Saturday, May 31, 2008

Becoming a lawful society + "CHINA DAILY" news

please read following report from FORBES. There is some truth. All you guys "showing the long nose" to all regulations (like tax or correct company registration) in recent years. You simply have to obey the law - also in CHINA. And honestly speaking, compared with many countries in the world (esp Europe) it is quite easy to register and start doing legal business. If you register correct, all the authorities you have to deal with will be rather helpful and trying to do their best to help and assist you.
This is at least my experience with 2 times registering a Rep Office in Shanghai the last 10 years for 2 different companies.It is really not that difficult.
BUT (!): This is for the people who permanently stay in China (or better for the monent lets say have stayed) and need / want to do the business directly there (for whatever reasons). But there is the other fraction of us people who have legally registered HK company and working with China suppliers and simply need to go there. We are suffering most from this "new china visa regulations".
This regulation does not meet our requirements and it definitely is hurting Hong Kong companies + our mainland partners !
I would really like to meet Mr Wen and explain in details about the different kind of "visa seekers" to him and about the importance to come back to normal as soon as possible.
By the way: My 3 year old son just last week received the full set of CHINA travel documents - including HOME RETURN CARD ! His father is getting 1x entry L (tourist !!!) visa restricted to Shenzhen - with passports showing more than 300 entries the last 10 years.
http://www.forbes.com/home/2008/05/28/china-tourist-visa-ent-law-cx_ml_0528chinavisa.html
Enjoy this: Another explanation using partly the Olympics - it is still far away from reality - just some politicians talking:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/citylife/2008-05/30/content_6724203.htm
HAVE A NICE SUNDAY !

Friday, May 30, 2008

"China dismisses rumors

of multiple-entry visa stoppage to foreigners." Read the whole "story" here:
quote
BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- China's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday quashed rumors it had stopped issuing multiple-entry visas to foreigners, saying the country had never controlled the number of visas issued.
A Foreign Ministry Consular Department senior official said such rumors were "ungrounded," adding the Chinese embassies and consulates abroad had been issuing multiple-entry visas to those who met the requirements, and that it had never cut down the amount of visas.
He added China decided whether to issue the visa, the visa type, as well as the period of validity and period of stay, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
To ensure a smooth entry into China, he suggested foreigners to apply for visas in advance in their home or resident country.
The official said China had attracted increasing number of foreigners since its reform and opening-up. According to Foreign Ministry statistics, China issued 6.51 million visas to foreigners in 2005, 7.4 million in 2006, and 8.13 million in 2007.
To facilitate personnel exchanges among China and foreign countries, the Chinese Foreign Ministry had put forward a series of positive measures for foreigners' visa applications, the official said.
unquote
Source: http://www.cctv.com/english/20080529/102534.shtml
Please somebody tell me what are the "series of positive measures for foreigners' visa applications" as per TODAY ! The highlight should focus on this part:"..........and consulates abroad had been issuing multiple entry visas to those who met the requirements........."
The "requirements" are not fully and clearly explained ("VISA NOTIFICATION LETTER" for example) - and also it would be interesting to know what is the percentage of applications "abroad" for multiple entry visas: 5% ? 10% ? 20% ?

Thursday, May 29, 2008

DELETED

on the COMMISSIONERS web-page under "additional information" - some kind of "magic eraser" has deleted this condition on this page:
http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/qtxx/default.htm
quote
1. Foreigners with Hong Kong permanent resident status
(1) Foreigners with Hong Kong permanent resident status can apply for "L" or "F" multiple visa valid for one to three years by providing personal Hong Kong Permanent Identification Card, as well as a copy of the said ID card.
unqoute
Now foreigners with permanent HK ID card are also close to being a threat to the "environment" in China. Thank you for putting us into this corner. This is all not very smart and clever politics.
So now we still urgently need to know how & where + with what we can get the famous "Visa Notification Letter".
But - is this letter really a guarantee to get a multiple entry F visa issued as everything is depending on the "discretion" of the visa officer.

