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anonymous
Q: Can I still get a L visa in HK?
I've bee ngoing through the work visa process with my company, but when it came time to apply for the z visa, I was told that I cannot convert my F visa (because I had already switched it from my first company to another internship) and have to go to HK. The visa agent said that if I get a new L visa in HK, then he can convert it into the Z visa back in the mainland.
However, I am American and my passport is full of almost two years worth of old Visas and extensions (my first L and then the F visa that I had for the past 16months). I'm afraid that whne I get to HK that I will be denied a L visa to renter, even though all I need it for is to convert into the Z visa.
I'm willing to freeze 20,000 in a bank account and buy a return ticket if necessary and all I need is a 30 day L that can be converted into a Z. Do you think I can get a L visa in HK given my situation? Should i have my company give me the documents that they've finished and do my Z visa in HK?
11 years 38 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
From your post you have a problem to take care of before thinking on going to HKG.
You claim your current passport is full of old visas, extensions, stamps, etc. To be granted a visa, you need to have a passport with at least 6 months minimum to expiration date, and sufficient empty pages to apply visa and subsequent entry/exit stamps on it. So, if full, must have extra pages added, or if already did once, will need a new passport issued.
And once that is over, go to HKG and apply for a tourist visa. Normally there they do give a one or two entries, 30 day stay, up to 6 months tourist visa. If you do it yourself may take a couple of days at least. If you try a Z visa in HKG, you may be told to go back to USA to get it, tourist visa is easier to get there.
BrendanE:
Thank you for your advice, yes I do about five or six pages left open and my passport has quite some time left before it expires (a few years). I've emailed a couple visa agents and I think that I'll try for an L visa when I get there. If the L visa isn't possible, then I'll wait until my invitation letter arrives and try for the Z visa. I'm going to try for the 30 day visa, but hopefully even if I get a 15 day L visa I can convert it into a Z visa in China and still have enough time to get the work permit and residence permit. I already have the alien employment license and other paperwork, I just am waiting for the invitation letter, otherwise I would do the Z visa first.
Thanks for your advice, I'll be sure be sure update this thread when I find out more.
Xpat.John:
If it is just a matter of pages, you can go the American consulate and have them add extra pages for you. It is very cheap and only takes about 30 minutes. My friend had this done 4 times before he was forced to get a new visa.
As I suspected, L visas are currently hard to get for Americans and French people, especially if you already have lived in China on L or F visas. The visa agencies told me that the absolute best I could get was a 7-day visa and that the chances for rejection were high. I ended up waiting for my documents from my company and getting a Z visa.
I met one American in HK who had lived in China for over 10 years. His solution was to declare his passport as lost and get a replacement from the US consulate. Of course, his old passport did not have the new microchip technology so this effectively gave him a blank slate and he got one month L visa. Hope this helps anyone else thinking about a HK visa run.
And HK agencies sure do know how to charge for a 30 day visa. Go to the China Visa office yourself, I think its in the Pacific area, they are more helpful and understanding. No need to to use agencies. Although I hold a UK passport my visa [L] is often renewed for 90- 120 days or six months, and I've been here 6 years. Good Luck.
