Editing China (section)

==Getting To==

===Visas and Permits===
<b>Note that as of April 2012, it was announced that authorities would be focussing on fining and deporting foreigners in the country without the proper credentials. This would include people who have overstayed their visa as well as those using incorrect visas, such as teachers using tourist visas, and teaching is one of the areas they are focussing on. There have also been previous announcements that government departments would improve collection and storage of data related to visas and enhance the tracking of arrivals to and departures from the country by foreigners and Chinese citizens. See post [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=111&post=11904635 here].</b>

On June 30, 2012 China enacted a new Exit-Entry Administration Law which comes into effect officially on July 1, 2013. It applies in particular to those who will be working in China. Click [http://lawandborder.com/?p=1381 here] for highlights of the law. Please note that these are preliminary highlights of the law only and that you must do your own further research and due diligence.

====Applying For a Visa in Your Home Country====

It is strongly advisable that you obtain your Chinese visa in your home country. It is impossible or near impossible to get a visa in some countries: at this time many of the eastern countries of the old USSR are reported to be a problem, as is South Korea.  In all case you can usually only get a single entry visa for 30 days outside the country of your passport.

The Chinese Government has a uniform policy on visa application fees, meaning no matter which Chinese embassy consulate or visa issuing office you are applying to for your Chinese visa (be it your home country, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand or Vietnam), you will pay the same application fee - ie. the only difference is that you are paying a different currency.  However, China has established offshoot visa processing services in some countries, which you must use, and you will find that these charge an additional processing fee.


Differences between different types of visa: [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=111&post=9158118 Discussion]

====Applying For a Visa in Hong Kong/Macau====
[http://couchwiki.org/en/Hong_Kong#Visa_for_mainland_China_.28ex_HK.2FMacau.2FTaiwan.29 Hong Kong CS Wiki]

===Applying For a Visa in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia===
The visa section of the Chinese consulate in Ulaanbatar is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30-12:00. Get there early as people start lining up around 8am, although it's probably not as busy outside of high season (summer). The door for visa services is on the west side of the embassy, not the front (south). There will probably be two lines at the door: One line for people submitting applications and one for those picking up their passport. For applying, most nationalities will need:
*Passport with one blank page.
*Copy of passport.
*One recent photo on a plain, light background.
*Ticket (train or flight) out of Mongolia into China as well as ticket out of China. (Tickets in and out of China are required for each entry you request).
*Accommodation booking for at least the first few nights in China.
*Filled out application which can be done at the embassy or in advance by filling out these forms [http://mn.china-embassy.org/eng/lsfw/t782024.htm here] .
*Price varies by nationality and express services exist for an extra charge (same day, pay extra $30; 2nd day, pay extra $20). Pay on pick-up in new (post 1996) US dollars that are clean and crisp.

Note: Number of entries and length of stay will depend on nationality, previous trips to China, and flight/train tickets provided. Please check the Chinese embassy in Ulaanbaatar's [http://mn.china-embassy.org/eng/lsfw/ website] for further information. 

====Visa Renewal Within China====
[http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=111&post=5880181 Discussion]

There is actually no such thing as a 'renewal' or 'extension' - HOWEVER new visass can be obtained on the mainland. They are not renewals or extensions as the new visa can be a different class or have different conditions and if you apply beefore the old one expires you will lose some days.  You can get only two such visas, and if yoiu have beeen on a temporary residence permit, that counted as one visa.  For tourist visas, the normal duration is 30 days only and it does not permit re-entry should you leave the mainland, another country, HK or Macau.  But if you get another visa in one of those you can get two more visas on the mainland.

To get a visa on the mainland visit a PSB Exit and Entry Administration office.  Most cities have one.  Applying for a visa is much the same as outside the coountry BUT there can be variations.  You can be asked to write a letter in Chinese explaining why you want to stay on (!) and in some cases eg Guangzhou, you MUSt obtain your photo from the officialphotographer inside the PSB E&E office - it is bar coded.  In all cases you must supply an official residency form for the night of the day of the application, not the night that has just passed.  If you are staying at a hotel approved for foreigners, they can give you this.  If you are in aa private home, you will need to register with the local police, but you are supposed to do that anyway, and get the form from them on the day you are applying.

There are many visa agencies in the large cities especially near HK and Macau and where there are significant numbers of foreigners.  Most appear to be genuine and provide the services they offer but of course they charge fees.  They are worth considering if you have probleems or if you want a visa with duration or re-entries, that you cannot get yourself.  Some nationaliities will find agents specialising in their needs:  Guangzhou has agnts servicing African, Russians...and no doubt many others.  If this might apply to you, try looking for communities of your nationality or search on line.

Remember that new legislation starts on 1st July 2013:  it probably wwon't bring many changes, at least not quickly, but always remember that any information in here can becomeout of date.

====Tibet Permits====
Have a look at [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=111&post=7241651 this] discussion thread.

===Overland Trips===
Ferry from Shanghai to Japan - [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=111&post=5311603 Discussion]

Overland Trip to Vietnam - [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=111&post=5049226 Discussion 1], [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=111&post=9222879 Discussion 2]

Ferry to Korea from 6 cities in China - [http://www.itisnet.com/english/asia/e-korea/boat-to-china.html Link] [http://visitkorea.or.kr/ena/GK/GK_EN_2_3_2.jsp#Ferry Route Link 2] [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=111&post=10260018 Discussion 1]

Train to Mongolia/ Russia - [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Mongolian_Railway Link]

Bus to Kazakhstan - [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=111&post=4921395 Link]

Overland to Myanmar - [https://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=111&post=13995581 Link]