Will there be any issues in ticking 'yes' for professional organisation on my tourism china visa application? UK

[ftghh67]

I asked a similar question before but this is relating to something else I thought.

 

I'm filling out my tourist visa and I've up to the question:

Have you belonged to, contributed to, or worked for any professional, social or charitable organisations?

 

I am an accountant and because of this I have to be a part of the Institute of accountants which I believe counts as a professional organisation? This is similar to how doctors have to be a part of some sort of registered medical institute and lawyers have to be a part of the bar. Other people online are telling me I shouldn't tick yes to this, I should just say no as they're not really interest in this kind of thing and there will be unnecessary scrutiny on my application. Would it really cause issues if I put this on? What have other people done for this question?

 

Also just to mention, this is a new question that has been added to the UK visa applications, I believe they added some point after Nov 2018 when you had to start giving finger prints aswell. It is not in the V.2013. 

[abcdefg]

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This is similar to how doctors have to be a part of some sort of registered medical institute and lawyers have to be a part of the bar. 

 

I'm a medical doctor and I tick "No" to that "professional organization" question. 

 

 

 

 

 

Why do I do that, since in fact I belong to several medical professional organizations? I do it because I think it's what they want to hear. Why do I think they want to hear that instead of a "Yes?" 

 

The answer is in the context. Take a look at the context of the question. Here's what that section asks, Section 28.  

 

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Section 28

• Have you ever been refused a visa for China or been refused entry into China?
• Has your Chinese visa ever been cancelled?
• Have you ever entered China illegally, overstayed or worked illegally?
• Do you have any serious mental disorder or infectious disease?
• Have you ever visited countries or territories where there is an epidemic in the last 30 days?
• Have you ever been trained or do you have any special skills in the ­field of ­firearms, explosives, nuclear devices, biological or chemical products?
• Have you ever provided service for, participated in, or been a member of a paramilitary organization, vigilante movement, guerrilla band, or an armed rebellion?
• Have you belonged to, contributed to, or worked for any professional, social or charitable organisations?
• Do you have a criminal record?
• Do you have anything else to declare?

 

 

It is the "troublemaker" section of the visa application. It is the place where they try (in an admittedly clumsy and flat-footed manner) to weed out people who will be likely to create problems or cause trouble if allowed into China: Dissidents, Terrorists, and so on. Chinese bureaucracy is highly "risk averse" when it comes to things like this. They tend to strongly err on the side of caution. They are tone deaf when it comes to nuances and shadings of meaning. They are not worried about stepping on your toes or infringing things you perceive as your rights. They don't care if they appear unreasonable to you or me. 

 

 

I did active military duty during wartime many years ago, served in combat, and do, in fact, have "special skills in the field of firearms and explosives." Do you think I tick that box "Yes?" 

 

If in doubt, they will keep you out. It is not a permissive system. They don't care if you don't get your visa. Your tourist dollars don't put a gleam in their eye. Maybe it would be fine for you to tick the "Yes" box. Maybe it wouldn't matter. I agree with you that it should be an innocuous response. They ought not to be disturbed by it once you explain what you mean.

 

My reason for ticking "No" is that, based on my experience with Chinese bureaucracy, I don't believe they are always guided by pure reason. Low level office workers who first review applications such as this, prefer to walk the easy road. They don't like having to think or analyze too much. They don't like having to disturb a supervisor to check whether this or that "irregular" response is actually OK or not. And the supervisor doesn't like having to consider unusual circumstances or scratch his head too much. It's easier to deny an application than to take the slightest risk of letting the wrong person through the system and having him cause trouble after he gets into China. That might cost Mr. Zhang his 20-year promotion. Heck, it might get him fired if some high-profile "Carlos the Jackal" slipped in on his watch. He would also lose his pension. His children would go hungry. (Well, that's an exaggeration, but you get my drift.) 

 

That's my opinion. It is only my opinion; it is not Biblical fact. I could be mistaken. Other equally well-informed people will doubtless disagree. Feel free to do whatever you see fit in this matter. In any case, I hope it works out well for you. 

 

 

[ftghh67]

7 hours ago, abcdefg said:

I'm a medical doctor and I tick "No" to that "professional organization" question.

Hi abcdefg, did you also put on the visa application that you were a medical doctor in the work section? 

 

[abcdefg]

4 hours ago, ftghh67 said:

Hi abcdefg, did you also put on the visa application that you were a medical doctor in the work section? 

 

Yes.

[ftghh67]

30 minutes ago, abcdefg said:

Yes

Okay thank you so much for the detailed response. It makes me feel a lot better knowing the reasoning for not ticking this. I just get very worried about these kind of things! 

[abcdefg]

You're welcome. I understand your concern and respect your desire to be truthful.