NO NEWS

It would be interesting to hear the opinion of the voters clicking "NO" in the poll - please tell us why you vote NO - maybe it is interesting to get some other opinions.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

THE SILENCE + IMMIGRANT SONG !

its saddening how "important" this VISA topic is to our local politicians and not only to them also to the one representing us "Gweilos" for example in Brussels ( in this highly over-managed + over paid system called EU - which has a very high interest in boosting business with China):
1)
the HK SAR Secretary of Security copies mostly messages from the COMMISSIONERS OFFICE and finally answers that he regrets cannot give an answer how to apply for the VISA NOTIFICATION LETTER (why they do not ask the other part of the ONE COUNTRY ?)
Is it so difficult ?
2)
An email to Mr Verheugen (http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/verheugen/team_en.htm) in Brussels was answered after 1 month with the info that his department is the wrong one and the "enquiry" was passed to another department and most probably this other department needs another month to explain that another department is responsible......Sorry - maybe I am too stupid to find the right department.
3)
An email to Mr. Barroso about this topic during the time he was in Beijing - not answered at all - who comes China normally with an entourage of business people to sign multibillion dollar contracts - why shall they care about our little stupid visa problems....... (actually it was anyhow only filtered by his office - whatever overpaid person is sitting there and sorting out the emails).
4)
All the HK Chambers after some letters to the central government seem fallen asleep again.
Or do they have secret meetings "for members only" ?
5)
No answers from Mrs Anson Chan (why should she ?), Mr. Howard Young and a Mrs Sophie Cheung or Leung (from the department of destroying garment + manufacturing business),
There can only be one conclusion:
THIS PEOPLE ARE SIMPLY TOO IMPORTANT TO TAKE CARE OF SUCH A CRAP LIKE THIS VISA THING AND OUR PROBLEMS WITH THIS !
MAYBE A LITTLE NOISE WILL WAKE YOU UP: LED ZEP - IMMIGRANT SONG 1972 - PLAY IT LOUD !

1 POLL COMMENT + IGGY POP + CHINA GIRL 1991

not any "chinese visa news" - why nothing from our HK SAR Government ?
Please read this from the poll comments "Nextstopvietnam":
quote
People, this visa situation has lasted long enough to make it clear that there is not about the Olympics. I could not understand how the Chinese government could act in such a way as it was so business unfriendly. After 12 years my experience of Chinese government officials (in whatever jurisdiction) was that unless there is bribery involved, they make economically very sound decisions. Fear of the Tibet situation or Olympic protests did not seem enough to suddenly stop issuing visas to legitimate business people. Then I read the SCMP article about the 10,000 Africans that had been reduced to 5,000 because of the new rules. The light bulb flashed in my head and I started to see what was really going on. Last year I passed through Guangzhou with a supplier. It was my first time driving through the city in around 3 years. We drove down a street at full speed for 3 or 4 mins and almost everyone on the street was African. I was astounded because in my experience the Chinese are so utterly racist against black people I could not see how they would let so many emigrants settle in one city. At this point the real story started to come to light. The government wants to make all the foreign business people currently working on multiple entry visas to become legitimate. It was far too easy to get come and work in China without paying tax or being legally documented. It is not just English teachers. A very large portion of small foreign companies used to have most of their western staff on multiple entry visas. They would go on abroad for meetings very regularly and stay away for long periods of time so it did not seem as if they were working in China. My multiple entry was reduced from 12 months, to 6 months, to 3 months and then to 2 entry. So this is no sudden policy. It was planned a long time ago and perhaps the Tibet situation finally pushed the officials to action. Kill 2 birds with one stone. Although it personally effects me quite a lot, I understand and accept that the government needs to control its borders. I am a guest in China so I respect their right to do what they want. They have implemented the rules in a very stupid and dishonest way, but as someone pointed out, if more Chinese people in general acted in an open and honest way, I would not have a job. My selling point is that I am easier to deal with. Once I reframed the situation in this light, it was easy to accept. I am still setting up an office in Vietnam, though. It seems as if the government has become business hostile over the last year. I need a plan B in case they suddenly implement more crazy rules. Next year, as the US economy accelerates into DEPRESSION, China will begin to feel the pain and perhaps we will see a change in the government's mood. In the meantime, I will be enjoying the much cheaper labour, great food and better environment of Saigon, rather than traveling for the same amount of time and cost to get to some toxic industrial wasteland in the middle of China. China is best for certain kinds of products, but Vietnam is just as good when you need quality and attention to detail in labour intensive products. Don't expect the visa situation to change in October. This is about illegal emigration and taxation, not about national security.
unquote
I do not want to comment this in details, but unfortunately I need to agree 99% to this - besides this I want to highlight once again that this visa policy is a massive loss of face to us (YES we gweilo / laowai also have FACE) - it is ridiculous enough to explain to our suppliers that we cannot come because we do not get the correct visa we need, because it seems we are considered a "threat to the chinese environment" !
We all can understand that China needs to protect its law, here esp in case of tax issues and illegal business activities.
But this visa policy is like a STEAMHAMMER - it "hammers down to many of honest + legal people" !
Clear: There are many people who are doing some illegal (no tax etc) business in China - but wait:
Is the central government not able to sort out who is doing RIGHT and who is doing WRONG ?
Please dont tell me now about how big China is and how many people live there ...................... !

