PRC multiple entry visa (London v. HK)

[Oxygen]

I got a two year multitrip visa when I was in the UK. I have had visas before and my wife is from HK and even with an email from the UK (Chinese) consulate stating that it should not be a problem my wife had to argue the point that our HK house stood as a Chinese residence.

It was bloody hard work that involved lots of people staring at us blankly saying I could not get the visa. I think it was only the wife's refusal to budge that worked.

[Oxygen]

Sorry that does not help. I have found that if you email the Chinese embasy in the UK they are very helpful on what you can and can not get.

http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/contact_us/

I do it by email and they are quick to reply. Just a few days.

[drumbrake]

Oxygen - did you have a HKID when applying? If so, what kind of HKID- permanent or not?

[Molie]

Thanks Molie. I'm confused about one thing, though, wouldn't I receive my HK visa here in London before moving to HK? So as such, are you saying I'd have to then apply for a 1 year multiple entry when I pick up my Visa at the consulate here in London? Your statement seems to imply being in HK for this part (maybe because you mentioned in HKD). Just want to be clear. Thanks!

Btw, I'd be using an Italian passport.

I have Dutch passport, you will receive your visa from immigration here in HK. And yes, we went to Chinese embassy the same day we got our passport/visa back from immigration. They might make exceptions like HKtraveller says, but they told us they look at the validity of your HK visa. So if one year left on HK visa, they should give you one year multiple.

[Oxygen]

Oxygen - did you have a HKID when applying? If so, what kind of HKID- permanent or not?

No HK I'd just had a UK passport. I will try and dig up their email. The problem was having an address in China, I think my wife gave her uncles address who is a Chinese national. I think the problem we had was they did not see her as a Chinese national even though she is a HKer.

This was the embassy's reply but I think the problem we had was them saying that she is from Hong Kong and not China.

"Hi,

You can apply for a tuorist visa, if you can provide your marry certificate and your wife's passport you will be able to apply for a two year visa with maximum duration of stay of 180 days.

Regards."

[Oxygen]

Now I think of it drumbrake has promptedm me to remember what our problem was.

I put down out HK address as my residence in chine. The embasy stated that this was not in China. My wife argued that it was in the HKSARC (if that's the correct term) they said that this did not count as china so in the end she gave her uncles address in china.

I had no HK ID card and was living in the UK and traveling for the canton fair. Her is a list of visa prices. Maybe start with a 6 month multrip. I have had visas on the following order

First - signle trip
Second - double entry
Third - two year multi trip

I think they really did not want to give me the last one but my wife put in a good argument for me in mando which helped.

http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/en...es/t649903.htm

[bibbju]

Thanks Molie. I'm confused about one thing, though, wouldn't I receive my HK visa here in London before moving to HK? So as such, are you saying I'd have to then apply for a 1 year multiple entry when I pick up my Visa at the consulate here in London? Your statement seems to imply being in HK for this part (maybe because you mentioned in HKD). Just want to be clear. Thanks!

Btw, I'd be using an Italian passport.

Your visa isn't activated until you arrive in HK. They'll stamp it as "journey completed" and stamp again and handwrite the actual date you visa is valid until (i.e. 1 year from arriving). So the London office may not be willing to give you a multi since technically you won't yet have activated your visa/be a HK resident. I guess it depends on who you get in London but when I've been there, they've been much stricter than the guys in HK. Even my signed contract of employment for my HK job was not enough to sway them.

Personally, I suggest you wait until you get to HK then get a 6 month multi. After that, it will be close to time to renew your visa for 2 years (my visa was renewed after 10 months and as soon as that came through, I applied and got my 1 year multi). Unless you plan to travel to the mainland on frequent basis. Note: to break even on costs, if you get a 6 month multi, you need to travel 5+ times in a 6 month period for it to be worth it (compared to just getting double entry). This is based on a UK passport, might be different for Italian.

[HKHK154]

AFAIK 2 year visas are not (or rarely?) given out any more and to be eligible for those you had to have full P.R. in Hong Kong, not Right to Land.

For example I can live in Hong Kong as long as I like so I have no visa expiry and I have for example more than 8 years remaining on my passport and I've visited China before, but because I have no P.R. I would probably only get a year (..or 6 months??).