Updated Visa Info-updated 19.4.2008

Does anyone know if the visa could be applied for in another country like Thailand for example?

It is certainly inconvenient to fly back to the U.S., France, or wherever a person hails from just to get a six month visa.

How rigid is this rule about applying in your actual home country?

Can anyone tell me when all these laws are going go away and things are going to go back to normal.

New curbs on travel to the mainland
Travel agents report fresh China visa hurdles; businesses worried
Liz Heron
Apr 18, 2008

New visa restrictions have been imposed without warning on travel to the mainland by the central government - causing fresh consternation among business leaders and travel agents in Hong Kong.

Travel agents say all travellers - including those taking trips to Shenzhen - must show return travel tickets and hotel vouchers to get a visa; that visitors from 33 countries can no longer get visas in Hong Kong but must apply in their home countries; and that a new visa has replaced the short-stop visa for Shenzhen.

At least one business traveller has been stranded in Hong Kong by the restrictions, which were disclosed on Monday to travel agency couriers and came into effect on Tuesday.

The rules have been issued by the Commissioner's Office of the Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong.

Among the 33 countries whose nationals, travel agents say, can no longer get visas in Hong Kong are Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Nigeria and Turkey. The ban does not apply to people from these countries living in Hong Kong.

The changes come days after travel agents said they had been told on March 27 that no new multiple-entry visas would be issued until October. In addition, immigration offices at the border stopped issuing short-stay visas to Shenzhen on April 1, when the commissioner's office took over the issuing of all visas.

The office said yesterday multiple-entry visas could still be issued.

The moves have provoked acute concern from chambers of commerce, who fear the interests of Hong Kong companies will be damaged.

Daryl Bending, senior travel consultant with Concorde Travel, said: "We were told late on Monday with pretty much immediate effect that anyone wishing to travel to any mainland destination was required to have a copy of the airline ticket and the hotel voucher before they apply for a visa.

"We were also told about a new visa for entering Shenzhen, which will effectively replace the on-the-spot Shenzhen visa that used to be issued at the border.

"Previously, if you went up to the border you could get a visa there, which was for approximately five days. We were told on Tuesday that the hotel voucher and proof-of-travel requirement would also apply to Shenzhen whether the passenger goes by boat, train or car."

Mr Bending said: "I think the restrictions will deter some foreign tourists from travelling to China at all and ... put an end to much of the casual traffic from Hong Kong to Shenzhen for shopping and recreation."

The Commissioner's Office yesterday released a statement confirming that a return ticket and a hotel voucher was required for a tourist visa and an additional "visa notification form" for a business visa. It said the measure was "to spare applicants unnecessary trouble".

It did not respond to queries about a new Shenzhen visa or new requirements for 33 nationalities.

A Hong Kong government spokesman said: "The government has reflected the views and concerns of the Hong Kong business community to the mainland authorities."

Rob Schlipper, of Outpac Designs, which makes travel security products with a Shenzhen firm, said the changes were "a devastating blow".

Malaysian consul general Cheong Loon Lai said the consulate had received a request for help from a Malaysian businessman who made a day trip to Hong Kong during a business trip to the mainland and was not allowed back over the border.
[Community Manager: SZParty.com]
scott@shenzhenparty.com

As a South African citizen trying to make a life for themselves these laws are discrimitave and unneccessary.
We are already paying up to 14 000 a year what more must we do, are these laws permanant for the 33 nations and if not when they all end.

Just saw this post after I posted a new one on the same subject. So I need a new tourist visa so that the shenzhen police can process my visa and give me a multi entry visa..it's all approved, i just need to renew my visa in Hong Kong first...I don't know why but anyway, am I screwed? Can I get a visa in Macao?


Add SZweekendBasketball at live dot com to your MSN to be notified where I and others will be playing basketball in Shenzhen.

Hi,
I am from Canada and do stay in Fenggang...
My visa is expired. I am able to go Dongguan and there is a special Police where they can renew it.
You are in Shenzhen, so I am not sure if you can do it in Dongguan. Why because Fenggang, Dongguan is belongs to Guangzhou.. I got it down there twice already.
See what you can do...