Comments on: China Visa: The Comprehensive Guide for 2025

By: Josh Summers

Josh Summers — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 05:06:07 +0000

In reply to enrico millo. Hi Enrico, you're facing the same problem that many of us expats are facing...and there's no clear answer. Each government is handling it differently and these policies seem to be changing every month (especially as new Covid outbreaks are happening in Beijing).

By: enrico millo

enrico millo — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 03:54:37 +0000

Dear Josh, my family and I are living currently in Shanghai. My wife has a double passport (ITA+ARG) is on a dependent visa (on the ITA passport) but has been offered a job for the next academic year. She already had obtained the working permit but had to use the arg passport to prove her mother language is spanish. Normally she would have to go to Hong Kong (where we have right of abode) within 3 months and obtain a Z visa to come back to Shanghai, but nowadays because of covid that is not feasible. Is there any way she can change her visa while staying in shanghai?

By: Nwawulu Goodness Ebuka

Nwawulu Goodness Ebuka — Sun, 02 Feb 2020 21:05:16 +0000

i applied for chinese visa and denied because i’m african, Nigerian to be specific…. what do i do now?

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 04:29:57 +0000

RE: visa’s.. A few things worth noting.. For US citizens married to Chinese citizens (or considering it), regardless of how long you’ve been married or present in China, the best you’ll be able to get is a Q tourist visa for 10 years.. and you’ll still need to leave China every 120 days (max) as well as report to the local authorities with your current address etc. You could be married and living in China for decades and this is the best you will get. With this visa you cannot move about freely or work, period. you’re a tourist, exactly the same status as someone entering China for the very first time. Absolutely ridiculous.

Whats worse, If you’re thinking about moving back to the states with your spouse, its even more difficult. You wont be issued a tourist visa, because you’re married and they automatically assume your spouse will be immigrating. You’ll need to verify substantial reasons on why your spouse will be returning to China (money, property, employment being just a few). Getting an immigrant visa is the epitome of “hoop jumping”.. it will cost you a hefty sum, in both money and time (if at all possible!). If you’ve been living in China for several years, good luck with that! You’ll need to sponsor/prove financial income and stability ($25k+/yr) and have an established residence in the USA for your spouse. Basically, unless you have a sizeable US bank account and own property in the states, you’ll first need to move back to the states, work for at least a year, establish residency and await the visa approval while your spouse is alone in China. If youre a retiree on a fixed income, might as well fuhgeddaboudit. Prepare yourselves for the absurdity that is the US embassy interview process…

By: Josh Summers

Josh Summers — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 01:52:29 +0000

In reply to Tiffany. The best visa in your situation is a tourist visa.

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 23:10:14 +0000

Hello – we plan to visit our son that is studying abroad in Shanghai. We are all US citizens. Is a s2 the best visa to get? or do we apply for the l visa? If we are required to have the s2, then will a photo of our son’s visa application and passport suffice? Thank you

By: Josh Summers

Josh Summers — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 01:24:00 +0000

In reply to Rory Armstrong. Hi Rory, I'm glad you were able to get the visa! In my experience, your line will go much faster (even though it will look longer to start with). You will go through the regular customs line for foreign passport holders. You will have your passport as well as the arrival/departure card given to you by the airline before you landed.

By: Rory Armstrong

Rory Armstrong — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 18:25:30 +0000

Hi…even though we are canadian hoping you can answer thiS. We have obtaIned our “l” visas for our upcoming cruise stop in shanghai. We wanted to woory free anout the visa waiver thus obtained the “L”.

Question 1. What will we do whrn arriving at the cruise port in shanghaI?….just shoe our visa/passport or wIll there be additional paperwOrk.

Question 2. Is there / will there be a SEPARATE (faster) line for thOse already holding a visa vs thOse having to go through the whole visa waiver/ fingerprint line?

Thanks FOR YOUR time With this

Rory

By: Josh Summers

Josh Summers — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 07:18:11 +0000

In reply to Jane. As long as you can provide proof of travel and accommodation, I believe it's still possible.

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 06:26:16 +0000

Hi Josh,

i am applying for a visa for china but do not have actual departure and arrival dates as yes, meetings still being finalised. Can i apply with proposed dates and then travel on slightly different dates? it will only be a difference of a matter of days either side. Would there be any issue with that?

Thanks