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genesis87
Joined: 21 Nov 2011
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 Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 5:10 am Post subject: Getting a China Tourist Visa in Korea (Seoul)??? Need help |
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| I am hoping to go to china when my contract is finished for a couple months and I have been looking into the visa rules. It says I need at least 6 months left on my visa (ARC), I have to buy it from certain travel agencies, and its 170,000 won? I also read that I need my flight tickets in and out of china as well as the address of my first hotel??? Can anyone confirm all of this? I am okay with the first part, but the flight tickets could be really annoying to do. Please let me know if anyone has any experience with this. I also live near Anyang/Beomgaye so if there is an agency anyone can recommend near there please let me know! Thanks |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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From your requirements and cost it would seem that you are American.
Suck it up or fly to Hong Kong at the end of your contract and do it from there (none of the hassles but the cost is still up (reciprocity of US treatment of Chinese citizens)).
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nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
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| Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 3:34 pm Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
From your requirements and cost it would seem that you are American.
Suck it up or fly to Hong Kong at the end of your contract and do it from there (none of the hassles but the cost is still up (reciprocity of US treatment of Chinese citizens)).
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Had to squeeze in the anti-US jab, eh (yawn)? Did you know Canadians pay more for a tourist visa to Laos than Americans?
Anyway, the biggest pain in the ass and cost - not being able to get a Chinese visa in Korea with less than 6 months on your Korean visa - applies to all foreigners.
Hell, when I wanted my job visa, the Korean travel agency was confident they could do it but in the end the embassy denied my application. I ended up having to Fedex my passport stateside. In all honesty, I'd consider skipping China and traveling elsewhere. There are many other worthwhile destinations in Asia. |
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laynamarya
Joined: 01 Jan 2010
Location: Gwangjin-gu
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| Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Supposing I were to get Korean/American dual citizenship...would I be able to bypass all the US citizen requirements for Chinese visas? |
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nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
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| Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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| laynamarya wrote: |
| Supposing I were to get Korean/American dual citizenship...would I be able to bypass all the US citizen requirements for Chinese visas? |
There are no special "US citizen requirements for Chinese visas." Americans simply pay more than other nationalities for a Chinese visa.
All foreigners residing in Korea must have 6 months on their Korean visa in order to get a Chinese visa. The policy makes absolutely no sense but has been in place for a couple of years now. Travel agencies may or may not be able to get you a visa if you have less than 6 months on your visa, but don't bank on it.
Having a Korean passport would make it much easier to get a Chinese visa while staying in Korea. In your home country (or in any other country as far as I know), there are no other requirements other than showing some plane tickets and paying the fee. |
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Kepler
Joined: 24 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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It's not necessary to book a flight. The application form that Kangsan Travel e-mailed me did not ask for a hotel address (just the city name). Soho Travel sent me a much longer application form that asked for a hotel address. Kangsan is kind of expensive (210,000 + 30,000 if you don't book a flight through them), but they got me a 6 month double entry visa.
http://www.kangsantravel.com/
http://www.sohoholiday.com/ |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 10:31 pm Post subject: |
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| nukeday wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
From your requirements and cost it would seem that you are American.
Suck it up or fly to Hong Kong at the end of your contract and do it from there (none of the hassles but the cost is still up (reciprocity of US treatment of Chinese citizens)).
. |
Had to squeeze in the anti-US jab, eh (yawn)? Did you know Canadians pay more for a tourist visa to Laos than Americans?
Anyway, the biggest pain in the ass and cost - not being able to get a Chinese visa in Korea with less than 6 months on your Korean visa - applies to all foreigners.
Hell, when I wanted my job visa, the Korean travel agency was confident they could do it but in the end the embassy denied my application. I ended up having to Fedex my passport stateside. In all honesty, I'd consider skipping China and traveling elsewhere. There are many other worthwhile destinations in Asia. |
Not anti US... just an explanation as to why - reciprocity.
Same with Canadians in Korea (6 months with no visa - reciprocity).
Wasn't that long ago that Americans only got 30 days with no visa in Korea. The US gave Korea 90 days with no visa and Korea reciprocated with 90-day entry stamps for Americans.
Instead of sending it stateside, just pop into HK on your way... with expensive fedex and cheap flights to HK there isn't much cost difference and there is no hassle getting a visa for mainland China while you are in HK. HK makes a nice stop over on your way as well.
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