Please enjoy IGGY POP + CHINA GIRL in Paris 1991 live.
At 2.23 he is SPITTING (dont do this at home or on the street) - hey IGGY this is HKD 1,500 here and not very nice. What is the penalty in RMB in China for spitting ?

Monday, May 26, 2008

Entertainment: David Bowie + China Girl 1983

Would he get a CHINA VISA today ? Just enjoy - read below posts as this will stay on top for the next days.

It is very boring having NO CHINA VISA NEWS.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Lowu Procedures + HK SAR regrets to be unable....

Going through Lowu yesterday utilizing my very precious 1x entry visa for some emergency factory visit. Here the procedure at the China immigration counter:
ME: Handing out passport to officer
OFFICER: Going through passport - finding the 1x entry visa and making some mark on it - looking at my passport photo - looking at me to make sure me is me.........
OFFICER: Do you have Hong Kong ID ?
ME: Yes - do you want to see it ?
OFFICER: No.
Going through passport again...back to visa page + chopping the entry chop. Turning around to the back of his counter and winking to another officer standing behind the counter.
Please go with him.
2nd OFFICER: Ask me to stand in front of some kind of foldable table (like a camping table) and asked for my passport again.
ME: Giving him my passport
2nd OFFICER: Starts counting my entry chops on around 40 pages in my passport and then give back the passport to me.
I was so blushed about this I even did not ask the guy WHY are you doing this ?
And for whatever reason he did it - it seems he not even took the record about the number of chops he was counting - but I can refresh your memory Mr. Customsman:
69 entries (excluding the one just chopped) - not bad for somebody suddenly coming in with a 1x entry L visa permitted to Shenzhen only.
Then walking away happily with the great feeling of just having 1 page of my passport wasted for a 5 hour visit.
Before me at the counter a woman either Indonesian or Philippina (looking like a housewife) have been "turned away" from the counter - means sent back into the hall. Whatever reason I dont know. A (very) black guy standing next to one of the counters before the yellow line and looking quite desperated - it seems he also had "some problems".
Maybe this 2 have been terrorists ?
HERE THE ANSWER FROM THE SECRETARY OF SECURITY OF THE HK SAR about my questions (from my private email) how to exactly get the famous VISA NOTIFICATION LETTER and other particulars about this matter (the same questions some posts below).
No comment for this answer:
quote
Thank you for your e-mail of 18 May 2008 and I am authorised to give you a reply. I regret that I am unable to answer your questions which are outside the remit of the HKSAR Government and you may wish to seek OCMFA's advice direct (e-mail : fmcovisa_hk@mfa.gov.cn) or visit their website at http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/default.htmfor information. Yours faithfully,
unquote
The email address given is not answering ANYBODY + the webpage is NOT giving any answers or correct instructions.
And here some hints about how the "business is affected" - but what is a 5.3% decline of visitors to Beijing in such a fast growing and so prosperous society ? This is very bad (political) marketing and the consultants for the new visa policy should get FIRED, because the effect of this policy is creating an image which is not very helpful for China.
This visa policy will destroy more business this consultants can imagine in their "wildest dreams".........................................Thanks !
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121138172668010789.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Thursday, May 22, 2008

NO CHINA VISA NEWS.....

no answers - have contacted the Security Office again and asked especially about the EXACT details for the famous VISA NOTIFICATION LETTER. As most of the Security Officers answers have been some kind of copies from the webpage (you know the one in Wan Chai 7th floor) - lets see what the answer on this one will be - this will be more difficult to copy from besaid page - as this answer is not really existing there.......only in mysterious words - nobody of us ordinary visa seekers ever will understand. By the way have added some links - for example Sun Gai Gweilo - some "CHINESE VISA" remarks you can find there !

