visa question
 

I will be getting a visa in HK for china and I would like to know if I need a a double visa if I leave China (in Beijing) for Thailand and come back through Shenzhen to make a connection to the airport in HK.? within three weeks

I would think that where you get your visa is not relevant. Two entries into China would require a double entry visa.

If you are only making a connection and are "in transit", meaning you're not clearing immigration, then you won't need a double entry visa. If you are planning on entering China before going to HK, then yes you need a double entry visa.

If you have a USA passport then I am pretty sure that you need a visa to transit China. Two years ago I learned that I would need a visa just to make flight connections in Beijing, connecting from USA on United to Thai for Bangkok.

It's difficult to believe, but the text below from china-embassy.org literally says that you must get the visa in your home country.

How to apply
1.You must come to the visa office of the Embassy or Consulate -General in the consular jurisdiction in which you live to submit the application; or

2.If you cannot come personally, you may entrust someone else or a travel/visa agent to come to the visa office of the Embassy or Consulate -General in the consular jurisdiction in which you live for the application process.

Only place where you can get visa-free transit is in Shanghai, if you hold onward tickets within 48(?) hours.

The OP definitely needs a double-entry visa.

There is no air-to-ferry visa-free transit at SZX.

Tonnes of people have gotten China visa in Hong Kong. I've never heard of anybody being turned away because he/she's not applying at his/her own country.

From what I understand, the Chinese Embassies/Consulates in the US do separate the areas each serve. So, if you live in the NE, the Houston Consulate may not give you a visa, and will ask you to go back to Washington or New York to get it. That's probably what that webpage is talking about.

You are entering China TWICE: once you when you fly into Beijing from Hong Kong and then again when you fly into Shenzhen from Thailand. Thus, you will need a double entry visa. You will not be “in transit” because you will leave Shenzhen airport to take the ferry to Hong Kong airport. You will have to go through PRC immigration to leave the airport.

You can get a double-entry visa in Hong Kong for China. The fee is something like HK$220. It takes 3 days, but can be done on a one-day basis for another HK$250. Thousands of US passport holders do it here every year when they are visiting Hong Kong. I have even obtained visas for friends who have mailed me their passports from the US.

Office of the Commissioner of PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong
7/F Lower Block, China Resources Building
26 Harbour Road
Wanchai, Hong Kong

Tel: 852-3413-2300 (24 hour recorded info on making application, press 2 for English)

Operators: 852-3413-2424 (9:00-12:00 am; 2:00-5:00 pm, Monday-Friday)
Email: [email protected]

Thank you all so much ...........I must spend the night in Schenzen if I do it as the flight is late from Bangkok...what is the difference in the cost ?????single vs double?

A double entry visa costs about 50% more than single. I'm not sure about the actual costs when done in Hong Kong for US citizens. [It's a higher rate for US and a short list of countries.] HK$220 seems a little low, but it may be correct.

Ok, that makes sense about the "consular jurisdiction" statement, thanks rkkwan.

It is a higher rate for US citizens, it is reciprocal based on what the US charges to PRC nationals getting US visas. The HK$220 is for a double for non-US and is a guide. If you call they can tell you what it is, or run a web search and it make come up; otherwise just bring cash and expect to pay a bit more. (I have a multple business visa and can't recall what the tourist visa is.)