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beck's
Joined: 06 Apr 2003
Posts: 426
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 Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 2:48 pm Post subject: F Visa with Faxed Letter of Inivtation |
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| Does anyone know whether the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa will issue an F visa on the basis of a faxed letter of invitation or is the original document needed? |
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tw
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
Posts: 3898
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 5:36 am Post subject: Re: F Visa with Faxed Letter of Inivtation |
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| beck's wrote: |
| Does anyone know whether the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa will issue an F visa on the basis of a faxed letter of invitation or is the original document needed? |
Why not contact them and ask them?
www.chinaembassycanada.org |
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beck's
Joined: 06 Apr 2003
Posts: 426
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 5:43 am Post subject: |
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| tw: Thanks for your reply and for the website. I've tried phoning them and can't get through. The website doesn't say anything about the validity of a fax; at least I couldn't find it. I was hoping to hear from someone with first hand experience. |
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HunanForeignGuy
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 989
Location: Shanghai, PRC
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 9:48 am Post subject: Chinese Embassy |
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The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa is located in Lowertown, Ottawa, in what, believe it or not, used to be a huge convent of the "Soeurs Grises de Marie". It is quite an imposing building. I wonder what they did with the attached immense church...
In any case, why are you coming to China on an "F" visa? The easiest place to get an "F" visa with little hassle is in Hong Kong....and then you can continue merrily on your way after just one day. |
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latefordinner
Joined: 19 Aug 2003
Posts: 973
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 11:31 am Post subject: |
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| It's been a long time since I was on an F (and doesn't that bring back a lot of threads! Not today though), but IIRC I had mine sent as an email attachment (jpg) then I printed it. A fax should do just as well. Lots of luck |
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lostinasia
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Posts: 466
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 12:23 pm Post subject: |
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| If your potential employer is too cheap to EMS the letter to you then you should consider potential future issues with them. |
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englishgibson
Joined: 09 Mar 2005
Posts: 4345
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 3:33 pm Post subject: |
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HunanForeignGuy, I didn't know you had such a good knowledge of Ottawa. I am Canadian and've been to Ottawa a few times. I thought the Embassy was somewhere on Redeau Terrase, since there are a few other Embassies as far as I know.
OP, HunanForeignGuy's givin ya a good suggestion there... go to HK.. I've done that before myself...I think, it's easier...in Canada they get a bit picky for some reason
F Visas are interesting. 
Cheers and beers to our holidays  |
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beck's
Joined: 06 Apr 2003
Posts: 426
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 8:42 pm Post subject: |
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| English Gibson: Why do you call F visas "interesting." You have my paranoia up and running! |
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HunanForeignGuy
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 989
Location: Shanghai, PRC
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| Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 3:20 am Post subject: Greetings, English Gibson |
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| englishgibson wrote: |
HunanForeignGuy, I didn't know you had such a good knowledge of Ottawa. I am Canadian and've been to Ottawa a few times. I thought the Embassy was somewhere on Redeau Terrase, since there are a few other Embassies as far as I know.
OP, HunanForeignGuy's givin ya a good suggestion there... go to HK.. I've done that before myself...I think, it's easier...in Canada they get a bit picky for some reason
F Visas are interesting.
Cheers and beers to our holidays |
First, regarding Embassy Row in Ottawa, along the river, in this order, coming down the street from the Rideau Mall : the Japanese Embassy on the left, further along, the British High Commission, a charming 19th Century Cottage, then the French Embassy further along, just past Rideau Hall where the Governor General lives. The French Embassy is probably the biggest one in Ottawa and the building is quite impressive. The United States Embassy is on Wellington Street, right opposite Parliament, symbolism not lost on anyone, and it is connected directly to Parliament by an underground tunnel. The Russian Embassy is located next to a park in Sandy Hill and is on the highest ground in the city and with a direct view of the Department of National Defense.
The Chinese Embassy is located in an off-the-beaten part of Ottawa, in Lowertown, in a huge former convent. It was sold to them directly by the local Catholic Archdiocese. I just don't know what happened to the Church that was attached thereto. Generally the staff are helpful and they are not as overworked in terms of visa applications as is the Consulate in Toronto. You will need to pay attention to the opening and closing hours, however.