Monday, May 19, 2008

The rumours .......

in the post dated 18.05. was rumours only (crap like the author was saying a few days later).
The blog title picture will change for the next 3 days. It has changed back on exactly May 22nd at 12.18 AM. This new picture is a WALL - like the GREAT CHINA VISA WALL !

Sunday, May 18, 2008

3 x Sunday Post...........will this become a NEVERENDING STORY ?

"Foreign rescue teams refused visas in HK": Two international disaster response teams that flew to Hong Kong and tried to join the Sichuan earthquake rescue effort have been refused permission to enter the mainland.....The two volunteer teams, run by independent charities, brought state-of-the-art location and rescue equipment, for which Beijing last week issued an international appeal.......The 10 member British team, which arrived on Tuesday, had an ultrasonic location device, a carbon dioxide probe that tracks the living by their breath and two tiny, flexible cameras that can be inserted through holes in the rubble......." And so on .......If only this guys would have been able to save 1 life with this equipment and their willingness to go there......it would have been worth to give them the visas in an unbuerocratic and fast delivery - no more to add to this story !
and
"Confusion still reigns over visas at border".........talking about confusion again as per several posts on asiaexpat it seems in Lowu still possible to get a 5-day Shenzhen Visa - but this is not very important for the most of us, as we need to go other places than Shenzhen............................
AND THEN on page 15:
"TIED UP IN TANGLE OF VISA RED TAPE" 1 page report by Liz Heron....this is just some kind of sum - up of the whole story - but what is here not very much highlighted is that day-to-day business necessity of a multiple entry visa for people who are running HK companies and have strong ties to mainland factories + suppliers in different places/provinces. And how all this business is affected because we are not able to "go to the mainland as we could do it the last 10 years......".
For example: Tomorrow Dongguan, back to HK, 3 days in HK office, then go Nanjing for three days...from Nanjing go 2 days Shanghai and then 2 days Hangzhou..then back to HK - honestly how can we document all this before applying a visa ?
We still do not KNOW WHEN THIS TRIP MUST HAPPEN - because (sorry) of the very bad and unreliable timing of most of the China suppliers this is always a matter of back and forth 1 or 2 or 3 days - nobody can make bookings for this...........Got it ?

Rumours ......

here a copy from a post on geoexpat.com.......can anybody find the proof on this webpage:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China or on this one:
http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/gywm/tpy/default.htm
I could not find it.
quote
Ban on multiple-entry visas for short-term business visitors lifted The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that it will start reissuing multiple-entry visas for short-term business travelers immediately. Although the government had never officially announced the restriction on issuing multiple-entry F visas, for the past two months many consulates have been issuing only single or double-entry visas valid for 90 days, with a maximum stay of 30 days. Chinese consulates around the world are expected to begin complying with this announcement soon. Employment visa applicants should not be affected. Emigra will continue to monitor the situation and alert clients as further information becomes available. This information was provided by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs."
unquote
Lets wait + see. Cheers !

Saturday, May 17, 2008

WHERE & HOW & WITH WHAT........

......to apply the VISA NOTIFICATION LETTER ?
This is still an almost "unsolved mystery".
Following questions to the COMMISSIONERS OFFICE Mr. Song:
1)
Where can a Hong Kong permanent resident apply the VISA NOTIFICATION LETTER ?
Please advise exact address of the relevant authority or office.
2)
What documents are exactly needed for this application ? If there are any forms existing for this documents please inform where to find them.
3)
How long will this application take and what kind of visa will be issued after having received
the VISA NOTIFICATION LETTER ?
4)
Will the Visa be restricted to the place / province where the VISA NOTIFICATION LETTER was issued ?
5)
Is it true that only staff from existing WFOE's or JV in the mainland are entitled to apply for the VISA NOTIFICATION LETTER ?

Friday, May 16, 2008

Todays Chinese Visa News.......

