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Q: What is the fastest way to get a Chinese Visa?
I have searched this site about obtaining a Chinese Visa in Hong Kong and have found useful information, but I am worried that some things might have changed since the most recent postings, so I am hoping someone can please tell me the fastest way to get a Chinese Visa.
I have read about travel agencies in Hong Kong that can get a Chinese Visa for you in a day. If that is possible, could someone please tell me what travel agency can do so?
My situation is as follows:
I recently finished working for a training school and have a new job at a decent school. To transfer my residence permit, the decent school needs a cancellation certificate for my employment license from the training school. The decent school says that this should be obtainable in a day or two. The training school I escaped from says that it will take two to three weeks to obtain the cancellation certificate.
Unfortunately, my residence permit expires at the end of this month, so by the time I receive my cancellation certificate, my residence permit will have expired, meaning transferring my residence permit and later extending it is not an option.
From what I have been told, my best option is to go to Hong Kong and apply for a Tourist Visa that I can later change to a work visa. I would like to complete this process as soon as possible and I would appreciate help from anyone that might know what the fastest way is to get a new visa.
Thanks in advance.
11 years 30 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
Perhaps best to get a new visa, I had a similar situation as yourself. However, I don't think you can transfer your tourist visa to a work visa. You will have to start from scratch, then exit the country, then re-enter. Make sure you get a long enough tourist or business visa just in case there are delays. The hotels in Mirador and Chungking mansions have the ability to get you the visa you want, they do it everyday. One day for most types of visas. There may be better avenues, but that is what I know.
Also, keep in mind that many schools now can only get you the work visa with you having to return to your home country, instead of HK.
will_t:
Thanks for your help. I will try to get in contact with some hotels in Mirador and Chungking to see which ones offer quick visa processing in case I need to go this route.
Thanks for your help.
will_t:
Thanks. I researched this a bit and their original asking price was almost twice the original visa price, but part of that may have been to get it expedited.
Have you consider visiting your local PSB and asking for an extension of about 30 days to resolve your problem?.
If not, contact one of the visa agents in Hong Kong and find out he time involved and the cost.
I do know of a booth at HKG International Airport that if you give them your passport early in the morning, by 2 pm or so they will have your visa. Or so they advertise. It is on level 5 near where you buy the tickets for the busses to the border.
will_t:
I had not thought about trying to get an extension at the PSB. I thought that since the training school I worked for refused to help with an extension, the PSB would not do it. I will call and ask tomorrow. If my residence permit is for Shanghai, would my only chance be with the Shanghai PSB?
And if the extension falls through, do you know if the HKG International Airport booth that processes the visas is still there?
Thanks for your help.
HappyExPat:
My last time at the airport was about 3 months ago, and it was there. As you stand facing the different booths, there was one towards the left hand side. big sign telling visas.
will_t:
Great, thanks. If an extension doesn't work out, I think I might try that since it sounds fastest (as long as I can get to the airport in the early morning).
HappyExPat:
If I remember correctly, must turn it in prior to 9 or 10 am to get it back in afternoon
will_t:
Thanks, HappyExPat. I went ahead and went to the PSB this time, but I will remember about the airport if I need to leave China for an extension in the future.
