Friday, April 25, 2008
China imposes new visa rules
By NG CHENG YEE and CHOW HOW BAN
Dear Friends,
The following appeared today in Malaysian Newspaper "The Star". I like to share the story with you all as few of you have been asked to supply accommodation confirmation, some have to show the Embassy the orginal letter of the visa from the LOC and so on. Please do not blame the Local Organisers as they have done their best to get all of us but then the Government do not want any one to bring politics into sports. The story in Malaysian paper today clarified, it was why few of you have been asked to do so many things before visa could be issued. I got my visa last year for a year with multi entry up to 30 days without any problem but this year only recently Malaysian delegate to the Congress were asked to submit in the accommodation confirmation letter.
This note is only for your information, best wishes
Balwant
KUALA LUMPUR : The Chinese Government has imposed more stringent requirements for visa application because of the Beijing Olympics.
Chinese Embassy counsellor Shen Yong Xian confirmed that stricter rules had been implemented temporarily until the end of the Games in August.
Both business travellers and tourists to China are required to submit their confirmed flight itinerary and hotel reservation.
Those on business trips must also submit invitations from the Foreign Economic Relation and Trade Commission in China .
A company letter stating the applicant's particulars, purpose and duration of visit is also needed, together with an undertaking that the firm is responsible for the traveller while in China .
Other document s needed for the visa application are the passport, valid for at least six months and with sufficient pages, a recent passport size photograph and the completed application form.
According to a circular sent to travel agents, travellers who were to enter China twice (like those who stop in the republic, then leave for a neighbouring country and come back into China ) must submit a confirmed flight itinerary showing the two entry dates.
The original air ticket or a duplicate copy of e-ticket must show the second travel date for processing purposes.
“This is to ensure that we do not receive complaints from visitors that our hotels are full and our tourist destinations are too crowded.
“We also do not want to see people sleeping on the streets as there will be many people visiting China during the Olympic Games period,” Shen said here yesterday.
He added that it was best if visitors avoided the Olympics period.
However, he said there were no limitations on the number of days a visitor could spend in the country.
In Singapore , the Foreign Affairs Ministry announced that Singaporeans travelling to China from July 1 would need a visa.
Local travel agents confirmed that they had reduced the number of China tours due to the new rules.
Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) president Ngiam Foon said the requirement did not affect business here as only business travellers and those who wanted to watch the Beijing Olympics were keen to visit China now.
“Other than that, most tourists preferred to defer their trips until after the Games,” he said.
Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association president Chay Ng said: “Some of the travel agents have stopped organising China tours for the time being for fear that it will be difficult to get visas right now.”