Explaining overstayed visa in new application - helphelp

[金妙漪]

Hi friends,

 

A few years ago when I was studying abroad I overstayed my original L visa by 15 days because I was stupid and alone and didn't understand how visas worked. After figuring out I had overstayed, I worked everything out with my new university and was issued a lovely, new visa by the Bureau and somehow got my fee waived in the process.

 

I just got hired in Shanghai and I'm struggling with what to put for Item 3.6: WHY I overstayed my previous visa. Does anyone have any experience with this? If they want I can tell them the whole stressful story but I feel like maybe that is overkill and the consular officials don't really care about all my teenage emotions.

 

Thoughts?

[Basil]

Write:

 

Regrettable youthful folly resulting in ignorance of correct visa process and related bureaucratic procedures resulting in a period of stress and disharmony in the soul of an otherwise moral and ethical sinophile. Check dusty and craven apology letter in records, if applicable.

 

 

unless someone else has better suggestion?

[Basil]

As nobody else has replied and I'm sure you're pretty anxious...

 

Go with the essence of what I wrote but not the words. They basically want reassurance you will keep your promise next time.

 

Speak to your new employer and ask them to help you through the process. 

 

Unless you are unlucky you should be fine.

 

If that were not the case the form or regulations would state that nobody who has ever overstayed their visa can visit again. I know of at least one person who was imprisoned from a visa overstay and was subsequently allowed back into the country.

[Shelley]

I must start this post with the caveat that I have never filled in a visa application but general form filling rules i follow are that the less said the less to misunderstand.

 

Why not just something simple like "miscalculated the dates"

 

As I said I have had no experience doing visas so be careful when you decide, maybe someone where you work could help you?

[roddy]

Make sure it's clear that it's your responsibility - it sounds like this is the case, but anything like 'My university didn't....' or 'the rules weren't clear...' won't go down well. If possible mention that you were active in dealing with it. "As soon as I realised I went to the PSB..." or whatever...

[金妙漪]

Laughed a bit at that first one, Basil, aha.

 

Okay, thank you everyone for your advice! I'm going to take the "I was an ignoramus but I have changed" route. Cheers!

[Shelley]

Let us know how it goes and best wishes.

[Basil]

Ditto.

[金妙漪]

Will do!

[金妙漪]

Went off without a hitch! I was in and out of the embassy in 20 minutes, most of which was spent putting my bag through the X-ray machine. The woman who processed my application didn't say anything about my overstaying, just told me it would be ready the next day.

Thanks for the help, guys!

[Shelley]

Goodo, glad it went well.