Olympic Cities stop issuing business visas to foreigners until mid-September!

Olympic Cities stop issuing business visas to foreigners until mid-September!
Jul 25, 2008 01:30
JIMMYB Points: Join Date: Feb 7, 2007 Status: offline	According to a statement from the webiste of the Shanghai Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Commission, they will suspend issuing invitation letters to the foreigners to secure their business visa application unitl mid-September. Only the work-visa applicants and those really have "emergencies" to deal with are allowed. It is reported that Beijing, Shenyang, Qingdao and Qinghuangdao have also made similar restrictions on business visa application---Application for business visa will be delayed and delt with after Sep. 20. However, authorities in Tian said "there is no such restrictions here". In addition, "In March, Beijing introduced a series of entry restrictions, including the suspension of multiple-entry visas for foreigners, and requiring many to return to their home countries to apply for work visas instead of doing so in Hong Kong. Tourists are required to show advance hotel reservations and return-flight bookings upon submitting visa applications." Source: olympics.scmp.com. By the way, China has suspended a preferential policy that allows the Singaporean can enter China and stay for 15 days just with their passports for sight seeing and business purposes from July 1st. That means the Singaporean should apply their visa first before entering China from July 1st.

Jul 25, 2008 01:30

JIMMYB
Points:
Join Date: Feb 7, 2007
Status: offline

According to a statement from the webiste of the Shanghai Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Commission, they will suspend issuing invitation letters to the foreigners to secure their business visa application unitl mid-September. Only the work-visa applicants and those really have "emergencies" to deal with are allowed.

It is reported that Beijing, Shenyang, Qingdao and Qinghuangdao have also made similar restrictions on business visa application---Application for business visa will be delayed and delt with after Sep. 20. However, authorities in Tian said "there is no such restrictions here".

In addition, "In March, Beijing introduced a series of entry restrictions, including the suspension of multiple-entry visas for foreigners, and requiring many to return to their home countries to apply for work visas instead of doing so in Hong Kong. Tourists are required to show advance hotel reservations and return-flight bookings upon submitting visa applications."

Source: olympics.scmp.com.

By the way, China has suspended a preferential policy that allows the Singaporean can enter China and stay for 15 days just with their passports for sight seeing and business purposes from July 1st. That means the Singaporean should apply their visa first before entering China from July 1st.

Jul 29, 2008 22:01

KATRINA
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Join Date: Nov 29, 2004
Status: Offline

According to Xinhua news, Beijing authority has denied that it will stop issuing official invitation letters for business visas to foreigners.

In order to ensure the security of Beijing Olympic Games, China has made adjustment to its visa policy in April. The new requirements includes "providing invitation letters, certificates of relatives, proof of reserved accommodation and/or round-trip air tickets, based on applicants' differing situations." However, it doesn't mean that multi-entry visas have been suspended.

Jul 30, 2008 20:37	#2
APAULT Points: Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Status: Offline	What a giant 'cock up'! Anyone who is a real terorist would easily circumvent these clumsy and inconsistently applied restrictions!

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