Author Topic: China Visa with Less Than 6 Months on ARC?? (Read 15494 times)

murakano121 · « **Reply #40 on:** April 11, 2011, 02:22:31 PM »

Quote from: jena310 on April 11, 2011, 03:04:18 AM

if nothing else, i'm going to try to get a visa from home in chicago. any advice on this? do i say i'm living in korea on my application- will that matter?

read 3 posts above yours.

lheilbrunn · « **Reply #41 on:** April 11, 2011, 06:14:36 PM »

Has anyone heard anything about not being able to get a visa to china if there is less than 6 months left on your visa? I already bought a ticket unaware that this would happen. Shoot! Anyone who could clear this up for me would be amazing!

ramen209 · « **Reply #42 on:** April 11, 2011, 06:21:57 PM »

My friends had the same experience and were told they'd have to cancel their trip. :(

They heard that there may be a travel agency in Busan that could be helpful from Xanadu in Itaewon, but they'd risk losing 40,000 won to try and get the visa, might be worth a try though.

p.dandgey · « **Reply #43 on:** April 11, 2011, 08:55:41 PM »

this sounds ridiculous..but then again nothing surprises me anymore. i will have a look. i want to go to china towards the end of my time here.

jena310 · « **Reply #44 on:** April 12, 2011, 08:43:00 PM »

I went to immigration yesterday and got the certificate of alien registration. If you do this, don't go to the second floor. Just walk into a little office on the first floor to the left of the information desk. The certificate itself only cost 1,000 won and it was extremely easy to get. (You will, however, need passport sized photos to apply for the visa and there's a booth you can use on the second floor).

Then I went to Kangsang Travel this morning and applied for my visa. They're sending in to Gwangju. The woman working told me that Busan, just like Seoul before it, is not allowing visas for those of us who have less than 6 months validity on our ARCs starting in March. But Gwangju is still giving them if you have less than 6 months (hopefully it won't follow suit like Seoul and Busan, but I'm sure it will eventually). Anyway, you need the certificate as extra verification, I suppose, for the consulate in Gwangju.

I'm American and didn't get my ticket with Kangsan, plus I put a rush on it, so it's costing me a good amount of money. But at least we know we can still get a visa (for now...) She said I should have it by Monday.

tandj · « **Reply #45 on:** April 14, 2011, 03:21:07 PM »

What did you have to take with you to get the certificate?

jena310 · « **Reply #46 on:** April 16, 2011, 01:46:01 PM »

Just your ARC. It only took about 5 minutes, but make sure you go to the right office.

Thomulus · « **Reply #47 on:** April 16, 2011, 07:45:19 PM »

This is good information to know. I just shelled out big bucks for a whole circuit of Asia, starting with China, then of course discovered that the Visa issuance rules changed two weeks ago.

Anyway, has anyone tried this "Certificate of Alien Residence" trick in Seoul? I assume it involves going to the Immigration office over at Omokgyo. Any information or tips would be much appreciated.

nickhughes74 · « **Reply #48 on:** April 16, 2011, 10:49:20 PM »

Anyone who is struggling to get a Chinese visa in Korea should contact visa agents in their home country and ask if they can process a visa for you while you are living abroad. I have acquired two Chinese visas through this method. The person I was traveling with also acquired his visa this way. I am a U.S. citizen and my friend is a UK citizen.

I know that a poster has mentioned that their friend who is a Canadian citizen was unable to get a visa due to the absence of a Korean exit stamp. I can't speak for Canadians, but anyone who is UK or US citizen can certainly get a visa by sending their passport home.

Thomulus · « **Reply #49 on:** April 17, 2011, 11:47:21 AM »

How long does that usually take you for turnaround? Can you get it in a few weeks usually? Also, how did you ship? With FedEx?

thanks!

nickhughes74 · « **Reply #50 on:** April 17, 2011, 12:23:11 PM »

It took around three weeks, but you could get it done slighty faster.

