I’m not sure what category this should go in, so I threw it in Open. If any of the mods feel there is a better place for it, please move it.
Now down to the question. I’m flying to HK in about a week and a half. I need to reenter Taiwan to get another 60 days on my visa. My question is with the return flight.
I set up the return flight 2 or 3 hours after my arrival, in case of problems or what not. I got a call from the airline saying they canceled that flight and put me on an earlier flight. I arrive at 19:55 and the (new) return flight is at 21:05.
Do I even need to go through immigration at HK or can I just go to the departing terminal as if I am transferring flights? I’m worried that if I don’t make it through immigration quickly enough, then I’ll fall within the 45 minute window before departure for the airlines.
So, is there anyone on here who has run into this situation before? Do I need to go through immigration before checking back in, or can I just go from the arrival terminal to departure without going through immigration?
No, you don’t need to go through HK immigration since you’re not planning to go into Hong Kong.
If you have a mulitple-entry visa, the authorities here don’t care if you go somewhere else, just that you left here in the first place. You just need an exit stamp from Taiwan immigration, not an entry stamp for someplace outside Taiwan.
Yes I get a landing visa. No I’m not a Canadian.[quote=“cranky laowai”][quote=“lbksig”]Do I even need to go through immigration at HK or can I just go to the departing terminal as if I am transferring flights?[/quote]
No, you don’t need to go through HK immigration since you’re not planning to go into Hong Kong.
If you have a mulitple-entry visa, the authorities here don’t care if you go somewhere else, just that you left here in the first place. You just need an exit stamp from Taiwan immigration, not an entry stamp for someplace outside Taiwan.[/quote]
[quote=“cranky laowai”]
You just need an exit stamp from Taiwan immigration, not an entry stamp for someplace outside Taiwan.[/quote]
Really? So what’s to stop someone from just stamping out and, rather than getting on the plane, just stamping right back in? They could say they forgot something outside, but then once outside cancel their ticket and get a refund.
How would you check in for the return flight? You need a boarding pass anyway … guess you have to go through immigration after all … and the airline has to make sure that you can return to Taiwan legally, check-in counter is looking for any issues that could make them responsible if you should not be allowed back in to Taiwan …
[quote=“barfomcgee”][quote=“cranky laowai”]
You just need an exit stamp from Taiwan immigration, not an entry stamp for someplace outside Taiwan.[/quote]
Really? So what’s to stop someone from just stamping out and, rather than getting on the plane, just stamping right back in? They could say they forgot something outside, but then once outside cancel their ticket and get a refund.[/quote]
They have a VOID stamp that they put over your departure stamp. I know this cuz I canceled my itinerary 30 minutes before my plane left from KHH. You’ll get escorted back thru the immigration gate and they’ll void all the stamps and then restaple the yellow disembarkation slip back in.
I think you’d just be in the same situation as someone who arrives at HKG after the first part of a 2 leg journey where you don’t get the seat assignment for the second flight until transfer… after arrival you just follow the “transit/transfer” signs instead of the “baggage claim/exit” signs, go to airline transfer counter, get your boarding pass (if the OP is entitled to a landing visa they’d have no reason not to issue it), go through x-ray security into departures area, done…
I think you’d just be in the same situation as someone who arrives at HKG after the first part of a 2 leg journey where you don’t get the seat assignment for the second flight until transfer… after arrival you just follow the “transit/transfer” signs instead of the “baggage claim/exit” signs, go to airline transfer counter, get your boarding pass (if the OP is entitled to a landing visa they’d have no reason not to issue it), go through x-ray security into departures area, done…[/quote]
Makes sense. I guess one could keep ones boariding passes as proof of departure and arrival back into Taiwan via such and such a flight. Iv never done a visa run this way (always made it into a mini holiday in HK or Macau or Okinawa or elsewhere) but I suppose its do-able.
