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Q: Taking the train with a passport copy and 回执单?
Doing my visa so I don't have my passport available. The visa agency provided me with a 回执单, a receipt that my passport is currently under visa processing. I'm wondering if this together with a copy of my passport is enough to travel by train and check in at hotels in china etc. Thanks!
9 years 8 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
If your receipt is issued by PSB (actually this is a usual case - also includes your photo and bears PSB stamp) so you can use this document when purchasing the tickets (including flying tickets) and booking the hotel.
My job includes frequent traveling and I never faced any problem with showing the temporary document.
However you cannot leave China during the time of your visa renewal - for traveling within China there is no limit.
You must show your ID at purchasing of the train ticket, and counter person will enter and issue ticket with passport ID no. listed on.
Most of the time, they don't know which no. they should enter to the machine, so I usually show them the most convenient no. from my passport, which they're happy to issue ticket with.
OK, you'll see right away at the train ticket counter, if passport copies are OK for the ticket purchase.
Hotels? It doesn't matter what document you hold in China, as 'laowai' you can expect troubles in every hotel.
Chinese hotel must hold 'foreigner booking permit' in order to accept foreigner.
Only 5 or 4 stars hotels in China hold that permit, but price for one night stay is high.
Your best bet is to follow street pushers, and negotiate the price for overnight stay.
Shining_brow:
What's your definition of '"high". I've stayed in Home-inn and Motel 368 for etc for about 150-200RMB (and one skanky hotel in a T4-5 city for 100.. :( )
icnif77:
'700 Rmb' at 9pm close to the West Railway Station in Beijing for overnight stay. Maybe breakfast, too.
'Street pusher' took me to the motel (bed, shower) for 250 or 300 Rbm.
If your receipt is issued by PSB (actually this is a usual case - also includes your photo and bears PSB stamp) so you can use this document when purchasing the tickets (including flying tickets) and booking the hotel.
My job includes frequent traveling and I never faced any problem with showing the temporary document.
However you cannot leave China during the time of your visa renewal - for traveling within China there is no limit.
I've bought train tickets with a passport copy before, but I'm not so sure about hotels.
icnif is right, generally hotels need to be registered to accept foreigners and they need a passport for that, I think with a visa in it so they can input the visa number into the system.
I have been in hotels that weren't 4 or 5 star before though that could process foreigners. I forget the name but I think it something like home inn, or 7 days or something. You often see these chain hotels and various copies of them and I usually stay in them.
Shining_brow:
"How about a 6 star hotel?"
Bwahahahahaa.... good! you'll need your sense of humour while you're here!!
You should always have a copy of your pasport and visa/residence permit. + you'd better take Foreign Expert Certificate with you.
Last week took a train with a paper from visa center ( that they took my passport), there were no any problems.
