Alright bros..RICO here....

I am planning a trip to Shanghai in September but i know i need a visa to get into China....

I am going to rant a bit now....Why the fuck do i need to apply for a visa to get into China.. .I don't see Hong Kong or other countries asking for a visa...I hold an English passport and well think of it this way...I ain't gonna fucking "NOT LEAVE" China now am i...( Thow doh ah..)..
I think China needs to re-evaluate their immigration laws...It's bloody ridiculous..

Rant over....

I have approached a travel agent online from TST..( I think it is priceline..) And have been informed that i need to apply for a visa to enter Shanghai..( No probs..)..They then went on to inform me that they could do the neccessary paperwork for me at an extra cost...

600 Hong Kong dollars and the visa will be ready in four days....

I informed them that i am arriving in Hong Kong on Monday and plan to travel to Shanghai on Thursday...( Which roughly is three days..)

900 Hong Kong dollars and the visa will be ready in two days to be picked up...

Am i getting skanked here bros....

in the western world they are always worried about visitors not leaving after their permitted time of stay ...
its different in asia (except Japan) esp China ... they not worried if you over stay, they are more worried
about the purpose of your visit and if you're going to be a trouble maker !!!

yes the visas do cost that much, esp the fast visa !

so stop ranting ... your fellow brits pay the same !

Paying the premium will save you the hassles of going to the HK branch of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in Wanchai to queue up for the visa application. Plus you have to pay premium to get the visa done within a couple of days. If you want to do it yourself, here's the website for the visa application process - http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/bgfwxx/

Trust me, it will save you a lot of time by paying the premium to get priceline or travel agent to do it for you.

Given you are a tycoon why save the pennies and troubles on the trivial stuff

You think u Brit with your royal crown ass passport gets all the visa waiver to whatever countries u goes?
China and our commies dont give a rat ass of about outsider.

Well, it kinda fair to the chinese. They need a visa to whatever fuck countries they go. So, it is the chinese govt.'s chance to make life difficults for outsider.


Oh btw, dont worry bout it, I also hold a brit passport.

You can do it beforehand in the UK.. The application goes to Edinburgh or London and visa will be granted after three working days.

Edit: theres one in manchester man

http://www.visaforchina.org.uk/v ... le&channelId=13

[ Last edited by  aaa888 at 25-3-2010 02:47 ]

RICO, in the past I sometimes needed to get a same day VISA. Cost me around HKD1300! the prices you mention seem about right for an agent. You should be able to do it in the UK in advance for cheaper though if you have sufficient time up your sleeve.

As for why Uk citizens need a China VISA? Top 3 reasons why RICO needs a VISA...

(3) They like to take up an entire page of your passport just to let you know who's boss.
(2) If you get kidnapped and sold for body parts they know how to find your next of kin.
(1) And the No.1 reason why RICO needs a VISA... they've seen you operate and are afraid you may take 200 cute gals back to the UK with you!

Check your PM for a note.

brits pay more than other nationalities cos the brits charge the chinese tourist alot for visas too! hing hence why brits applying for chinese visas often cost more

Rico, are you in Manchester? I've read so many of your reports but I seem to remember a recent one of a Mnchester girl. If so, there's a place in China town that does it all for you in 24 hours. I've used it quite a few times and it's much easier than the ball ache of going to the Embassy. Let me know if you want me to try and dig out the details of where it is.

It doesn't usually cost that much, but since you're rushing it to 4 days (instead of 6), it will cost you an arm and a leg.  Why don't you try the Chinese consulate near you?

You should ask about it from China Travel for honest prices.

RICO - I'm not 100% certain on this, but my understanding is that you can ONLY apply for a China visa here in Hong Kong if you live or work here in Hong Kong. Otherwise, you need to apply in your home country.

Here is the consulate website that says the same thing http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/bgfwxx/

I don't know if the .gov website is out of date, but they ALWAYS ask me for my HK ID card when I apply for a China visa... Don't take the chance - get your visa in Manchester if you can.

It should be OK, I have arranged lots of VISA's in HK for China. Having said that, they are "famous" for changing the rules at short notice. They really cracked down during the Olympics, maybe the World Expo in Shanghai will have similar?

Interesting. And you don't work here or live here?
Good info to have for when friends come visit and then decide they want to go to China short notice. Thx.

Nope, you are incorrect.  The brits used to pay the most expensive charges.  But for the last several years, it is now USA who pay the most expensive charges with even more restrictions than Brits.  It is tough to be No.1.  (sarcasm)

Also here is a link I found on the web. It is fairly up-to-date.  

http://gohongkong.about.com/od/t ... Ch_visa_updates.htm

It confirms some of the stuff TonyToro wrote plus gives additional info about Shenzhen Visas via another link.

Correct, I don't live in HK however I come to HK around 8 - 10 times a year. I don't need a China VISA myself anymore however I often travel with colleagues who do. Quite easy to get a VISA in HK (usually) however I think maybe cheaper for RICO if he arranges in UK before he leaves.

Before I got my Z visa I used to pop over to HK all the time to get a double entry (no pun intended!) visa

As long as he's willing to get up early, there's actually not that much time wasted in line at the Wanchai office.  But Rico does need to get up, or send his secretary, for that to be true.  There's a luck factor to it too; you never know what day won't be busy.  Definitely never show up after lunch though.  Your chances aren't good then.

Thanks for the advice and PMs bros......

To be honest i can't be arse going out just apply for an visa in Manchester...( Just lazy)..If the agent can do it for me then i reckon i will stick with that option....But some of the bros have stressed to me via PM that i need to apply in my native country....

The travel agents said that they can "ONLY" do the paperwork for an visa to China if i am present in Hong Kong...( Werid..)

Who's needs google when you got bros like RICO..... You guys are full of information...

And i thought you were all sex starved, pussy loving addicts like me...

Cheers bros for the info...

consider yourself lucky you're not a yankee...cuz they pay through the nose.  And CTS does not have the cheapest prices.  

with any luck I soon won't have to get a visa to cross the border....fuck...what's wrong them...i'm chinese man..born on yellow soil.

Well, if you mean HK based agents, they need your passport. China Travel Service is EASY but not necessarily the cheapest option, that would be getting it done in UK. But for easy, just rocking up to CTS office in HK is definately easy. They will even take your pic for you.

Rico, there is an agent in Manchester that will do it all for you. You just fill in the form there, drop your passport and pic's off and they will do all the legwork for you and it will be ready the next day. Just make sure you have at least one clean page in your passport. One time I didn't and then had to go to bloody Liverpool and get a new one and change all my damn flights!