Data: Środa, 27 Stycznia 2010 15:08	

Temat: 	 chinese visa 

hi friends,
as you are going to china or you can share info with other cyclists, i let you know about chinese visa in vientiane embassy.
i went there with full wonderful itinerary in the great china han for 6 months of travel, a air asia ticket to exit and back in china, and a letter from my bank saying i am bloody rich.
the guy took my aplication and papers, looked at me, and gave me back the papers. and he said 'i know you, you bastard capitalist want to cycle in tibet'.
not, of course, he smiled and gave me a receipt of 48$ and 4 days of waiting time.
on tuesday, it was ok everything and i got a visa that says very clearly, double entry of 90 days each.
during these days in vientiane, i got an email from an expat in hanoi telling me that a english cyclist was refused in the chinese embassy there. not even one month!
i have also good reports of succesful applications in chiang mai, thailand. i do not know about bangkok or ho chi mingh.

i did a lot of research about chinese new regulations and asked expats living in china. as far as i know, there is a chance of extending a two months visa (twice, so you can stay almost 120 days), and my friend josetxu extended a tree months visa last summer, for one more month.
i do not think you can stay further than these 4 months, even if chinese law says only 90 days in a row.
so, if you need more than 6 months i think better apply for a fake working visa, but it is very expensive. more than 150 euros the fake papers.
if you need less, then go for the legal visa of 6 months and look for the exit at one point in the middle of your itinerary. my ticket bought in advance chengdu-kuala lumpur return, was 111 euros.
but also if you are ok with 4 months, i there is a chance that extensions won't work. be aware of this.
last, i have heard a stupid rumor about a new regulation that will issue only one month visas next summer. i read about it last november and never more.
well, that's it. i am on the way to get drunk with delicious rice wisky thanks to chinese goverment.
cheers
salva