My fear of the traveler’s flypaper of visas nearly overcome, I started planning my trip to China. I would go to Hanoi, pick up a visa, and bus it across the border to Kunming. No problem, right?
I had been fascinated with for years and done a little research into Chinese visas. I knew it was more expensive for US citizens to get visas to China than for any other nationality: $140 versus $30. Still, a 1-year multiple entry visa would be worth it. After all, I really wanted to visit China.
When I arrived at the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi, I filled out the prodigious amount of forms and paperwork slipped in a copy of my Vietnamese visa and passport, and handed them to the guard. He looked over the paperwork and told me that I would have to change the form: I could only visit for 3-months.
My heart sank, but still, I did want to see the country. Maybe 3-months would be enough for a start at least. I crossed out 1-year and checked the 3-month box before returning to the guard. This time everything was to his liking. He glued a photo to the correct form, and ushered me into another room to wait in line.
When it was my turn, I handed the paperwork to the Chinese Foreign Service officer. The petite woman, her thick black hair tied severely back in a ponytail, scrutinized my paperwork.
“You are not a citizen here: you can only visit for 30-days,” she said, crossing out 3 and writing in the number 1 before month. There wasn’t even a box for single entry one month on the form! This couldn’t be fair!
If I wanted to extend it that was possible in the country, she told me, trying to be helpful. Even so, the extension would be another $140.
1 month, single entry, for $140 was more than I could afford. No matter how much money I had, it was more than I could justify spending. I took the visa forms and left the embassy, in hopes that a travel agent might have better luck.
I spent the rest of the day walking around the streets of Hanoi asking travel agents how much a visa to China would cost and if they could get a longer visa. The prices varied from $165-195. Though the visa lengths did vary, the majority of agents could only arrange visas from 15-20 days. Even Vietnamese citizens were only allowed 1-month single entry visas to China. Of course, their visas were $30.
It is possible that US citizens can get a longer visa to China from other Hong Kong, Singapore, or other countries. I have called embassies, and asked around but unfortunately I have not been able to reach anyone who knows. A 1-year multiple entry visa is certainly possible from within the United States. It is frustrating to be mere hours away from China by bus and unable to enter.
I am not entirely sure why US travelers are only allowed 30-days from Vietnam. I know that India has a policy of only issuing 6-month entry visas to US citizens traveling abroad, but at least that is 6-months.
I had been dreading visas before coming to Asia, now I realize that that dread was justifiable. Though I am a firm believer of spontaneity, occasionally planning can be good as well. If you are planning a trip to Asia and want to go to China or to India I highly recommend getting visas in advance.
wonderful experience you have , I am also painful to know this
it is just not bearable
I do not know what is the situation for india who wants to travel from Vietnam the same way
By: jaisinghchuru on July 17, 2012
at 11:06 am
What do you expect from a Communist state? RED tape.
By: Skip on July 18, 2012
at 9:29 pm
Have you tried contacting the Chinese embassy in Vientiane, Laos? I found it a breeze to get the standard 30-day tourist visa there in February 2011. By that I mean I didn’t have an exact itinerary or any accommodation booked, nor contacts in China, nor any current employment details – all things listed on the form and I still got the visa no questions asked. I never enquired about any other type of visa but it could be worth a try.
By: Ruth on July 20, 2012
at 9:26 am
I’ll check, I’ve had a hard time getting any of the Chinese embassies or consulates on the phone. Sadly getting a 30-day visa is easy in Vietnam too, the problem is getting a longer one. Thanks for the suggestion though.
By: adventuressetravels on July 20, 2012
at 10:20 am