Pete Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 It seems that the official advice all says to get your ass to one of the Chinese Embassy offices in Manchester or London, but these are only Mon-Fri. There seems to be a few people that'll do it for you for similar prices: http://www.visatochina.co.uk/ http://www.globalvisas.com/ Has anyone used one of these companies? There seem to be loads of them hawking their services on Google at a range of prices. Ta, Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 my other half had to take a day off work to go to the embassy in edinburgh when she visited China. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted August 14, 2007 Author Share Posted August 14, 2007 my other half had to take a day off work to go to the embassy in edinburgh when she visited China. I really want to avoid doing that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPRASUZUKI Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Not sure whether it's relevant to your situation Pete, but I've just applied for one through work. I needed a letter of invitation from our China office (with their official stamp and signature), then sent this along with a visa application form and my passport to the embassy in London (actually, our travel office did that:d). HTH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Not sure whether it's relevant to your situation Pete, but I've just applied for one through work. I needed a letter of invitation from our China office (with their official stamp and signature), then sent this along with a visa application form and my passport to the embassy in London (actually, our travel office did that:d). HTH. yup, that's what my gf did. She needed the letter of invitation etc. come to think of it, i think she may have had to go there as she needed the visa in such a short space of time (was due to leave in a week or so). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juanchan Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 My mate has just gone to China for the summer and she had to go to the embassy in London to get her visa! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPRASUZUKI Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 I don't think we have to attend the embassy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted August 14, 2007 Author Share Posted August 14, 2007 Not sure whether it's relevant to your situation Pete, but I've just applied for one through work. I needed a letter of invitation from our China office (with their official stamp and signature), then sent this along with a visa application form and my passport to the embassy in London (actually, our travel office did that:d). HTH. Is strictly says you can't post them, so maybe they used an agency like those I linked? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Is strictly says you can't post them, so maybe they used an agency like those I linked? or maybe his company had one of the office gophers run it over there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted August 14, 2007 Author Share Posted August 14, 2007 or maybe his company had one of the office gophers run it over there I need to employ more gophers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 I need to employ more gophers. work for peanuts apparently Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPRASUZUKI Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 I think they use a courrier to get the paperwork there and back. I'll check next week when I'm back in (weds). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaoriFan Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 Hi Pete, I am off to China soon, and have done my Visa through http://www.chinesevisadirect.co.uk/pricing.htm (can't say if they are good yet, don't have my visa back, only sent it Monday) all you need is to send your passport, with completed Visa Application and then their own reference sheet. Also ask for their Chinese Survival Guide and Language Course CD (it's free). Straight forward, very easy to do i used Express service for extra peace of mind with the Postal Strikes on and off. Should have it back Thursday/Friday. Generally you only need Letter of Invitation if you are going for business, student or other work capacity. Tourist or visiting Friends you do not need one, but you do need to put down address and Tel. no of person/hotel you are visiting/staying with. I am more worried about booking flights, need to do that once Visa is returned. You can't post visa applications, but can use third-party agent with no problem. So don't have to visit Embassy. one more thing Visa's are normally for max of 30 days, but you can get them up to 90 for a tourist. Also, if you are in China with a 30 day Visa and you want to extend your time there over the max 30 days, go to the PSB office in the town you are staying and they have the option of granting another maximum of 30days. where abouts are you heading to?, i am going to Nanning. Ah, one final word of warning, if you like animals be careful going to the local markets (even some supermarkets), they have live animals on display for eating and it will get killed right there in front of you (not just chickens etc, but can be cats and dogs depending where you go). so best to avoid the street markets if you are a big animal lover. A western guy on a Nanning Forum said he wanted to make 'pets' with all of them, not eat them. so be careful. (I am avoiding the food markets like the plague) Also finally, if you are going to see a Chinese friend, get them to do any bargaining/haggling as you will get better prices on Hotels, and anything else. Seeing a 'Westerner' they always bump the price up. ja ne Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaoriFan Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 one more thing, that could be a problem. You need to tell your bank when you are going to China, and make sure your credit card is unblocked. Some banks will block your card after first time of use in China, in case of a cloned card/fraudulent use. ja ne Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted August 15, 2007 Author Share Posted August 15, 2007 I am off to China soon, and have done my Visa through http://www.chinesevisadirect.co.uk/pricing.htm (can't say if they are good yet, don't have my visa back, only sent it Monday) Excellent. Please let me know when you get it back and I'll use them too. It's a package thing for 10 days so flights, itinerary etc are sorted. Beijing, Sian, Bangkok Ah, one final word of warning, if you like animals be careful going to the local markets (even some supermarkets), they have live animals on display for eating and it will get killed right there in front of you (not just chickens etc, but can be cats and dogs depending where you go). so best to avoid the street markets if you are a big animal lover. A western guy on a Nanning Forum said he wanted to make 'pets' with all of them, not eat them. so be careful. (I am avoiding the food markets like the plague) They do things quite differently over there I believe. Did you see the recent Paul Merton China show on Five? That was good. one more thing, that could be a problem. You need to tell your bank when you are going to China, and make sure your credit card is unblocked. Some banks will block your card after first time of use in China, in case of a cloned card/fraudulent use. ja ne Ian Damn fine idea! Thanks v.much Ian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caliAl Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 My girlfriend has just received her visa for China last week from http://www.transworldvisas.co.uk She has used them on a number of occasions for her visa and has had no problems what so every Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burna Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 Ah, one final word of warning, if you like animals be careful going to the local markets (even some supermarkets), they have live animals on display for eating and it will get killed right there in front of you (not just chickens etc, but can be cats and dogs depending where you go). Don't you dare open your own deep fried cat stall Pete, I won't be happy if I hear you have Seriously jealous of you Pete, please take plenty of photos and film so I can have a look when you get back please. I can then live the dream through you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted August 15, 2007 Author Share Posted August 15, 2007 Don't you dare open your own deep fried cat stall Pete, I won't be happy if I hear you have I'm hoping they serve Cat on a Stick at the hotel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burna Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 I'm hoping they serve Cat on a Stick at the hotel. I know where you live don't forget, I'll be moving grumpy Pete the cat in while you are away Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted August 15, 2007 Author Share Posted August 15, 2007 I know where you live don't forget Damn...I knew that was a mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaoriFan Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 Excellent. Please let me know when you get it back and I'll use them too. It's a package thing for 10 days so flights, itinerary etc are sorted. Beijing, Sian, Bangkok They do things quite differently over there I believe. Did you see the recent Paul Merton China show on Five? That was good. Damn fine idea! Thanks v.much Ian. Sure, Pete will let you know when i get Visa returned, hope it is soon i go end of September, and no flights booked. Beijing looks great you will have great time there, Xi'an too, want to go there my self one day. Hope you post some photos when you come home. Package is the best way for the first time. package would be nicer for me too, if i was not going to see g/f's parents and family this time. saw the Paul Merton show, great show really enjoyed it, wish it was a longer series. it was an eye-opener for sure. the donkey penis shocked me, had no idea they ate that there. knew about scorpions and other things. going to download it online sometime, when i get free b/w. one more thing when going there. if you have travellers cheques or need to do anything official, best to have a few photocopies of your passport, as each time you change money or do anything official, they will need copy of passport for their records. how long until you go to China ? enjoy, Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaoriFan Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 I know where you live don't forget, I'll be moving grumpy Pete the cat in while you are away now you have Pete worried, lol, won't want to go to China now i am staying away from the Animal part, told the g/f i can't go anywhere near that if they have cats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted August 15, 2007 Author Share Posted August 15, 2007 one more thing when going there. if you have travellers cheques or need to do anything official, best to have a few photocopies of your passport, as each time you change money or do anything official, they will need copy of passport for their records. how long until you go to China ? enjoy, Ian Another good tips, thanks. We go 16th October. Have injections and things to sort out now too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaoriFan Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Another good tips, thanks. We go 16th October. Have injections and things to sort out now too. Hi Pete, checked my email and received one from the Visa company saying that my Visa was on its way to me, so maybe today or tomorrow it will be here. At least i know it cleared the Chinese Embassy, so one thing less to worry about. 16th October should be better weather, slightly less humid. just drink lots of water even so. Don't drink tap water, only bottled water, even in hotels, for health safety. Take some anti-malaria treatment as well for mosquito bites, you never know. last night my g/f who is currently in Nanning got bitten by 6 of the buggers. Chinese tend to at night and then in the day have the windows open all the time. and look out for the big spiders (not looking forward to that, myself). ja ne Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaoriFan Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 All done and dusted, Visa arrived a few minutes ago in the mail, by Royal Mail Special Delivery ja ne Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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