flippant Posted October 17, 2011 at 03:31 AM Report Share Posted October 17, 2011 at 03:31 AM Hi everyone, I am currently travelling around China, with no intention to take any sort of job while I'm here. My time frame is two years. However, I am at the tail end of my 90-day L visa issued back home, and need to renew. I tried getting a 30-day extension on my visa, but apparently I need to prove I have enough money to keep travelling around. This requires a deposit of 20,000rmb into a Chinese bank account(?!). I have the money, but I would rather not fiddle around with opening up yet another bank account. Are there any visa agencies in Hong Kong that can help me get a 180-day continuous F visa, or is that completely out of the question for someone in my situation? If I go to HK and get a new L visa, will it only be 30 days? Because that's far too short for my use. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost in Mong Kok Posted October 17, 2011 at 08:28 AM Report Share Posted October 17, 2011 at 08:28 AM To get an F Visa you would require a job opportunity in Mainland China, unless a travel agent was willing to break the law and somehow fake this, which isn't out of the question, but would probably cost a lot. The only multiple entry visa for Mainland China you can get in Hong Kong, for non-Mainland Chinese and non-HK Residents, is with a working permit for Hong Kong and an accompanying HK ID. Failing this you would be looking to get a single or double entry visa. Depending on your country of origin, the time you are permitted to stay in Mainland China may vary. More information here: http://www.fmcoprc.g...ng/zgqz/bgfwxx/ I'd personally just open an account with a big bank like BOC. Be warned though, the Chinese banking system is a nightmare of epic proportions. You can only access your account from the city (I've been told the exact branch by some friends, although I've never had that problem) you opened it in. I've also heard of people being charged for withdrawing money in different provinces to the one in which their account is held. However, this is probably bank dependent, and I bet they just withdrew the money from the ATM of a different bank which incurred charges. Still though, I'd write the F-visa idea off, at least getting it legitimately from Hong Kong anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sigma Posted October 17, 2011 at 08:44 PM Report Share Posted October 17, 2011 at 08:44 PM I've also heard of people being charged for withdrawing money in different provinces to the one in which their account is held Ya, that's true. I opened my bank account in Guangdong province with ICBC and when a was travelling and I withdraw money from ICBC's ATM I paid charges, but actually I don't remember how much (may be 50 Yuan)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matty Posted October 18, 2011 at 12:29 AM Report Share Posted October 18, 2011 at 12:29 AM I can't answer the visa issue, I've never heard of putting 20,000 RMB in a bank account getting you a long term visa, does anyone have details on this? If you have a BJ BoC account and withdraw from a Nanning BoC you pay 1RMB for every 100RMB you withdraw. If you have a "Harbin Bank" bank account, you can withdraw from anywhere in mainland China without fee. And if you get the "Harbin Tourist Card" style card it is quite colourful and shiny. Having a non-native Hong Kong ID will get you a 6 month multi-entry visa with 30 day stays. I've not yet tested this without a Hong Kong working permit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost in Mong Kok Posted October 18, 2011 at 01:29 AM Report Share Posted October 18, 2011 at 01:29 AM The only multiple entry visa for Mainland China you can get in Hong Kong, for non-Mainland Chinese and non-HK Residents, is with a working permit for Hong Kong and an accompanying HK ID. I might have been wrong about this. Some Chinese embassy appear to offer multiple entry visas (not sure how long they are valid for), so maybe the consulate in Hong Kong does as well. I've always been asked to supply my ID card for this, but that might be related to my passport (British). China travel services might be a good point of contact for up to date information specifically for your passport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flippant Posted November 1, 2011 at 05:07 AM Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2011 at 05:07 AM Matty: the 20k RMB was a requirement for me to get a 30-day extension on my tourist visa(!) - I did sort that in the end, but now I'm looking at Hong Kong again. I sent a mail to China Travel Services (ctshk.com) and asked what sort of visa it was feasible for me to get. Met an american in Fujian who had a 1-year multiple-entry visa with 90 days per stay. I would kill for that at this point, to be honest. Thanks, Mong Kok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flippant Posted November 21, 2011 at 11:16 AM Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 at 11:16 AM Update. I'm in Hong Kong. Went to a visa agent today, who said I could get a 6-month F visa. He did not indicate that this would be a problem or that it was shifty in any way. The visa is due back to me on Friday, so I'll hold off on giving any definitive tips until after that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roddy Posted November 21, 2011 at 11:19 AM Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 at 11:19 AM Interesting, keep us informed. May I ask how much it's costing you. As for not being shifty - you're getting a six month visa you're not entitled to. I fear something, somewhere, has to be a little shifty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flippant Posted November 21, 2011 at 12:18 PM Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 at 12:18 PM The price was $1800 (HKD) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flippant Posted December 8, 2011 at 10:33 AM Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2011 at 10:33 AM In the end I got a 6-month F visa, as promised. Apparently they recently changed the style of them to have a fixed beginning and end date. I have unlimited entries and exits. The visa agent told me it could be extended twice (for 30 days each) like other visas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roddy Posted December 8, 2011 at 10:42 AM Report Share Posted December 8, 2011 at 10:42 AM Nice one. Which company was this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flippant Posted February 6, 2012 at 01:50 PM Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2012 at 01:50 PM Sorry for the late reply. The Hong Kong company I used is http://ctshk.com/english/index.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chinadude2006 Posted February 7, 2012 at 08:45 AM Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 at 08:45 AM What documents (if any) did you need? Did you need a invitation letter from a sponsor / company or did they just require your passport and photo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flippant Posted February 7, 2012 at 09:59 AM Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 at 09:59 AM Passport only, as well as minimally filling out the application form. They took the photo there. In and out in 10 minutes; pickup even less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roddy Posted February 7, 2012 at 10:18 AM Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 at 10:18 AM Oh, where was it issued? Should say on the visa somewhere which actual office printed it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flippant Posted February 12, 2012 at 04:26 PM Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 at 04:26 PM Oddly, 深圳罗湖。 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xiaoxiaocao Posted February 13, 2012 at 09:27 AM Report Share Posted February 13, 2012 at 09:27 AM The visa agent told me it could be extended twice (for 30 days each) like other visas. You should try to verify this in advance before trying. We are able to issue the same type of F visa that you have - fixed date, multiple/double entry etc but it can only be extended in the city it was issued ie: 深圳罗湖 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roddy Posted February 13, 2012 at 10:08 AM Report Share Posted February 13, 2012 at 10:08 AM Yeah, I wouldn't rely on being able to do that anywhere in China. Or in 深圳罗湖 either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chinadude2006 Posted February 15, 2012 at 06:44 AM Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 at 06:44 AM Which branch of CTS did you go to? I'm in Hong Kong now and went to two different branches and got two completely different responses. One mentioned they could only get me a one month visa, the other mentioned they could get a 3 month visa with a 30 day stay each time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flippant Posted February 24, 2012 at 10:44 AM Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 at 10:44 AM As far as I can recall, it was this address; apparently there were "fake" versions of the company abounding.: 香港九葩尖沙嘴籀敦道”-"搋臭仕大厦十一樱D室. I was in contact with 胡若明 <wuyeunming@hkcts.com> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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