of confirmation (or whatever you call it) where i lived and that was enough not to further inquire about my wealth, or bank accounts.... just a hint for you.

cheers and beers to the ones that, according to one on here, are finally being hit by the government regulations .. we're not travelers if we're to move on to work for other employers, are we?

[bendan]

It's 469 RMB for British people, whether it's for one month or 12.

[peruisay]

I've paid over 1,000 RMB for a 30-day visa extension (it was an emergency and I'm in a smaller town).

Be a little happier.

[englishgibson]

bendan, with respect to the costs of visas, i don't really think it matters where you come from. the fees are set by the government for anyone regardless the country they come from, but forgive me if i am wrong. wouldn't that kinda practice be a discriminatory one against a country? yes, i know that the requirements for who qualifies and for how long may vary, although the costs... i really doubt that.
by the way, the 12 months L for 469 RMB is a bit unbelievable to me. i've got to check that one out as it could be useful for me next year.

peruisay, what kinda "visa extension" have you got? i paid 1,000 fine for my RP was expired a few days. however, i was consequently charged that 160 for the one month L. in my case, it also was a kinda emergency as any longer waiting would cost me even more overdues.

cheers and beers to our experiences in china

[evaforsure]

[englishgibson]

i think that above is preposterous, if we talk about the visa fees to english speaking countries' citizens.

so, was i being discriminated when i called the PSB and asked to pay that 470? then, was i being favored when they saw me in person and asked me to pay 300 yuan less then that quoted fee on the phone?

cheers and beers to our points of views as well as our experiences and above all cheers and beers to the evidence that we have to support our views on

[peruisay]

[Voldermort]

[NeilBarker]

[englishgibson]

yeah. i know about that spousal L visa...not sure that is what the topic really calls for

regarding the "price for americans", the 180 or 160 yuan L visa is not a 12 month visa and deffinitely not the spousal L, is it?

i believe that the purpose of your "visit" to/in the country counts more than the fact that you are british, american or canadian, but forgive me if i am wrong.

cheers and beers to our lovely chinese wives that provide us with a reason to stay on in the 5,000 years old country

[NeilBarker]

I don't know about the position for Americans. I do know it varies by location. The only two recent renewals (last 2 weeks) I know of in Guilin were an Aussie and a Dutch guy, both of whom paid 160 for a year spousal L. Most people I know do it in Hong Kong where there are enormous differences in price for different nationalities, or through their school.

An extension in Guilin doesn't require any evidence of money in the bank though - not like Beijing.

[englishgibson]

i hear ya. thanx for pointing that all out to us. i think your experience is quite valuable for all of us on here. moreover, i'm worried about these price differences and then i also know of some differences in regulations who qualifies or not too.

OP, we're on an L spousal visa topic now and wondering whether that's what you want to discuss or, was it your original intention on

cheers and beers to my wife that's just got my lunch ready