Travel to China on a pre-Covid tourist visa

[abcdefg]

Questions have come up in several threads about visas for China travel now that the ban has officially been lifted. Lots of second-hand information has been circulating, often from bloggers who are quoting other bloggers. Today I found something on the subject from "the horse's mouth." 

 

Notice on the Adjustment of Requirements for Chinese Visa Application(Updated in January , 2023)

 

Quote

 

As of January 8, 2023, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in the US will adopt the following new requirements for Chinese visa application. (Please note: At the current stage, multi-year multiple-entry visas issued before March 26, 2020 are still suspended of use. If such visa holders need to go to China at this stage, they can apply for a new visa according to the requirements of this notice. Visa applications for tourism and medical treatment in China are temporarily not accepted.)

 

 

[Moshen]

Wow, that's the first I've heard that multi-year visas are not being honored (yet).

 

And no tourist visas yet, either.

[abcdefg]

@Moshen -- I don't know about other countries. This announcement is just from the US China Embassy.  

[grawrt]

abcdefg, China is not completely open yet. Still not open to tourists. Im guessing it will open in the summer though. Last summer they finally opened borders for students. Some came but not many, its still quite expensive to fly to China. 

[abcdefg]

Thanks, @grawrt 

[vellocet]

I can't imagine they're going to re-open that can of worms that was the 10 year visa.  It got abused to hell and back by people working illegally.  Well, they're in for a big surprise if they somehow manage to worm their way back in again: all the English training schools are gone.  Moreover inspection is way up.  The cops check foreigners all the time now.  

 

[Moshen]

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I can't imagine they're going to re-open that can of worms that was the 10 year visa. 

 

Really?  We have 10-year family visit visas and I was hoping to use them in the fall.  It seems unfair if they now invalidate them.

[vellocet]

Family reunion is a residence permit, not a visa.  Typically 1 or 2 year.

 

I doubt they'll eliminate the tourist visa, just make everyone re-apply so they can distinguish bona fide tourists from people abusing the system.  Other countries require things like itineraries, hotel reservations, and most importantly a return ticket in hand before issuing the tourist visa.  

[Moshen]

Quote

Family reunion is a residence permit, not a visa.  Typically 1 or 2 year.

 

I am sorry, but you are wrong.  We have Q2 visas valid for 10 years.

 

Direct from the Chinese Embassy:

 

Quote

Q2. Issued to those who intend to visit their relatives who are Chinese citizens residing in China or...

 

[Jan Finster]

You guys are so spoilt by your 10-year visas. ?  Other countries could only dream of that...

[Takeshi]

Allowed from tomorrow.

 

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/uOMlNtl4U9V5oQmFS9okOA

[Flickserve]

That’s good news for everybody.

[abcdefg]

Bravo! Great news! Thanks for posting, @Takeshi. That looks like Canada. I'll check the US in a little while. I would assume they have similar policies.