Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mattdsoares]

Hey all,

I'm planning a trip to Beijing for the Chinese New Year. I have friends whom, in the past, have gone to a travel agent here in Seoul to apply for their Chinese tourist visas (I'm American).

However, I read recently that as of July 2010, to get a Chinese visa while living in Korean you must have an ARC with at least 6 months validity left on it.

If this is true, this is a problem for me. My first contract ends at the end of February. I'm signing on for a 2nd contract with the same school but wouldn't have my new ARC until that new contract begins, so not until March, a month after the trip. Needless to say when I would be applying for my Chinese visa my Korean ARC would only have about 3 months left on it.

Can anyone confirm if this new rule is in fact true and if it is really enforced? I can easily send my passport back to the US through a visa service, however it would be quicker and cheaper to just go through a travel agent in Myeongdong.

Thanks for any information you have on this!

[Quack Addict]

Try China Travel Services @02-756-9906. They speaka da engrish.

[crossmr]

you need to apply right now and hope they'll let you slide by amonth.

[shostahoosier]

I want to say there is a travel agent down in Busan or somewhere outside of Seoul that has found a solution to this but you have to pay an extra 20,000W or something like that.

I forgot which travel agency it was though.