I shipped it to my brother via Fedex International Priority (3 days), he then sent it to the nearest Chinese embassy in my home state (2 days). It then took around 6 days until it was returned to my U.S. home address with the visa. My brother then shipped it back to Korea via Fedex 3 days later and it was in my possession 4 days after that.

Total = 18 days

I would recommend to give yourself at least three weeks in case there is a problem. My friend completed his application form incorrectly and that added an extra week to his turnaround time.

If you are a U.S citizen look at http://mychinavisa.com/ My father has used this company many times for acquiring Chinese visas for business trips while he has been abroad.

They are the go to visa agency for people acquiring visas from their home country while they are living abroad.

The only downside to this method of acquiring a Chinese visa is the cost (http://mychinavisa.com/rates.php).

The good thing about their service is that you can ship directly to them and they will ship you passport back to you via Fedex International Priority ($65).

(Total Cost = Consular fees + Service fees + FedEx return shipping fees)

US passport holders     $140 per visa
Standard Service (4-6 day processing)   $43 per visa
FedEx International Priority     $65 per order

You are looking at a minimum of $248 (non-expediated visa processing) + the cost of shipping your passport back home from Korea. I think if you were to use mychinavisa and there were no unforseen delays you could have you passport back within two weeks.

Hope this helps.

bretzlz86 · « **Reply #51 on:** April 20, 2011, 04:54:44 PM »

One of my friends had this problem before he went to China, he just asked the Hagwon he worked for, for an extension on his Visa. They school did if for him, and then I think he got his Chinese visa through a travel agency. Not sure about your school and how willing they would be to do that for you, but it may be an option so you know you're in the clear.

beach_bum · « **Reply #52 on:** April 21, 2011, 11:49:17 AM »

Hi,

Really hoping someone can help me out with this- I seem to be getting different information everywhere I look!

I'm hoping to go to Beijing in September for Chuseok. My Alien Registration Card will be out of date in December, so I will have less than six months left on it when I go to China. I've been told that in order to get a visa for China you must have at least 6months left on your ARC. Can anyone verify whether this is true or not?

I don't want to book flights and then not be able to get a visa!! Any help would be great! Oh, I should probably mention I'm Irish and will be going to Beijing for 4nights.
Thanks!! :D

ame · « **Reply #53 on:** April 21, 2011, 11:58:20 AM »

Yes, this has been beaten to death elsewhere. The key point is that you have to have 6 months' validity on your ARC *when you apply for the visa*. When you actually go to China (with the visa) the date on your ARC doesn't matter.

Shauno · « **Reply #54 on:** April 21, 2011, 12:02:17 PM »

Im going to China for the Childrens day/ Buddhas birthday long weekend in 2 weeks time. I've spoken to an agent and yes you are required to have 6 months or more remaining on your ARC.

beach_bum · « **Reply #55 on:** April 21, 2011, 01:43:40 PM »

So how far in advance can you get a tourist visa for China? Are you positive that its from the date you apply Ame?
Last thing I want is to be turned away when I land in Beijing!!
Is there anyway around this?! Applying through the Chinese embassy at home? I did read somewhere on here about applying through Kangsan travel in Busan but that didn't work out!
Also, how do you get a certificate of Alien Registration?!
Thanks again!

Idunno · « **Reply #56 on:** April 22, 2011, 03:31:13 PM »

Can a friend hand in your visa application for you and pick it up for you?

pez · « **Reply #57 on:** April 24, 2011, 02:01:53 AM »

We found this website, but we haven't done it.
Looks cheaper than doing it using family...
http://mychinavisa.com/index.php

ramen209 · « **Reply #58 on:** April 25, 2011, 11:54:10 AM »

my friends had to send their passports to the USA to a company who could arrange chinese visas through an embassy in California. They are getting them sent back to their parents house and then sent back to Korea. That was their only option and it may or may not be successful!

adamwatch · « **Reply #59 on:** April 25, 2011, 11:59:38 AM »

Welcome to the problems people from poor countries have trying to get visas for the West. So much for one planet.

Adam

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Author Topic: China Visa with Less Than 6 Months on ARC?? (Read 15494 times)

nickhughes74

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