Job Discussion Forums

the dakota kid · Joined: 25 Oct 2008 Posts: 44

I just got my visa back from my processing agency and the Embassy misspelled my family name.... do you think I can still enter the country or will this cause me numerous problems later on? BTW, I leave in 4 days...

tdk

xi.gua · Joined: 15 Jul 2010 Posts: 170

You could overnight it back there to fix it which if you wanted to be 100% safe is what you should do.

Being that you're already going to China, you are a risk taker, so you can take your chances. Although be prepared for what could happen.

the dakota kid · Joined: 25 Oct 2008 Posts: 44

taking risks = teaching English in Kazakhstan for a year.... I managed to get out with 95% of my total pay, but that was by shear luck Sad

thessy · Joined: 09 Nov 2008 Posts: 111 Location: Xi'an

Can you find a number for the embassy and call to ask? The visa agency may be worth calling also as they should have checked that and surely this isn't the first time it has happened so they may know what needs to be done, if anything.

There is a risk (and it may be stupid to take such a risk on such an expensive matter) but I don't think it would be much of a problem at your point of entry. An employee of the Chinese government pasted that visa in your passport. I can't honestly say I thoroughly examined my previous visas for any errors before entering the country and I think it is highly likely that if you are questioned about it, which is very unlikely to occur, a defense of ignorance would be sufficient. They aren't going to place the burden on you to double check the work of a government employee.

the dakota kid · Joined: 25 Oct 2008 Posts: 44

I have already sent the visa processing agency a request for service and a notice of my expectations of reimbursement if I need to rebook my tickets.

I will be calling the embassy as well. I have 4 days, it could be done in 3 if necessary... what a mess! I am still surprised this happened, who doesn't check the family names!

The good news is that they did give me a 1 year, multiple entry visa... none of that 2 entry crap they stuck me with in Korea several times Sad

wish me luck!
tdk

macroidtoe · Joined: 27 Jul 2010 Posts: 128

When I visited China in 2007, they spelled my name wrong on my visa. I looked into it, and apparently this is fairly common, and not a big deal. I got in and out fine.

xiao51 · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 208

The Z visa in your United States passport is controlled against your passport number, in the first instance, your date of birth, subsequent to the passport number, and then your name. It is not uncommon for the name to be entered incorrectly with the proviso of course that the passport number of the passport correctly matches the passport number as listed under the Z visa.

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

This probably doesn't help much, but it's a bit of a stretch for them to understand that family names in the west come LAST. I have two bank accounts here; one doesn't have my entire family name (their system couldn't accommodate that many letters), the other one doesn't have my family name at all! I've never had a problem with teller transactions when I show them my passport. It's best to try to get your visa corrected, of course, but since it's affixed to the passport you PROBABLY wouldn't have a problem with the way it is.