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Q: I am confused about my visa privileges, could you help me?
I currently have a 2-entry visa, for 60 days each entry. The visa is good through March 19, 2012. I used one of the entries on October 6th to come from USA to China. So I understand that my 60 days will expire in Dec. 5th. Do I have to leave the country and come in again to use the remaining 60 days for the 2nd entrance or could I just continue using them without leaving the country? (I.e. could I travel around China past Dec. 5th?)
12 years 25 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
You have to at least go to Hong Kong and reenter China to start your next 60 days. And I'd do it at least by Dec 4.
Your visa is only good for 2-60 day visits to China before March 19, 2012. If you stay more than 60 days on either visit, you would be in the country illegally. It is always best to try and get a multi-entry visa whenever possible.
1.- One thing you can do is to go to local PSB office at least 5 days before visa stay expires and request a 30 days extension on your stay, depending on your original country, it may cost you from 600 to 980 yuan. If you do not meet the requirements, then you MUST leave mainland China on or prior to the 60 days allowed to stay by your visa. If you overstay, you will pay a penalty of 500 yuan per day, and depending on number of days involved, you may have your visa cancelled, deported and denied future visas. For Chinese Officials, overstaying a visa is a major offense, because you show them no respect for their customs and laws, and become a "bad" foreigner.
2.- If your visa expires on March 12, 2012, your second entry to China could be at any time up to that date.
3.- Next time you apply for a visa, ask for a one year multiple entry visa, 90 days stay, cost the same as the one you have now. If you follow every rule on your first visa, you will be granted that one.
4.- Afterwards, if you marry a Chinese Lady, you can request a 2 year visa, multiple entries, 180 days stay. That is the one I have now, but I have almost 15 years visiting China and no problems.
Xpat.John:
2 Year? The most I have been able to get is a 1 year long with a 1 year stay. And I have been married to a Chinese lady for 8 years and in China for 5 years. You must have great guangxi. :)
HappyExPat:
John: we are talking about visas requested at Embassies abroad, not of Residence Permits at local PSB. At least, I refer to them on my post. But since you bring the point up, there is a new class of Residence Permit issued by PSB, it is called "senior Residence Permit" (best available translation). It is granted to those who have been having the one year one for at least 5 years, still married to her and living together, and it is good for 2 years, and also multientry, and cost for Americans twice as much as the one year one, or 1960 Rmb if remember correctly. It will just save you the hazzle of each year renewal, otherwise the same as the one year
What documents do I need to apply for a one yer visa,do I have to show that I have a certain amount of money in the bank?
Agencies are asking 6500 for a one year visa.
I would like to try and get my own.
Any help would be grateful.
Panda:
If you are paying an agent 6500yuan for a visa, it's illegal and if you want to stay in China longer, you will most likely have to leave. Most agents don't know where they got you the visa in the first place and when you go to the Visa office they many suspect you of getting a visa through an agent, (the government call these types of visas as fake). If you are working legally in China, the visa is approx. 400yuan.
By the looks of things... you got no of those visas that can't be extended and you will be required to leave China every 60 days. I have seen a few of these types and I am not sure why anyone would want it, maybe you didn't know. My suggestion, HongKong, but you might want to check out the airflight prices. Sometimes it is better to fly ti ShenZhen and cross over the board into HongKong by train. Flying to ShenZhen is generally cheaper than HonhgKong. You can also save money on hotels, there is a hotel across the street from the train station and the rates are much better than what it is in HongKong. You could fly in, stay one night there and then across the board first thing in the morning.
Look up A-briggs on the internet for visa help! All the visas are pretty much the same. They will get you a 1 year multiple entry visa without any problems. After the first time I came to china the first agency I went to was also like the one you had to go through but that agency was not any good.
So just go to A-briggs and they tell you the procedure on his website. You will save around 600 dollars.
Xpat.John:
A 1 year, multiple entry visa runs around 1000RMB. If you need to go someplace to save US$600, you are getting completely ripped off.
mattaya:
That savings price was directed towards Frida333 because she said in her comment agencies wanted 6500. I know your right Xpat_John that's how much I get mine for. Thanks for the help!
DaBen:
Hang on a sec there mattaya ol' buddy.... you knew the visa was only 1000 rmb so you directed your 600 dollar savings to the 6500 rmb price..... so now the US dollar is getting an 9.17 exchange rate?
You have to leave. But, you can just go to HK and literally step across the line and back over.
Before 60 days is up you have to stamp out of mainland china then stamp back in and the 2nd 60 days will start when you stamp back in. Any remaining days from the first entry will be lost. I would try to get a 1 year multiple entry next time but be sure you don't stay longer than allowed for each entry. I use www.expressvisa2china.com it is a great service I would recommend it to anyone from the USA who needs a visa to china.
