Visa at Shenzhen border for Aussies can u still get? Cost???

Just been reading some posts regarding NOT being able to get visa%26#39;s at border.... From what date will they not be available???? We are going to Shenzen on Monday 14th April.... any advise appreciated

daiisy

Visa at Shenzhen border for Aussies can u still get? Cost???

They haven%26#39;t been available to anyone since about 3rd April. The visa restrictions which came into force over the last few days are believed to be temporary restrictions until after the Olympics and it appears that if the visa on arrival becomes available again it won%26#39;t be until October. Personally can%26#39;t see the purpose of withdrawing these visas on arrival at Lo Wu which were in any case restricted to Shenzhen. Seems to me the only consequence will be that businesses in Shenzhen may suffer as a result.

Visa at Shenzhen border for Aussies can u still get? Cost???

Word is out that the price has gone up. I too asked a similar question. But I have checked the website for the Wanchai office and the price has not changed fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/blsjfy/t279937.htm The website may not be up to date. Given such late notice ( we leave on Monday) and the price increase, our plans may have to be shelved as we are a family of four and it makes it an expensive day out. We also had planned to go on a weekday and if we have to get the visa in HK and go on a weekend as it seems to be the only time we will be able to fit it in. I am also wondering

1. You surrender your passport to get the visa. This may mean we cannot go to Macau when we had planned as the passport will be at the visa office.

2. Do all applicants have to be at the visa office to apply? I dread a long wait with children.

Yes, you do have to surrender your passport while the visa is processed, so it would put the kybosh on going to Macau during that time.

On visa forms there is a section for a ';representative'; to sign so you can just have one person hanging around the visa office for the morning. I don%26#39;t know if anyone has info on how long you are likely to have to wait in the Hong Kong MFA, but in Macau 2 hours would be normal - whether you arrive at 7am so you can be first in the gate at 9, or at 9 and hope someone sees you before lunchtime.

I usually get this page from the FMO %26#39;for processing time and visa fees%26#39;:

fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/blsjfy/default.htm

This only shows the increase in fees for US passports.

I%26#39;m pretty sure fees have increased since the page you link to was published. You could use an agent instead of going yourself, but you will end up paying more.

wait time at Chinese visa office in HK is about 1 hr total. If you go there at opening time (morning or afternoon), the line-up for the metal detector downstairs is pretty long. but 30 minutes later that line is gone. If you use an agency, there is obviously not much wait time but you pay for the service.

According to SCMP Australians, Canadians and most Europeans can now typically expect to pay HK$500 for a single-entry visa or HK$600 for a double-entry visa and UK passport holders HK$850 single-entry, HK$1080 double-entry if obtained through an agent. It will presumably be a little less if applying direct to the FMO visa office in Wan Chai but the table of fees in the FMO website is out of date.

Well, that change means I wont be going to Shenzhen this trip as I do not have time to get the visa in Hong Kong, and dont live in the same state as the Chinese Embassy in Australia and would have to courier my passport to get it there safely.