Anyone knows if it is possible to get OUT of Taiwan but NOT enter China?
Here is what I mean:
The point of this is being able to do a visa run without the Chinese visa.
Any idea?
Or better, anyone got the number of one of these ferries company that I could call and ask?
[quote=“Ed en Vadrouille”]-Take a ferry from Kinmen (Jinmen)
-Arrive Chinese harbour
-Do no go through immigration
-Take ferry back to Kinmen (Jinmen)[/quote]
I am not sure if this works. If I remember correctly, the only place you can go after you get off the ferry in Xiamen is immigrations. Not sure if you could even physically get right back on the boat… the following questions would arise from my point of view:
Do the TWese let you exit TW and get on the ferry without China visa (or TWese passport)?
Do the Chinese authorities allow anyone to stay on the boat / get back on the boat without going to customs?
Does the boat crew let you back on the boat if you already have a return ticket (I didn’t figure out how to get anything but one way tickets, though)?
What does the TW immigration do on return if they see you didn’t enter China?
I guess in general it MUST be somehow possible… I mean what happens if you have some visa problems or whatever and the Chinese simply don’t let you into China? I would guess they would send you back… which would kinda be the same as what you plan. But better check…
Of course you have to leave the boat and enter China. You can turn around and the next ferry though.
Of course you have to leave the boat and enter China. You can turn around and the next ferry though.[/quote]
Which would mean that what Ed en Vadrouille wants is not possible: Go to Xiamen on a visa run without entering China (so he doesn’t have to pay for a China visa).
Not possible.
I’m on the Xiamen side, they deffo check you as you arrive. They even do the face cam thing.
Not possible.
I’m on the Xiamen side, they deffo check you as you arrive. They even do the face cam thing.[/quote]
I disagree, I think this is possible. I’m almost positive the PRC encounters tourists who are not aware of the visa requirement for entry, and I would imagine they would tell you to turn around and take the next ship back. I don’t see why this would be any different.
The only issue is that Ed would need a return ticket, and I am not sure how one would be purchased without leaving immigration since, as far as I know, you can only purchase one way tickets. A call to the ferry company on the Xiamen side would resolve this quickly though.
Remember that each country has different visa agreements with the PRC. For some countries, no visa is required for a stay under 15 days. Taiwan does not enforce the PRC’s visa requirements, and thus they should not care whether you have a PRC visa or not (not like they would know the PRC visa requirements in the first place).
In China, EVERY nationality needs a visa. Thus, unless you have one in your passport you won’t be allowed to board the boat.
I know, they checked that I had a visa (or residence permit in my case) when I came back into China.
[quote=“Baas Babelaas”]In China, EVERY nationality needs a visa. Thus, unless you have one in your passport you won’t be allowed to board the boat.
I know, they checked that I had a visa (or residence permit in my case) when I came back into China.[/quote]
not Japanese people
[quote=“Baas Babelaas”]In China, EVERY nationality needs a visa. Thus, unless you have one in your passport you won’t be allowed to board the boat.
I know, they checked that I had a visa (or residence permit in my case) when I came back into China.[/quote]
This is not true, the PRC checks your visa after you arrive in Xiamen.
And there are a number of countries with visa-free agreements with China. Japan was mentioned, and Singapore is another.
[quote]This is not true, the PRC checks your visa after you arrive in Xiamen.
And there are a number of countries with visa-free agreements with China. Japan was mentioned, and Singapore is another.[/quote]
My bad then. But you deffo have to leave the boat, then enter the immigrations hall. Without a visa for China I guess they’d be quite annoyed and escort you to the departure hall, on the way buying a ticket back to Jinmen. The port building in Xiamen is big, much bigger than Jinmen, so it would be a bothersome process.
I wouldn’t suggest it. Unless you’re Singaporean or Japanese, and I doubt many of them do visa runs to China, via Jinmen.
Maybe get arrested … stamp in passport … because it’s not as it is a transit zone like an airport …
I always wonder why some people want to shortcut stuff like this … remember it’s China you’re dealing with, not Andorra or Liechtenstein …