Next, as EnglishGibson writes, the F visa can be a temporary cure all for problematic situations, nothing paranoid there, and it can be come by far more easily in Hong Kong than in Ottawa and far more quickly. Just do a search on this site for those agencies in Hong Kong that specialize in F visas. Or ask Jeff in Florida, a member here. |
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jeffinflorida
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Posts: 2024
Location: "I'm too proud to beg and too lazy to work" Uncle Fester, The Addams Family season two
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| Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 4:03 am Post subject: |
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HFG has a point here.... Ok I got an F visa through the consulate in Chicago. Cost $150 for one year but only 90 stay - this means I have to leave the country EVERY 90 days. Not an issue when living in Guangdong / Shenzhen but a major hassle if you are deep in the country.
The F visa was pretty easy to get, a copy of the invitation was enough.
BUT HERE THIS... IF YOU GET INTO A PROBLEM WITH YOUR EMPLOYER YOU HAVE NO PROTECTION AND LESS THAN NORMAL RECOURSE.
So if you are coming for a short term an F visa may be ok but for the long term a Z visa will best protect you. trust me on this HomeBoy.
Any other questions feel free to pm me and i will respond asap.
Regards and give a Loonie to a bum in my memory one day... |
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englishgibson
Joined: 09 Mar 2005
Posts: 4345
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| Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 4:15 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
HFG has a point here.... Ok I got an F visa through the consulate in Chicago. Cost $150 for one year but only 90 stay - this means I have to leave the country EVERY 90 days. Not an issue when living in Guangdong / Shenzhen but a major hassle if you are deep in the country.
The F visa was pretty easy to get, a copy of the invitation was enough.
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as interesting as i thought...did you need a health check for that???
in HK you can get F for 6 months and you won't have to do those trips 
what's nice on it that no health check is required, which saves some trouble in those hospitals as well as some money
HunanForeignGuy, you do know ottawa pretty well 
peace to chinese authorities
and
cheers and beers to beck's arrival in china |
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jeffinflorida
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Posts: 2024
Location: "I'm too proud to beg and too lazy to work" Uncle Fester, The Addams Family season two
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| Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 8:36 am Post subject: |
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| No health check needed. For USA citizen maximum stay on an F visa is 90 days. For Canada it is longer maybe 6 months. |
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Steppenwolf
Joined: 30 Jul 2006
Posts: 1769
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| Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 9:51 am Post subject: |
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| I would like to remind everyone that obtaining an 'F' visa through a HK travel agent is not the same as obtaining the same 'F' visa from a Chinese consulate or embassy. You can, of course, get your 'F' visa (with your invitation letter to support your application) from the Chinese Visa Office in HK - but in what way does that make it "easier" than to get it direct from the Chinese representative in Canada I don't know... |
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englishgibson
Joined: 09 Mar 2005
Posts: 4345
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| Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 12:57 pm Post subject: |
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Stepp, i don't know what the difference between and F and F would be  do they write a purpose down in the F, when they issue it???
now, Jeff...i thought you didn't need a medical check...something interesting about F that allows you to stay for a longer period of time in the country, but it doesn't require you to get it...i am just kinda whinin' 'cause i am annoyed by visitin' a hopital every year for past 5 and a half years and since i have a chinese fiance and so planning to settle here....i am up for many medical checks and those freakin hospital visists...i just hope that one day there won't be a nurse that'll use a recycled needle to take my blood sample  ...i am considerin' F instead of my appropriate residency permit, since in a way it might be "SAFER" as well as less of a hussle
peace to all honest hospitals in china
and
cheers and beers to Fs, Zs and all other visas that help us see this fine country |
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kev7161
Joined: 06 Feb 2004
Posts: 5880
Location: Suzhou, China
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| Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 1:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Isn't it weird how everything is different throughout China? The last health check I had here in China was over two years ago in Hangzhou. I've had my RP renewed twice since and I was told that since I don't leave the country for long periods of time, I need not get checked out every year. I've been to Thailand (don't worry, I "played" it safely) and back to the USA probably a half dozen times (combined), yet it doesn't seem to matter . . . here in Suzhou. I don't get it - - not complaining, just don't get it. |
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