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donjart
Joined: 16 Jul 2006
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 5:18 pm Post subject: Going to China Checklist |
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I'm a canadian with a legit work visa, and a certificate of alien registration card. My mom is coming to visit and we're going to travel to China for a week and I want to make sure I haven't missed anything important. We're going to take the boat from Incheon to Qingdao during the week of the 21st in august.
I read that I need a re-entry visa for Korea. Do I have to go to immigration to get this? I hear you can get it at the airport but that doesn't help me.
I read that I need a visa for China. I read a travel agent can do this for me within 24 hours. Is this true?
Will my mom have any trouble getting into china and then back into korea?
What else should I be thinking about? |
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soviet_man

Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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I read that I need a re-entry visa for Korea. Do I have to go to immigration to get this? I hear you can get it at the airport but that doesn't help me. |
If your visa sticker says "S" (Single) under "Entries" then you will need a re-entry ink stamp from your local immigration office. If it says "M" (Multiple) then it is good to go already.
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I read that I need a visa for China. I read a travel agent can do this for me within 24 hours. Is this true? |
Most travel agencies can do the running around for you to get a standard single-entry "L" Chinese visa for a small fee. I applied in May and it took 9 days. I applied last September on another trip and it took only 3 days. So waiting times can vary.
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Will my mom have any trouble getting into china and then back into korea? |
Should be fine.
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What else should I be thinking about? |
Changing won into yuan in Qingdao shipping port may be tricky (I could be wrong). Maybe do it before leaving Korea. |
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donjart
Joined: 16 Jul 2006
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the reply soviet_man.
Would it be worth going from Qingdao to Beijing? It see that it's much further away than, say, Shanghai. Does anyone have recommendations for what to do with my time, I'll be there for a week with my mom. What is the recommmended method of travel from Qingdao to Beijing? Do I need to book trains/flights in advance?
I understand that public transportation isn't as multilingual in China as it is in Korea. Will it be possible for me to get around without a tour guide? I would prefer to spend a day at most on a guided tour. |
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ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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donjart wrote: |
Thanks for the reply soviet_man.
Would it be worth going from Qingdao to Beijing? It see that it's much further away than, say, Shanghai. Does anyone have recommendations for what to do with my time, I'll be there for a week with my mom. What is the recommmended method of travel from Qingdao to Beijing? Do I need to book trains/flights in advance?
I understand that public transportation isn't as multilingual in China as it is in Korea. Will it be possible for me to get around without a tour guide? I would prefer to spend a day at most on a guided tour. |
Do you have your heart set on Qingdao for some reason?
Catch the ferry from Incheon to Tanjin. Grab the train into Beijing (only 200kms) and do the sights. Forbidden city, Beihei Park, Great wall, Acrobat circus, summer palace, the list goes on....
You BOTH need entry visas for China. As a Canadian it will cost you w35,000 won at the embassy and takes 4 days. You can get 2 day service for w55,000 and same day service for w70,000. A travel agent here can do it for you but be sure to ASK how much before you do. Some are very reasonable, some are robbers and charge up to 50,000 won for the service fee in addition to the visa fee.
You need the application, fee and one passport type photo.
Your mom can get her visa in Canada (best choice unless she is here already). You/she must enter within 90 days of issue and it is good for up to a 30 day stay.
You can get your re-entry permit at either the local immigration office or at the airport. The single entry visa is 30,000 won and has a (usually) 90 day expiry. The multiple entry visa is good for your whole year, multiple re-entries and costs 50,000 won. The airport ONLY issues single entry stamps. If you do not have a re-entry stamp then your E2 will be canceled when you leave.
You mom will get a 6 month B2 visa waiver stamp when she arrives in Korea the first time. When you leave she will get an exit stamp. When you return from China she will get another 6 month B2 stamp in her passport. Easier for her than for you. |
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