No, you don’t need to go through HK immigration.[/quote]
Correct. Hey, guess what. You can fly out and fly back again on the same plane. Air crew will have your name on a list and direct you straight from arrival gate to departure gate. You can check in for both outward and return flights at the same time at the airport in Taiwan. I have done it about eight times.
No, you don’t need to go through HK immigration.[/quote]
Correct. Hey, guess what. You can fly out and fly back again on the same plane. Air crew will have your name on a list and direct you straight from arrival gate to departure gate. You can check in for both outward and return flights at the same time at the airport in Taiwan. I have done it about eight times.[/quote]
Thats certainly the most efficient way and cheapest, but why not use that to spend a day or two in HK and / or Macau? Thats what I always did, then it felt better, still a forced getaway but not as silly.
No, you don’t need to go through HK immigration.[/quote]
Correct. Hey, guess what. You can fly out and fly back again on the same plane. Air crew will have your name on a list and direct you straight from arrival gate to departure gate. You can check in for both outward and return flights at the same time at the airport in Taiwan. I have done it about eight times.[/quote]
Thank you everyone for your helpful advice. I’m more confident now that things won’t go wrong (and I won’t be going through immigration unnecessarily!)
[quote=“tommy525”]
Thats certainly the most efficient way and cheapest, but why not use that to spend a day or two in HK and / or Macau? Thats what I always did, then it felt better, still a forced getaway but not as silly.[/quote]
Because that’s expensive right now. Global downturn aside, it’s the run up to the Christmas season and prices are getting more expensive. Macau was fun (in October), and I can’t wait to see HK in a few months when I can’t stand Taiwan any longer and need to get away. I’ll go when I enjoy I can enjoy it, but right now I just need another 60 day stamp.
I did a visa run to Okinawa and the flight was comparable to HK and the hotels in OKinawa (in Naha) are less then 2000nt for a nice place? Its worth it to do a visa run there. Not hugely entertaining but? Still? Not bad.
[quote=“dan2006”]Hey Tommy, i checked the prices to Japan, and they seemed very high for airfare
which airline did you go with?[/quote]
We are talking 1999 here (last I was in TAiwan) and at that time there were roundtrips out to Macau at about 6200 (including 2 nites hotel based on double occupancy) and HK trips were bout 6000 to 7000 (not including hotels). And the Okinawa trips were not special savers but were just regular walk up and buy tickets and they were bout 3000nt each way with China Airlines or Japan Asia. That was from TPE to Naha,Okinawa. The flight was bout 1 hour or so each way. Just take a short and cheap taxi ride into the town of Naha and there are plenty of inexpensive hotels around. The ones at the beaches are very expensive though.
I dont think prices have risen too much over HK prices? But the thing to do is simply call up China Airlines and Japan Airlines and ask?
[quote=“tommy525”]
I don’t think prices have risen too much over HK prices? But the thing to do is simply call up China Airlines and Japan Airlines and ask?[/quote]
Tommy? Is there? some malfunction with? your keyboard? You keep? putting question? marks after everything?
[quote=“barfomcgee”][quote=“tommy525”]
I don’t think prices have risen too much over HK prices? But the thing to do is simply call up China Airlines and Japan Airlines and ask?[/quote]
Tommy? Is there? some malfunction with? your keyboard? You keep? putting question? marks after everything?[/quote]
Oh sorry , thats how we talk in California We always end our sentences with a high note like its a question. haha?
Also to denote that what im sayin im not sure of eh?
Thanks everyone for your helpful advice. I flew to HK and just got back without any problems. It was a breeze and they had people everywhere at HK to help you. I ended up on the same airplane with some of the stewardesses being confused at first.
I didn’t have any problems but there was a guy behind me who did with the liquid allowance. He was transferring at HK and they wouldn’t let him continue on with the 1 liter bottle of booze he bought in duty free at the previous airport. Just a heads up for future transfers through HK…
I actually got through immigration in record time (walk right up with no line). It took longer to go through immigration to leave the country than enter.
We always end our sentences with a high note like its a question. haha?