THE STANDARD: "Businessmen step up complaints over visas":
quote
The European Chamber of Commerce has issued another letter - the first sent a month ago is still unanswered - to the Chinese authorities underlining the impact of visa restrictions on the foreign business community................Wolfgang Ehmann, a member of the European Chamber of Commerce told The Standard the letter was sent on Monday after the central government failed to respond to its first letter, sent a month ago. Ehmann said: " We only got some rhetoric that we have heard before - that there is no change in policy and that it is normal practice. We appreciate that there is a response (he means the letter by Mr Song to SCMP - which is same message as from Mr Qin -foreign ministry in Beijing) but it does not really help and the problem continues to be a problem. We do not want to compromise the safety and security of China but there has to be a balance of interest of business. We could not make sense of the rules"
unquote
Very good statement - but we have to be aware, as the first letter was not answered - maybe this one also will not be answered.
The European Chamber of Commerce does not get an answer from the Central Government ? This is "unpolite" and making the Chamber loose face !
The statement by Mr Song does not really help - because the day-to-day business speaks a completely different language. We need to go when there is a problem - we cannot plan on this like tourists or "business travelers" coming once or twice a year.
Also what I want to ask the readers here:
Did anyone of you recently got the VISA NOTIFICATION LETTER issued by the relevant chinese authority ? Please contact me !
Another readers comment today in the SCMP:
"Why not open a Representative office in the area you need to go most often - this is relatively easy - surely need some commitments on tax liability in the main-land. Then the Visa problem will be solved because you are holding then a work-permit + residence permit."
(this is not 100% real copy - but mostly catches the content).
Is not really workable - as this takes at least 3 months - is a crazy paper work (even you do it through FESCO or similar organization) - and: Opening a "Rep office" just for the sake of getting the permit because of the Z visa is meaningless - a "Rep office" must have some real operation, means staff + expenses - also a "Rep office" is not allowed to conduct any real business activities - it is for research, sourcing and market surveillance. This makes not really sense - only if you really want to establish a steady base on the mainland to overview your suppliers activities and you urgently need to reduce costs in your HK main office (means fire people and replace them in your Rep Office with local chinese staff - but then you have to face the wonderful CHINA HR problem, which very soon will go to your nerves very much !).
We all are running our legally registered HK offices + place orders to mainland factories - doing the correct import + export documentations etc. To control and work with the factories we need to go there whenever it is necessary - this is not shopping trips or entertainment - we have to solve problems + have to help our suppliers to get the things right - as we are all sitting in the same boat !
Here a link about the VISA SAGA from WSJ:
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinajournal/2008/05/15/visa-saga/?mod=WSJBlog

Thursday, May 15, 2008

About the Earthquake....

....please see the link here from Jing in Shanghai - this is better than many words - please read + see her last 2 posts:
http://www.shanghaidailyphoto.com/

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

VISA RULES ARE CONSISTENT WITH NATIONAL POLICY

today SCMP letter from Mr Song Ronghua, spokesperson of the Commissioners Office of the Foreign Ministry in HK explaining the visa policy + explaining that the commissioners office "remains committed to the long-term prosperity + stability of Hong Kong".
With no doubt I believe that the issuance of visa is "in line with China's relevant laws and regulations". But the daily practice in issueing esp multiple-entry visas should be handled more business friendly esp for applicants with HK ID card and their "foreign passports" plastered with entry + exit chops + multiple-entry visas. Following part is interesting in this letter:
quote
For the convenience of the public, the latest visa requirements can be found at the website of the commissioner's office (http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/).
As for the issuance of multiple-entry visas, they are still available for those applicants in need and who are qualified.
Applicants are required to provide their Hong Kong identity card, an original visa notification form issued by the relevant authorities, and supporting documents indicating business relations (such as business licenses and contracts).
Applications will be considered case by case.
unquote
Going to the FMCOPRC website you can find following under "Additional information":
quote
(1) Foreigners with Hong Kong permanent resident status can apply for "L" or "F" multiple visa valid for one to three years by providing personal Hong Kong Permanent Identification Card, as well as a copy of the said ID card.
unquote
And then under "Visa categories & requirements of supporting documents" you will find this information for multiple F visa:
quote
2. F visa for business and visit (updated from April,2008)
To apply for single or double entry business and visit visa
(1) Visa Notification Form issued by the relevant department
of Chinese government or the government-authorized company;
(2)A copy of Chinese hotel booking;
(3)A copy of return flight ticket booking;

