Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mmace1]

Have any Americans recently applied for a Chinese visa - do they readily sell the 2-year multiple entry from the Seoul embassy?

I'm contemplating a few day trip to Shanghai, but for Americans - all VISAs are $130, including the 2-year multiple entry. . If it's going to be $130, a 2-year multiple would would make it more worthwhile, since I can see myself visiting China again sometime in the next 2 years, but I am curious if anyone has experience with how available the 2 year multiples really are for Americans.

[mmace1]

Also - sorry for the previous 6 postings of this...

[prideofidaho]

I'm not American, so I can't really help you but just wanted to let you know that you must apply for a visa through a travel agent. I went to the Embassy in Seoul (the one near Namsan -- other one doesn't handle Visa inquiries) and was told to see one of the many travel agent ladies standing around. They'll sort it out for you, and will likely have the answer to your questions.

[mmace1]

You're right, I went to Beijing just a bit before the Olympics, but totally forgot the visa was taken care of by the travel agency, thanks. (unfortunately at the time - they were not giving out multiple entry 2-year visas due to restrictions related to the Olympics)

[tzechuk]

From what I understand (this is through talking to the Chinese people at the embassy), they rarely give out multiple-entry visas. They usually give them out to business people with a joint venture or some sort of alliance/investment in China.. or students. A tourist can normally only get single entry visas.

[moosehead]

[buster brown]

I got a 1-year multiple-entry visa last November. Because I'd heard that they don't like to issue them in Seoul, I sent it to a travel agent in Los Angeles by express mail. Yes it cost quite a bit more, but I needed the multiple-entries for transit purposes and I was in a hurry at the time.

[mmace1]

[Kuros]

I'm applying thru the D.C. USA consulate right now.

First of all, I had a bad experience when I applied through the Seoul consulate. Not to freak you out, but there may be some justification; its hard for Chinese to go to Korea, so many get their balls busted in Korea, even waygookin. This may not apply to you at all.

Alright, to your main point. Yes, the 24-month multi-entry is available. Its called an F visa. You'll need an invitation letter from some sort of company. Its basically an intern/study visa, something more than the tourist visa but something less than the Z employment visa (remember: employment is not working, because in China employed individuals are entitled to employment contracts, whereas interns or students might work and get paid but not be on contract).

But the 24-month is hard to get. Remember that your stays are limited to 180 days at a time. Also, you'll need to basically be an investor (safe to say thats not your case, I assume) or have received the F visa twice before and have no other visa rejections, hiccups, etc.

If you're looking for an invitation letter, you'll need to have some good Chinese friends in China to sign off that you're coming to help them. Alternately, if you can find an American company in China to sponsor you, that's also key.

A visa agency has my passport right now and are working on it. I'll let you know how it goes for me. But I have had 2 F visas issued before.

Oh, and here's some, you know, authority concerning what I'm talking about. Its dangerous to go by simply what people tell you here. So consider my advice provisional until someone qualified tells you otherwise.

[Kuros]

Update.

Yup, getting my visa back. The Visa Service told me they got me a multi-entry F-visa good for one year.

Feels pretty good.