Tourist Visa (L) / 3 - 6 months / Apply in KL or HK (JAN 2015)

[AlexForChina]

Hello China experts!

 

I am currently in Kuala Lumpur and would like to travel to Hong Kong and of course China! I find it pretty hard to find reliable and up to date information based on experience. 

 

"just go to Hong Kong and you get a visa easily" is what I often read, but I believe the regulations have changed there as well. I asked my friend from Hong Kong and he called an agent there who said that they usually issue 15 or 30 day visas to tourists. Is that true?

 

I am seeking a tourist visa for 3 - 6 months and I have to decide now, if I try my luck in KL or, like so many say, go to Hong Kong. It is also a question about the costs (flights, hotel bookings). Some people say I only need hotel bookings for the first few days, but others write, that you even need a RECEIPT, which proves that you have already paid for the hotel. Considering a 90 Day visa, I find it impossible to book accommodation for my entire stay in advance.

 

I would like to know if you guys have some experience, advise and knowledge about the visa rules and how they are realistically applied as of Jan 2015 in KL and/or HK: 

 

- Are 3 - 6 month Tourist visas still issued as of Jan/2015?

- Is Hotel booking mandatory for the entire stay, or is it enough to show reservations for the first nights? 

- When do I need an additional invitation letter?

- Any specific information on Visa offices in KL or HK? Is HK still "the place to get a China Visa"?

- Does a bank statement help to avoid hotel bookings?

 

And finally, do you guys have a good strategy to approach that? 

 

I don't want to waste my money on flights and hotels. 

I will share my experience in this topic no matter what the result will be. 

 

I hope someone can help!

Alex

 

[leeovisa]

In HK you can get 3 or 6-month valid L visa, with 30-day duration of each stay. If you are NOT a HK ID holder, you can get at most double-entry visa, I think.

 

If you are a Malaysian, you can try to apply for a longer duration of each stay visa in Kuala Lumpur. 

[AlexForChina]

Thank you for your reply. So it is true that it is not possible to get a longer tourist visa in HK? The way I understand you I can "only" get a 30 Day visa in China. I should mention that I am a German citizen.

 

It is worth mentioning, that my friend from Switzerland got a 6 month double or multiple entry tourist visa for china in Kuala Lumpur in 2011 or 2012 (not sure). That is why I even started having the idea to apply here in Kuala Lumpur. However, I think she had a friend who had chinese family in china and they got invitation letter I think.

[catherineak]

For German Citizens，in china through visa company can get the one year business visa with multi entries every 90 days,or can go to hk to apply for short time such as 1 or 2 months china visa .

[AlexForChina]

Thanks to everybody! I will go to Hong Kong - not because of China Visa. I will visit friends and then I will try to get a short term China Visa. 1 or 2 months would be perfect for me now. Is it allowed to recommend agencies on this forum? if yes, I would ask for some agencies that have experience and good service to help me with a tourist visa for china, while I am in Hong Kong.

 

Thanks!

[AlexForChina]

For anybody reading this thread with interest in a visa for china:

 

I can hereby confirm that it is indeed still very easy to get a L tourist visa for china in HK (for non HK ID holders). I am not sure what the possible maximum is.

 

My case: Today (25/03/2015) I got a double entry visa for china. That means I can visit China for 30 days each time. Makes a total of 60 days. After the first 30 days I need to leave China and re-entry for the second 30 days. It is not the most convenient, but I am more than happy with the solution. costs: approx. 600 HK Dollar. (approx. 450 for single entry). Takes 4 business days.

 

The good part: application took me 5 minutes only. I did not need any hotel bookings or flight details.

[roddy]

Thanks for the follow up, and enjoy China!