To apply for multiple-entry business visa, Visa Notification Form issued by
authorized Foreign Affairs Office or Bureau of Commerce(original),together
with Hong Kong Permanent ID card (original and photocopy) and other
possible supporting documentation( Registration Certificate of your company
in China, etc) are needed. Multiple-entry visa is issued at the discretion of the consular officers.
unquote
a) This is going in circles !
b) With no word it is mentionend that the "Visa Notification Form" is only issued to foreign nationals working either for a WFOE or JV in China. This is maybe a maximum of 10% of all multiple-entry visa applicants. This is for Mr Mercedes + Mr Siemens. Besides this we can assume that most of this staff if need to go very often or even stay in China anyhow have a valid work + residence permit - so they do not need a multiple-entry F Visa.
c) How can the staff in the visa office with "several thousand applicants a day" (Mr. Song Ronghua says there are several thousand applicants a day) decide + judge which applicant is really "in need" of a multiple-entry visa ?
There are a maximum of 6 or 7 open counters - if several thousand applicants (lets take only 2,100 for 7 counters) a day with 6 opening hours for applicants - then each staff will see 50 applicants per hour - how can this work ?
Having 1.2 minutes to decide if the applicant is in "need" for a multiple-entry visa ?
Or is this "several thousand" applicants including all the people easily to sort out by skin-color in the queue downstairs which will be even not let into the building because they have wrong passport + belong to the 33 banned countries who need to apply any kind of visa "at home" ?
For some more parts of this letter to the SCMP - please "enjoy" here:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/14/content_8172111.htm

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Another letter......

.....in SCMP today:"With each passing day, my hopes for a reversal of the new China visa policy are dashed. For weeks now, I've tried rationalising why the central government implemented this policy, which is totally restrictive and regressive.........The new rules have seriously crippled my business, which requires me to travel frequently to the mainland, assisting local developers in building hotels and resorts throughout China.........However, we need the Hong Kong government to really weigh in and urgently discuss how business can be conducted as usual for people like myself..............Our business cannot afford to wait until October in the hope of a return to normalcy."
This is just a part of the letter - in another part the writer is having similar thoughts I mentioned already:
How can the government really consider that people with that many entries to the mainland are a "security risk" for the Olympics ? If we would have done something "wrong" during our so many entries - we would already been blacklisted or whatever. The "security risk" most probably will come from single entry applicants with NO CHINA VISA history.
And still "no word and no message" from our HK SAR Government !
Wait ! Here is the real solution - which makes the whole story even more absurd: AliBaba promoting a company "organizing" Visa letters for F visa applications - this is in my opinion the exactly wrong way to tackle this problem - any volunteers to try this way ? But maybe you should try the "food arrangement" offered by this "company".......................
http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/100319102/Official_Invitation_Letter_For_China_Business_Visa_Class_F.html

Mr. Mercedes, Mr. Siemens, Mr. VW + Mr. Thyssen are still welcome.....

.....because they can get the famous "VISA NOTIFICATION LETTER":
"For F visas, an additional Visa Notification Form (Invitation Letter) is required. The invitation letter is a PRC government issued document from either the local Foreign Affairs Office or Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Commission. Please note that only WFOE or registered JVs can apply for the invitation letter."
Why we still have not a clear update about what permanent HK residents (with foreign passport) are entitled or not. Why blocking us anyhow ?
And why our HK SAR Government is so completely quiet regarding this issue.
Here is the complete info for Mr. Mercedes + friends how to apply the "VISA NOTIFICATION LETTER":
http://www.amcham-shanghai.org/Amchamportal/MailManagement/ShowMail.aspx?MailId=1831230

Monday, May 12, 2008

No chinese visa news today !

Please enjoy below posts + vote on top of the page. Thanks !

More confusion here - Beijing official website........

please read the below link from Beijing government page about F VISA. This page is not saying a word about any suspension of multiple entry F visas.
The web page shows the correct date- so it is up-to-date ?
Please read point E for requirement for a multiple entry 6 months or 1 year visa:

(E) The applicant needs to frequently travel to China to carry out a contract and presents an application letter from his/her foreign company along with the original contract (along with one photocopy) with a Chinese company. (The original will be returned.)"

