Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tombirner]

Hey y'all,

I'm flying from Incheon to Bangkok on Wednesday... it seems I have a six hour layover in Bejing. I thought it might be nice to take a train (or whatever) into the city, have lunch, maybe take a walk.

But it crossed my mind that this might be complicated, expensive, or even prohibited, what with the visa issues in entering another country.

Can anyone enlighten me? If I am granted a visa, will I have to pay anything? Will it raise red flags if I'm only in the country for six hours?? How difficult/time-consuming is Chinese immigration (I'm an American). Is it even worth it? Even going into the city and taking a walk would be more interesting than sitting in the airport for six hours.

Thanks for any help.

[PeteJB]

Six hours seems kinda short, I'd suggest staying in the airport.

[chris_J2]

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1585596&start=0&tstart=0

[D.D.]

Unless you have a Chinese visa it will be airport for you. If you wanted one its only about 120 U.s for the visa. 20 bucks an hour.

[Paji eh Wong]

If you're Canadian, a visa is $45 and takes 5 working days.

[tomwaits]

Transit visa maybe? I've never had one.
Keep in mind you need say 2 hours to book through for an In'tl flight plus the clearing customs on arrival. The 6 hours would be then 3 or less.

And traffic is hell in Beijing. I guess though you might make it to Tiannamen for an hour. Check into it.

[Little Laura]

As of last May, westerners couldn't apply for visas to China except from their home countries. This was very inconvenient for me because I need to go to China regularly. I went home this past Christmas and had to pay through the nose to get a Chinese visa expedited. Plus you can no longer apply directly; have to go through a travel agent, so they take their fee (in the U.S.; when I used to go through CITS here in Seoul, they didn't charge anything, it seems, for the visa; it was the same price as you would pay for the visa back in the States, as was noted above, $120. But you can't do it from here anymore.)

The girl at the Seoul branch of CITS (China International Travel Service) thinks the new policy about having to apply in your home country may have been a security measure adopted for the Olympics, and that it may possibly change soon. I sure hope so.

So for the OP, the point is the question about the feasibility of a trip into town is moot since you're American and can't apply for a Chinese visa from here in Korea currently. (There would have been time to take a taxi into town for a quick look at something, if you like living on the edge.)

[fadedgirl]

I had a layover in Beijing for 7 hours.

It was the worst ever. I was stuck in the airport, which I think is the worst airport in the history of mankind.

If you can, get out and see some things

[Otherside]

[candyteacher]

[quote="Otherside"][quote="Little Laura"]As of last May, westerners couldn't apply for visas to China except from their home countries. ]quote]

didnt know about this i got a visa for china last may after the rule changes! perhaps they had been changed again shortly after. the new airport in beijing is fantastic, so enjoy your time there and take your time getting ready for your connecting flight, as i believe its costly for americans to get visas considering its only a few hours!!

[beast]

Don't eat anything.

[Little Laura]