mission002 has reported before that visas are not issued to non Korean citizens anymore: http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2008/08/15/Need-Hong-Kong-hoteladvise

You definitely should have called them (or used the search function) before you just hopped on a flight!

Getting a visa on arrival is extremely hard in China. Going to Hong Kong and getting a new visa there is IMO a much wiser choice. However, even there, make sure you call a couple of agencies to make sure it'll work out!

Like it's HIS fault??? If so many previous numbnuts didn't overstay their visa and melt into the woodwork it wouldn't be that hard.

For someone that seems to be able to fly around on a whim for 30 day visas, why not just fly to America and get it there? It's not like you're going to save a huge amount of coin by flying to HK instead of LAX/JFK/etc...

What on EARTH could be so interesting to have to jump through all these hoops to hang out in China for 30 day stints? Either get a proper visa or wait until things go back to the old corrupt ways where you could just use an agency to bribe your way in.

Cheers,

Oh how I miss Dr. Pepper. Could I have one of them?

Not upset about swimming Phelps is a champ, just find it ironic to hear an American complaining about a visa problem considering I have to be finger printed like a criminal just to enter your country.

I just got back from Korea to take care of my visa situation. I recommend using a travel agency to sort things out for you, never go to the Chinese embassy in Korea. I paid 140,000 won or $140 for a 1 month L visa, i'm also an American.

Check out visa/travel agencies near 'Gwang Hwa mun' (광화문) they seem to get your visa issue solved quicker, more efficient, but obviously at a heftier price compared to any other in Seoul..makes me wonder how they can do this. Anyway, can't seem to find the business card where I got my visa done but theres many in the area with 'VISA' written on their office windows, can't miss it.

G'luck, peace.

Aragorn, don't know what happened but I just typed a lengthy response on here and for some reason it didn't show up but here it goes again...

I'm almost in the same boat as you. I am currently working in Korea under a C-4 temporary work visa. I have been planning on going to China since before I came back to work in Korea in June. I knew about the visa requirements for a tourist visa to China and that you have to go through a travel agency for a maximum fee of 20,000 won. HOWEVER, when I started calling around to travel agencies last week, they informed me that just last Monday, August 18, the Chinese embassy in Seoul started enforcing the new regulation that you have to have an alien registration card (ARC). This, however, is impossible to get for people on short term or tourist visas in Korea (as I'm sure you're already aware).

I called the embassy to confirm that this was the new regulation. The told me that it was and that I would have to go back to the US to get my tourist visa to China. Because I don't want to have to pay for a flight all the way back to the US I started researching other options. This is what I have found so far.

You can get it done in Japan. I spoke to the Chinese embassy in Tokyo as well as the consulate in Osaka. It costs 150,000 yen for Americans and can be done in one day for an extra 30,000 yen. The things you need are:

-one passport sized photo
-complete application (available online)
-hotel reservations in China
-ingoing and outgoing travel reservations
-one copy of your passport

This website was useful for the visa stuff in Japan:

http://www.china-embassy.or.jp/jpn/lsyw/qzyw/t331450.htm

For the Osaka consulate, the guy who did this website has some good info about how to get there:

http://perrin3.com/japan/china-consulate-osaka/

Chinese consulate Osaka:(81) 6644-59483/2

I also checked in to going to Hong Kong. I was never able to get in touch with the Chinese embassy there. They are only open for one hour in the morning (10-11am) and one hour in the afternoon (3-4pm) but even when you call then, you only go through a machine with constant voice props and can never get through to speak to someone.

I got in touch with the China Travel Service there that can process visas for people through the embassy. They say that Americans can still get it done there without having to be a Hong Kong resident.

I am going to China on a tourist visa but then changing it to a student visa once I arrive. I will be studying in Beijing but don't have enough time to process the student visa before classes start on Monday, September 1. Regardless, because of this situation I'm still going to be late for classes by about a week and out atleast an extra 700 dollars.

I've been to Japan before but never to Hong Kong. I am trying to decide now which way will be faster and cheaper for me. If you know of any cheap way to do it let me know. I'll have to go from Seoul-Osaka/Tokyo-Beijing China or I go Seoul-HK-Beijing. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

I hope this info was useful.

Thunder54, how many people do you think apply for US visas every year?... I'm not exactly sure but if I were a gambling man, which I am, I would be willing to bet that it has one of the highest application rates of any country in the world. Any country that has a high per capita GDP, high standard of living, and low unemployment is bound to attract millions of people from all over the world looking for a better life. With that being said, if the US has stringent visa requirements, I think, for the most part, they are justified. Next time, if you're not going to be of any use to someone's post, don't post any b.s. comments and waste our or your time. Cheers.

Yep the others are correct, HK is the best option. BUT do NOT go to the Embassy there, they can also make you jump thru hoops.
I think it is standard these days everywhere now. As someone said, use a tavel agent, a bt more expensive but sure.
I use Shoe String travel in HK, have done for 8 yers and they fire everytime!
Stay at Garden Hostel in Mirradoor, note NOT new garden hostel!
Avoid the other "Mansion"

Wow, 1life2live, this is a really helpful post to a lot of people out there. Thanks!

Now I wonder how comfort got his visa in Korea - were you there before August 18th?

Hi,

According to Japanese government webiste you need to be a resident or working in Japan to apply:

See: ( Taken straight off their website )

4. In accordance with “the Law of the People's Republic of China on Entry and Exit of Aliens” and other relevant regulations, the aliens who apply for the Chinese visa shall fulfill the following procedures and provide the pertinent documents.(ONLY FOR THE ALIENS HOLDING A JAPANESE LONG-STAY VISA (MORE THAN ONE YEAR))

What is actually says under required documents on the CHINESE EMBASSY website IN Japan is:

"Certificate of alien registration (to the aliens who have the visa with the period of more than half a year in Japan)"

This means, IF you have a visa with a period of more than half a year in Japan, then you need the alien registration card (ARC). I double checked this with the embassy in Tokyo. They informed me that no, you don't need the ARC if you are in Japan on a tourist visa.

I don't think you'll have to provide a direct plane ticket - I mean, nobody can force you to choose a specific route, and as far as I'm aware the only thing which is needed for visa applications is a proof of when exactly you enter (and exit) the country!

There are even some countries which don't have direct flights to China - what would they be supposed to do?

..a friend of mine didnt make it in Japan before olympics. He went back to America. He's in America now. Even one of my friend from Canada tried to do it in Thailand..but unfortunately cant. He's now in Canada.

For people travelling to HK .Fly to Shenzhen and bus over border.This is then an internal flight and very cheap.