This is one criteria to be eligible for a multiple-entry F visa 6 month or 1 year - Cheers !! Then everything is fine - as most of us can present not a contract, but many contracts between our HK companies and our mainland suppliers - or is this just all wrong again ?
http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/Tour/Tips/t200980.htm

Sunday, May 11, 2008

SUNDAY POST - page 3: "Africans latest to be hit by visa restrictions"

as written there:"............A spokesman said nearly half of Guangzhou's 10,000 strong African trading community had already been forced to leave because their visa-renewal applications had been turned down, and many more were preparing to go. Oumar Ndiaye, director of Negoce Import and Export Trading Company in Guangzhou, came to Hong Kong on Tuesday to seek a tourist visa after he was refused a renewal of his multiple-entry F visa in Guangzhou. He was granted a 15-day tourist visa and returned to Guangzhou on Friday to shut down the three-year-old business before returning to Senegal. Mr. Ndiaye, who holds a work permit and business registration certificate, said the Guangzhou office refused to give him any type of visa.
"I will just pack up my things and go out of China. I have to go back to my country and start another business, if I can, he said..............A Foreign Ministry official in Beijing said it had not received any information about the cases and would ask the Public Security Ministry for details. She said the visas had probably been refused because the applications were not complete."

Yes sure the applications were NOT COMPLETE - no visa notification letter, most probably no return ticket + no hotel booking - and the main point: "Wrong passport with wrong nationality".
Sorry to hear this - just wonder if this 10,000 Africans who were doing business in GZ all need to leave - some chinese business people in GZ will miss them - and their money.
Assuming that nationals from the 33 country list mostly holding 6 month multiple F visa - they will all be gone by early July.
But what about those with a real Z visa and a real registered office with all kind of licenses and even paying tax ? According to the message - they also need to go home for visa renewal !
PLEASE VOTE ON TOP OF PAGE & FORWARD TO COLLEAGES + FRIENDS !

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Our HK SAR Government.........

....is very, very quiet about this issue.
Have there been already some talks to ease the burden of thousands of HK permanent residents with "foreign passports" who need to go frequently to the mainland ?

"Passport to China" (1961) Trailer

aka "Passport to Canton".
As we have not any chinese visa news today lets sit back and enjoy some cool black & white movie trailer from the Mr. Moto series. It is quite bizarre. As you can see life in China in these old days was "really dangerous" + it was a very obscure idea of the West what is going on in China, as at this times entry was almost impossible for "normal foreigners".

Friday, May 9, 2008

THIS BLOG IS BLOCKED

now on the mainland ? Somebody just saying it was blocked from the very beginning.
Do I need to feel honored or scared ? None of both. "Blogspots" are blocked very often - also the "Hong Kong Jockey Club" web page is blocked on the mainland.
Blocking this blog is a misunderstanding anyhow:
This blog is "FOR CHINA" not "AGAINST CHINA" !
We need to keep the business relations with our partners on the mainland alive and not have this relations blocked + damaged for the next 5 months. We also have to act in the interest of our international customers who are relying and paying for our + our mainland partners work.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

No more for today + happy VISA hunting !

ENJOY BELOW POSTS - PLEASE VOTE ON TOP OF PAGE !

RTHK report

...here a little bit older feature from RTHK:


Here a clip from a company at least having the word VISA in its name - the slogan at the end matches the topic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbdxQMLy2j8

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Are we a threat to the "China environment" ?

....some more explanations by Mr. Qin on SCMP front page today:
China had made "some arrangements" on visas according to the practice of past Olympics and usual international practice. Mr Qin:" This policy does not mean that all multiple-entry visas have been suspended. This policy will be maintained for a period of time in order to ensure China will have a safe environment". Where or how are we making the "environment" unsafe ?
Here a link about a "chinese visa seminar" held by the AmCham in Shanghai. If you read this, then the chance that we "dangerous HK foreign business people" getting back our normal, multiple entry F Visas soon, sounds like "Mission impossible".
http://oneeyedpanda.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/china-visa-update/
And here more from the CHINADAILY - enjoy + please do not "laugh" this is really "top serious":
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-05/07/content_6665678.htm
and here one more for todays "chinese visa" news from Danwei:
http://www.danwei.org/bureaucracy/visa_visa_where_are_you.php
here a little bit older one from "China media blog":
http://www.chinamediablog.com/2008/04/17/non-sequitur-of-china-business-visas/

ENJOY + HAVE A GOOD DAY !

