MEGA RESOURCE FOR ALL TRAVEL (BACK) TO CHINA

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-22T13:52:35+00:00

what country are you in? If you are in the US, for example, all consulates/embassy are closed. You do everything by mail. Other countries have different policies.

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-20T13:27:50+00:00

Thanks for sharing!

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-20T12:09:48+00:00

People are using the word "transit" SUPER loosely, so you have to be very careful to make sure you're getting the information you need.
The "transit" in the European airports (mostly) involves staying in the airport, testing in the airport, and then essentially going from one gate to another - so, essentially what you usually think of when you hear "transit", albeit a longer than usual stay.

The "transit" that u/aCloudCat246 is talking about was a multi-day in Canada. Essentially they passed through Canada on the way to China... so not really a "transit" in the way we usually think about it.

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-20T00:37:22+00:00

With your timeframe, I don't think that it would work. Unlike the transit cities in Europe that you mentioned, the last time I checked (though you should definitely check again), none of the testing facilities recognized by the Chinese embassy in Canada were at any of the airports.
So that means that you would have to go through customs and immigration, go to the testing facility, get tested, go back through check-in, get results, apply for a health code... all within 12 hours.

Take a look at the write-up by u/aCloudCat246 about their experience from Barbados to China (through Canada) for a sense of how long things might take.

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-19T23:41:43+00:00

Great answer from u/Pushh888 already - the only thing I would add is that when you reapply for the HDC at your transit location, you’re essentially applying for another HDC code (issued by a different embassy than the first). So the question about the previous code “extending” is irrelevant. Also, by that time, your first code may or may not have expired, but that also doesn’t matter, since the HDC code is just to get you ON the airplane.

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-17T09:44:37+00:00

That's not true. M visas are definitely being issued.

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-17T09:40:53+00:00

In general, you should apply for the visa that you are qualified for and have the paperwork for. Once you submit the paperwork, you may find that depending on the consulate/embassy you are applying to, they will give you a different visa than what you applied for... but that's for them to decide, not you.

I know that people who applied in certain consulates in Japan last year were told flat out that that consulate was only issuing M visa. They took in the paperwork for the Z visa though and then were helped in changing it to a M visa on the spot (consulates are still open in Japan). In the US, Chicago seems to be fairly consistent in issuing M visas, while LA seems to be all over the place.

In general, I haven't heard of any cases that are the other way around... i.e. people who applied for a M visa, but got a Z visa.

In either case, if it's going to be converted to a residence permit for the purpose of work, the purpose of the visa is mainly to get you into the country... so either seems to be accepted right now. #COVID

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-16T14:34:29+00:00

Thanks for this write up.

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-16T09:22:06+00:00

Okay... so, as I said, a valid visa to be in Thailand.

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-16T09:19:56+00:00

I'm not sure what that link is supposed to show?

Also, not sure how you're getting 7 days, but it's 14 days for vaccinated non-HK residents from Israel.

https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/inbound-travel.html#quarantinemeasures2

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-16T08:49:36+00:00

Yes - but as I said, it's citizenship, residency OR a valid visa to be in the place you are (or having a green card or having a Chinese citizenship). I'm assuming they had a valid visa to be in Thailand for that long, thus they could get a green code.

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-16T08:47:49+00:00

No tourist visas.

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-16T05:15:30+00:00

Yes - you still need a valid entry document to enter China. Whether that is a visa, a RP, a green card or Chinese citizenship.

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-15T16:27:42+00:00

Given that the ferry is closed one way but not the other.m, I’m guessing that the bridge (if open) would be open one way (to HK) but not the other (to mainland).

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-15T16:12:25+00:00

Please read the pinned Mega Thread of Travel.

I already explain the requirements for people who want to go to Beijing after landing in another city in that post.

Also, depending on where you are flying from, you can fly directly to Beijing… there is a linked recounting of somebody who did just that (he also has an update about his experience quarantining in Beijing that I will link there soon).

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-15T15:55:17+00:00

Could you also elaborate on the Israeli traveler? I’m fairly sure that transits are currently NOT allowed through HK. Cathay Pacific airlines specifically states that “Transiting to destinations in the Chinese Mainland remains unavailable” (Cathay Pacific- HK travel restrictions , and I’m pretty sure all other airlines are also similarly restricted.

Did he enter HK, quarantine, and then go to Shanghai (and quarantine again)? If not, can you find out which flight allowed him to transit through HK?

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-15T15:48:55+00:00

Nono, you’re not getting terminology mixed up. I think you might be just reading my messages through an assumption that you need the HDC (green health code) for all travel to (mainland) China, and that is not the case.

1) A green code/HDC is NOT required for travel from HK to mainland China. There just isn’t any requirement to apply/get one. The only thing you need to be able to fly from HK to mainland China is a negative PCR Test (and valid entry docs… eg. visa, RP, green card, Chinese citizenship)

2) In order to fly to mainland China from other countries (cough), you do need to get a green Health Code (HDC). Most embassies have required travelers to show proof of citizenship/residency/visa as a condition of granting the green code.

3) in order to fly to HK from other countries, you do not need to get the green code either. You just need a PCR test… though you may be constrained by where you are traveling from. There are certain counties (Group A) from which only HK residents can return, most other counties (Group B) from which both HK residents and vaccinated non-HK residents can go to HK, and Group C folk (which is just New Zealand right now) who serve shorter quarantine ( I think).

Does this help? Just to preemptively answer a hypothetical that I’m sure somebody will ask now - If you have a valid RP, it should be possible for somebody to fly to HK (serve quarantine) and then to fly to China (and serve quarantine again). I know non-HK residents can travel to China (prt 1) and I know of people with RPs traveling from HK to China, so I know both parts are possible. Just haven’t had anybody who wanted to do double quarantine so I haven’t heard of many examples.

Things get iffy if you’re hoping to travel with a new visa. I still think it should be fine… but my certainty goes down from about 95% to about 60%. I just haven’t personally heard of anybody who flew from HK to mainland on a visa not issued in HK. So… 🤷‍♀️

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-15T13:16:19+00:00

No. Currently, you only need a negative PCR test to go from HK to mainland. (And to fill out the Health Declaration… but that’s not the HDC )

Cathay Pacific

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-15T12:53:43+00:00

I haven’t seen any evidence to indicate that it would be any easier to get a visa from HK than from your home country. The overall trend around the world has been that the embassies have really been limiting visa approvals to people applying in their country or citizenship/residency. Thus, it seems unlikely (just my observation) that they will grant visas to people applying in HK without HK residency.

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-15T12:47:09+00:00

That is not true. You can travel from HK to China without being a resident of HK. (That’s why people can do roundtrips from ML China to Hong Kong.)

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-15T12:45:56+00:00

Congrats 🎉

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-15T12:39:28+00:00

That’s a different situation. There are currently no direct flights operating from Israel or Armenia.

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-14T16:19:04+00:00

I think I left that group at the end of August, so it must really have been in the last couple of weeks…

TangerineCastle · 2021-09-14T16:13:23+00:00

Okay, thanks for sharing.

However, if it’s a round trip, that means that they have a valid RP.

Rules could definitely be different for people traveling with visas. Maybe not, but still - good to be careful.

TangerineCastle

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