China Visa Cost Rises / Limits on 5 Day Shenzhen visas.

In today%26#39;s SCMP (localHK newspaper) there is a report that visa costs are increasing - HK$850 / HK$1050 for a British passport (single entry /double entry) and HK$500 / HK$600 for Australians, Canadians and most Europeans.

I%26#39;m not sure where the newspaper gets their figures, but a poster on LP thorntree confirms that a single entry for a British passport holder is now HK$780.

Also for the 5 day %26#39;Shenzhen visa%26#39;:

There are notices at the China Ferry Terminal in Kowloon, Hong Kong stating that the 5 day visas at Shenzhen Fu Yong, Shekou, Zhongshan and Zhuhai ports have been suspended until further notice (after Olympics).

The same LP thorntree poster got a 5 day visa at the Lo Wu border crossing (HK$450) a couple of days ago - so the new rules appear only to affect entry by sea.

China Visa Cost Rises / Limits on 5 Day Shenzhen visas.

Also, for most nationalities, visa issuing offices appear to be limiting new visas to single (or possibly double) entry of 30 day duration maximum. It may be difficult to extend visas after July 1 2008 within China.

China Visa Cost Rises / Limits on 5 Day Shenzhen visas.

New Cost for Canadians from Forever Bright Agency in Hong Kong:

';from now to oct/2008, you can get the single or double china visa, every time only stay 30days; the single is $480hkd,the double is $550hkd.';

Direct from visa office would be a little cheaper.

Costs for Americans at Wanchai Visa Office (Hong Kong):

Single Entry 30 days: About HK$1000 (3 day service, put it in Monday, get it Thursday)

Add HK$150 more for 2 day service (get it Wednesday) and another HK$100 for 1 day service (get it Tuesday).

Reports say only single entry 30 day visas are available for Americans in the Wanchai visa office.

Update from Hung Hom Station:

There are no notices stating that 5 day Lo Wu visas are not available. This is in contrast to the China Hong Kong ferry terminal where it is clearly stated that you cannot get a visa after getting the ferry.

I asked at CTS at Hung Hom station, and they said they were %26#39;unsure%26#39; and that they %26#39;couldn%26#39;t guarantee%26#39; a visa being available at Lo Wu.

I think it is still possible - someone posted that they got one on Saturday 5 April.

CTS also told me that the price for a 30 day single entry visa for a British passport (pick up one day later) is HK$1400. Only single entry is available.

Other agencies say that they can get a double entry visa still, for less money (British - HK$1000).

in mainland-official speak (including CTSese) ';not sure'; / m%26#39;ji / bu jidao mean ';NO';.

Currently held visas are not affected.

You might be right. The person who got the 5 day visa got it a week earlier - on the 29/3, so it%26#39;s quite possible things have changed.

Do I understand it correctly that due to the upcoming Olympic, the practice of the Chinese visa issuing authority has changed to only issue single or double entry visa valid for 30 days for most nationalities?

Yes, in practice you are right - only single or double entry, 30 days each.

The reason is not officially given, but I think everyone knows.

Hey what reasons do people cite exactly? Olympics or Tibet unrest or other? These restrictions seem draconian to me...

The OFFICIAL reason given has been ';computer system upgrade';, within mainland I%26#39;ve heard security reasons cited, and of course Deng Xiao Ping%26#39;s dictum that ';to get rich is glorious'; means that getting all the lao wai to pay lots more in order to see the Olympics and the rest of the country is absolutely politically correct ...