You can even have our footprints.......

this "clear explanation" (sorry) is like "dust in the wind" - please read China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang comment - just a few hours ago:
http://voanews.com/english/2008-05-06-voa26.cfm
Why then not restrict our visas "not allowed to go to Beijing" ? Even if including the 3 surrounding provinces - no problem ! Because most of us need to go to Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang + maybe Anhui. We will not even come close to Beijing and we have no intention to disrupt / or stage protests the Olympics - we are happy and proud that the Games are in China but we are very unhappy that we are treated like this.


Tuesday, May 6, 2008

TIME Magazine: "China Restricts Entry from Hong Kong"

Read here the article dated 04.05.2008 about chinese visa news today:
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1737457,00.html
+ this one just 5 hours old - AFP: "Australia warns China over visa restrictions" - thats it with today china visa news - have a nice evening:
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gF-9JzlAEMuBpni3oi3BD-IADIww


Monday, May 5, 2008

Do you play Golf ?

Then read this (maybe somebody finds this interesting):
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200805042318DOWJONESDJONLINE000419_FORTUNE5.htm Enjoy the today "mandarin lesson" for the word "VISA" in my profile audio clip ! Maybe you can impress somebody with this when filing your next (!) "new china visa application".

Sunday, May 4, 2008

SUNDAY POST: VISA NIGHTMARE FOR FOREIGNERS ON MAINLAND

2 cases of South African women - seems both are teachers. They have been told at the local visa office in Shanghai + Beijing that they need to go to Hong Kong to get a visa extension. It seems not any info about the "33 country list" (South Africa is one) given to them in Shanghai + Beijing and that these nationals need to apply now in their home country.
Cheap trick: Let them go first to HK - then let them find out the truth themselves. At least they are "out" + most of them wont make it back too easily as they first need to go back home to get a "new china visa". Cheers !
Please also see this 2 links:
http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp%20file=/2008/5/4/columnists/beijingexpress/21139773&sec=beijingexpress
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/92066/China-visa-restrictions-hit-Filipino-tourists

Saturday, May 3, 2008

NO CHINESE VISA NEWS TODAY.......

no "chinese visa" news today.
VOTING SKIN HAS CHANGED - THE "WORLDMAP SKIN" IS NOT MATCHING VERY WELL - SKULLS ARE TRENDY !

Friday, May 2, 2008

WORDS

by Hon Mr. Donald Tsang at the torch relay ceremony today - but this words were not meant for us "desperate china visa applicants" (also not for the thousands of "HK perm ID card holders with foreign passports" who contributed on both sides of the border a lot the last 20 years).
Thank you and have a good sleep:
quote
"As a cosmopolitan city of China, Hong Kong is uniquely placed to play this bridging role between the peoples of the world, and the people of our country. In Hong Kong, we are a world in a city, where different people, with different beliefs, and different views have thrived in the spirit of diversity, tolerance and respect. This same spirit feeds the Olympic flame, and makes it burn brightly.
As the Olympic torch is relayed through Hong Kong - and as it travels across the vast expanse of our country in the months ahead- I truly hope that it will continue to blaze a trail of unity and peace, for all people, of all nations. The goal of 'One World. One Dream' is there for us to achieve."
unquote
SOURCE: CHINADAILY
PLEASE BEHAVE WITH YOUR COMMENTS - ALL NASTY / NAUGHTY / OVER-EMOTIONAL COMMENTS WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED !

SCMP 02.05.: Editorial by Mr James Tien

On page A17 "Closed door-policy" by Mr James Tien (Chairman of the HK Tourism Board + Liberal Party, also owner of chain G2000) - here some parts - and how very much right he is:
QUOTE
".........The potential impact is grave not only for our city and for westerners doing business through Hong Kong but for the mainland as well....................For people who doing business in Guangdong, those multiple-entry visas are more than just a convenience. They are a neccessity upon which, in some cases, the livelihoods of tens of thousands of people depend.......Hong Kong's reputation as a gateway to China, meanwhile, is in ever greater jeopardy the longer this fiasco continues...........the absolute least our own government should do is mediate and find out what is going on. Explanations must be sought and delivered with urgency and without further delay"
UNQUOTE

One more readers letter from an english teacher "Visa application an impossibility" - She wanted to go with a group of teachers - hotel booking is on the schools name + they have hired a bus - so she simply had a problem to get a visa + she gave up.