Does anyone know the current situation, particularly for Americans given the very difficult position we’re now in as regards getting visas for China? Rather than fly to HK to get a visa at the CTS, I’d rather take a short trip to Macao.
your best bet is to get the China visa in the HK airport.
for US citizens it’s damned expensive.
check out the “China travel service” website in Hong Kong for more info.
to get a China visa in the HK airport go the China Travel Service desk
at the arrivals hall, as you depart the baggage claim area and enter the
gigantic arrivals hall, the China Travel Service desk is located against the
back wall and towards the left. when you see lots of women running at you
trying to sell you bus tickets and putting stickers on people’s shirts (to indicate the bus they should get on) you know you are near the China Travel
Service desk.
RULES: your passport must be there before 9am, then you can pick up your 6-month multiple entry China visa at 1pm, OR you give them your passport before 1pm and your visa will be ready at 6pm. WARNING: no visas are issued on Saturday or Sunday, though you can leave your passport and pick it up on Monday at 1pm.
If you just want to go to Shenzhen you can get a temporary visa at the border,
either by bus or train (yes, yes, yes you can do this, but don’t try to leave the Shenzhen area). I’ve never tried to leave the shenzhen area with one of these landing visas, but as much as they check your visa in china at hotels, airports, etc, you’re bound to be nabbed).
Thanks!
A 6 month multiple entry visa sounds nice. At least I could put off any such hassle for another 6 months, by which time the regulations will hopefully have eased.
The trick is getting to the office before 9 AM. You’d have to take a mighty early flight from Twn to get to the office by then. But again, the idea of getting my China visa the same day I travel to China makes me nervous, and I’m seriously considering an earlier trip to HK to get the China visa.
Has anyone got a link to the CTS HK site? I found a US site, but the info there really doesn’t help or apply, and no links to the HK site. I Googled for a while but couldn’t find the site for HK.
I think what I may do is stay in HK 2 days before entering China. If the first CTS office rejects me, for whatever bizarre reason, then I’ll try at another one, or at a private travel agency! :s
I can’t say what the current situation is like, but in years past the CTS office in Macau was very accommodating. Really, no different from Hong Kong (all they’re interested in is your money, not your nationality).
regards,
Robert
Naruwa, can’t you get your travel agent to send your application and passport to their sister office in HK and get it done instead of flying there yourself? My husband(Taiwanese) had the travel agent do his Japan visa that way via Thailand some time ago.
No, unfortunately agents can no longer do that. You have to go yourself in person to HK to apply for the visa.