Job Discussion Forums

[bearcanada]

This is the text of an email exchange I had with a new China resident. I thought I'd reproduce it here because there seems to be too much misunderstanding of the basics.

Here's my situation:

I arrived in Shanghai on Jan 1st, 2008 with a multiple entry 90-day VISA. The VISA says it expires this Dec 2008.

I flew to Hong Kong Feb 1st and came back to Shanghai Mar 1st.

My question is this: Do I have to leave and head back to the states before Mar 28th (90 days since my first arrival in China Jan 1), or do I get an extended 3 months starting from Mar 1st (ending Jun 1st) because I left Shanghai, entered Hong Kong, and came back?

I appreciate your help. Everyone has been giving me mixed advice.

___________________________________________________

Hello;

First, your visa is NOT a 90-day visa. It is a one-year visa. Check the issue and expiry dates.

You have a multiple-entry one-year visa with a MAXIMUM STAY of 90 days. That means that every 90 days you must exit China (if only for 5 minutes) and then return for another maximum stay of 90 days.

You should know that the maximum stay can be up to 120 days. It's yours if you ask for it. That's more convenient than 90 days.

For the entry and exits, the 90-day maximum stay begins on the day you enter. According to your dates provided, you entered China on Jan. 1, 2008, and that means you would have to exit by April 1. BUT, it appears you did that by going to Hong Kong.

If, since that initial entry, you did indeed exit China and return from HK on March 1, then your current maximum stay will be 90 days from March 1, which is June 1 (More or less. Remember that the stay is 90 days, not three months. Some months have more than 30 days.)

The same process is always true. Each time you re-enter China, you have a maximum stay of 90 days. By the 90th day, you must exit - and then return any time you like. Nobody cares.

Does that help?

.

[AussieGuyInChina]

[bearcanada]

Dear AGIC;

Oz is a special world. My visas do not have the terms you specify, but it appears that the 'enquirer' and I do have the same terms in ours. So let's let that one lie, shall we?

My main concern was to correct the common misunderstanding that the period of maximum stay was actually the term of the visa. In the case listed above, calling a one-year visa a 90-day visa is not helpful. I'm sure you'll agree.

As well, many people on this board have sworn on Attila's grave that the maximum stay on a tourist or business visa is 90 days, and that is not true. I wanted this person to know that 120 days is available.

.

[AussieGuyInChina]

[roadwalker]

Bearcanada,

I've never heard of such a visa, what type is it? F? Mine all resemble what AGIC described.