And so the confusion continues. Following our business visa report last Saturday, we’ve heard several stories that contradict the advice provided by a lawyer at a British Chamber of Commerce seminar in Shanghai, particularly regarding Z visa applications. So we contacted BritCham for its opinion.

“As reflected in your original report, there was probably some doubt at the time of the presentation as to whether an application for a Z visa could be made in a third country,” Ian Crawford, Executive Director of the British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai, told BizChinaUpdate, after we showed him our first update on Wednesday.

“I think the various Embassies and Consulates around the world are still not completely clear what they are allowed to do. It will take time for instructions to reach them from Beijing,” Crawford adds. “We are getting reports of the regulations being applied in different ways in different places and under varying circumstances.”

This seems to be an accurate summation of the situation. Another source, who works closely with the visa issuing bureau in Shanghai but asked not to be named, added further commentary. “There are no published rules in circulation, outside of the visa issuing authorities themselves, as to what the new visa rules are,” he told BizChinaUpdate. “Absolutely no one knows for sure, and it is a concern that agents may, therefore, be giving false information to potential applicants.”

He also added his understanding of the renewal process within China for expiring tourism visas. “Tourism visas are extended only if you have a work permit application already lodged at the Labour Bureau, or have an emergency reason for extension,” he told BizChinaUpdate. “But we are hearing that extensions given in Shanghai are sometimes for only 10 to 12 days, not a full month.”

His next comment was illuminating: “We estimate that around 70 per cent of foreign applicants at the visa bureau are leaving in an angry mood at the moment.”

It’s proving to be a trying time for everyone involved. Many local service businesses in Shanghai are reporting a downturn in revenues, as many foreign residents with expired visas are leaving and few tourists or business visitors are arriving. As we reported earlier, Beijing saw a “big drop” in tourism arrivals in April, particularly from its three major markets: the United States, Japan and Korea, with visitor numbers down 17.2 per cent, 24.4 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively.

As to what approach China visa applicants should follow, comments are hardly encouraging. “My own view is that people would be unwise to rely on getting any visa outside their country of residence until the situation is clarified,” says Crawford of BritCham – who added that his organisation is “working with the British Embassy to try to obtain clarification on how the rules are being applied.”
 

Last update : Friday, 23 May 2008

Keywords : Visa, Regulation, Policy, Business, Olympics, Immigration

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