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Shanghai Expo Return Home Permit Questions

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  1. #1

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    Apr 2010
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    Shanghai Expo Return Home Permit Questions

    Looking for insight on the situation as I am planning going to the Expo and wondering if I might run into any problems.

    So I got a return home permit before they tightened up the restrictions on it in 2005 using my HK ID card ***AO and I am currently planning on just presenting my return home permit when I arrive at Shanghai airport customs to get through.

    The question is what line do I get into when I go through customs? Do I go line up at the Chinese national lines or the Foreigner lines? Not sure how the whole process works as I have only used the return home permit to go to Shen Zhen on bus before.
    Also I heard something recently about some people not being able to get in using a return home permit from a direct flight from canada to china.
    My flight goes from San Francisco to Hong Kong for transfer to Shanghai so I not expecting problems persy.

    Anyways if anyone can chime with thier experiences it would be great.


  2. #2

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    I don't see how immigration will know what flight you take when arriving into SH as I believe flights from HK and Canada are both considered international. You will all arrive towards the same immigration officers.

    You would also be considered a Chinese national and not a foreigner, so you would like up at the Chinese national lines.


  3. #3

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    My mother-in-law did this a few weeks ago when we took her up to Shanghai (we arrived at Pudong International from HK).

    There is a big red sign at Immigration that says "Chinese Citizens" and points to the right. You have no choice but to go through this queue if you are using your HRP. Don't go through the foreigner lines.

    fatez likes this.

  4. #4

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    Same/Similar topic discussed here http://www.geoexpat.com/forum/thread27667.html


  5. #5

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    There seems to be contradicting information on whether you can really use this to fly directly into China from another country.

    But if the airline lets you board on the strength of the Home Return permit, then you can use it to enter mainland China. And you'd have to use the "Chinese citizens" lines.

    Let us know how it goes!


  6. #6

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    Well if you are coming from another country, you will be using your HK passport or foreign passport to leave that country anyways. So you can always just say that you will be using your passport to enter China.


  7. #7

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    Quote Originally Posted by BryanL:
    Well if you are coming from another country, you will be using your HK passport or foreign passport to leave that country anyways. So you can always just say that you will be using your passport to enter China.
    Which is precisely the problem if there is an issue with that permit.

    Practically every passport requires a visa to enter China, except a few such as Japan or Singapore. My feeling is that if you have a HKSAR passport and the home return permit it'll be fine though for flight for this case.

  8. #8

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    Apr 2010
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    Thanks for all the replies. Looks like I ma going to go through the Chinese National Lines at the airport. I'll let you know how it all goes after May 14 when I land.


  9. #9

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    Edit: I don't have an HKSAR passport by the way as I got the return home permit in 2004 when I didn't need it.
    I am planning on just presenting the return home permit and possibly my HKID if they ask.
    As I don't want to present my US passport.


  10. #10

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    My G/F has a return home permit and HK perm ID (don't know exact status), but a Canadian passport.

    Whenever we go to China (by plane or by train, etc), she leaves HK using her HKID and enters China using her return home permit, going through the Chinese Citizen lane. Never had a problem. In fact when we go to China she doesn't even bother carrying her passport.


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