Hmmm, at this point, if I read this thread correctly, we do not know whether the problem lies with a) China's evolving visa policies and the vagaries of varying consular interpretations, b) a particular agent, or c) some blend of those two factors, serving up irregularities and confusion.

It would be so helpful if others would weigh in on their very recent experiences. Anyone?

Mme Perdu, just wondering... When you say that you "just" got your visa approved, would you mind indicating when that was? August 1 seems to be a turning point so even recent experience may not be helpful to current applicants.

Bob, for your sanity, I would subscribe to the Oriental List, the list moderated by Peter Neville-Hadley that I mentioned above. It is focused exclusively on China. One of the live topics now, prompted by recent Bangkok Post and LA Times articles, is this very issue that is bedeviling you and likely many others.

Mme Perdu's otherwise helpful post above blurs attributions between the newspaper articles and Peter Neville-Hadley's questions to the list membership. He is asking members to specifically report in on visa procurement difficulties experienced since August 1. He put those questions out 15 hours ago so here's hoping that we can learn from responses that come in in the days ahead.

By the way, I write as someone who got her most recent 1-year multi-entry visa in March 2012 when the hurdles were much, much lower. It was easier to get a Chinese visa last Spring.


http://www.hmssurprise.org/wa.cgi?SU...ental-list&A=1

I really don't understand why they askfor so much Bob , I went last friday in ottawa, canada at the Chinese embassy, brought visa application for single entry, pictures, copy of flights, copy of hotel reservations, waited about one hour and a half and will get my visa tomorrow. The only question I had was the hotel reservation was under husband name, i gave a copy of his flights reservations to prove we were travelling together. I have to say that quite a few people were refused, not having proper documents or not having hotels booked ahead.

Thanks, marya_ -- it would definitely be useful to know if this is a one-off or a general procedural change for the worse.

It certainly is true that the rules for Chinese visas have been known to change frequently (esp. wrt to length of stay and multiple vs single entry).

We are keeping fingers crossed as we sent off paperwork for processing this past week. I'll report back shortly.

we have returned.. when karen went into the tiny office he was dealing with another bostonian with similar problems... he told her we are one of three problems today, and all with the consular division in nyc. they have my stuff and it is them who are asking the questions..

he feels we are all set for now..

seriously this experience might turn me off totally to future china trips..

i will look at the blog

mary---i registered--a total pain, but i can't find his blog about visas.. share my experiences if you wish..

http://www.chinaconsulatesf.org/eng/lszj/zgqz/

This the chinese consulate in San Francisco's website, go to Visa and scroll down.

I don't know if this matter but we got our Chinese visa the last week of July and traveled there on August 1st. The only changes from the previous visa application process was to submit a confirmed hotel booking along with the regular stuff.

I think you just got unlucky somehow Bob and your agent probably screwed something up without telling you.

Just got an email from mychinavisa confirming they had our documents in hand and that they have been sent to the china embassy in Houston. We were told to expect our visas by the 28th.

i have just read a report from china stating that regulations were significantly tightened on aug 1.

Marya, sorry you found my post "blurred". I think it was pretty clear, either quoting the Bangkok Post (in quotation marks) or Peter N-H's "List" when I said so. I didn't post his questions at all. But moving on...

The Oriental List isn't a blog, comes as email, either as they're submitted or as a digest, your choice.

I got my visa last month so if, as has been said, the difficulties began Aug. 1 then I escaped the worst. I still think Travisa is at least partly to blame for rhkkmk's difficulties. We hire agencies to steer us through, it's what they're paid for. As I mentioned above, they once ommitted 1 of 2 visas I hired them to procure for me. Fortunately I had time to send the passport back for the second one.

I'll be watching as I can and hope your difficulty, rhkkmk, is now a thing of the past. I write this from LAX, waiting for my Shanghai flight. All the best!

no msg from them today, SO maybe we are on our way to china..

or your visas are on their way to china without you.....

ok, finally sent ours out via ups today to the agent, too busy to get it done on last monday. they took my money already so i hope it works. will keep all informed

Aloha!

i have written to the embassy about you

did you remember to write the letter all in CAPS? did you send a copy of the itinerary of the person in question? did you dot all the i's and cross all the t's along with sending a money order for $50.00 (hush money).

not too worried then that your letter will get through.....the chinese embassies seem not to trust the people from the northeastern u.s. with a keen disdain for needhamites it seems.....conservative terrorists....

btw.....am I the only one that got your no msg message?

re -1:

No msg was hilarious, but it <i>had</i> to be unintentional.

All caps should have been no problem as long as OP thought it was a Fodor's topic title.

Loved the msg reference - but I am also sure it was unintentional.

Yes, "no msg" was very funny whether inadvertent or not.

Ouch! What a sad tale. I am going to China in a few weeks. I simply handed my passport over to my travel agent....and the VISA arrived yesterday. That's all I had to do!

I am so sorry for your trouble - and it was very nice of you to share so that others will be aware of what might lie in store for them.