Slice

I read somewhere(I think) that a crew visa isn't good for personal travel. Anyone been through the process to get a tourist visa? The China embassy website mentions hotel reservation(ok) and airline ticket proof(not ok, nonrev/js). Words of wisdom for anyone who's been through the process...I'll be using the office in downtown DC.
Thanks.

Kikuchiyo

True, the crew visa isn't valid for personal travel. In fact, when we commercial in to meet a jet in PVG, we have to have a tourist visa to get in, then use our crew visa only when we operate. (I've heard that other more financially powerful carriers don't have to do that.)

The China tourist visa application pdf that I have (from the Chinese embassy, not our company) asks for where I'd be staying, but doesn't ask for flight information. Theoretically, you could be arriving by ship, or even overland from HKG, no? Good luck.

Whale Pilot

Hello Slice,

Listen, I've been through this a million times. You will need a (L) tourist visa to enter or leave china. Meaning, if you entered China on a crew, you must leave as a crew.

With my fiancee' still living in China, I carry both. Some Chinese Consulates here in the US will allow you to hold both whereas I have found that Houston will not. I have found that the embassy in Chicago works best. If Chicago isn't the best choice, you can try one closer to you and use Chicago as a backup.

Let me know if you have any questions. I always get a multiple entry 60 day duration (L) Tourist visa that is good for one year. If you arrive early, you can pick up the same day.

Happy Travels,

Whale

Thedude

Not true. I have entered as a tourist and left as crew and vice versa. When you leave they really don't care.

Also some countries have an agreement and don't need Visas to enter. I was flying a contract for an Itialian company and when we flew in (with a US passport) we did not need visas (at least valid ones).

Whale Pilot

Dude,

You can't be talking about China.....

I've been flying in and out for over 10 years and you cannot enter the PRC without what I have described. However, Hong Kong and Macau operate on different rules if that if what you are referring to..

With my future wife and I owning multiple properties, and numerous travels within the PRC, I believe I know what I am talking about.

Regards,

Whale

Thedude

Yup, I am sure am. I used to do PVG and SZX on a regular basis.
Also had a f/e get a 2 or 3 time entry tourist visa and go over on vacation and meanwhile his crew visa ran out and didn't have time to get it renewed and they let him while operating as a crewmember (I was there). His next trip over (with me again) he had a new crew visa and they stamped the last spot on his tourist visa. This happened last fall ANC-PVG.

Would I try to go to China on a crew visa while non-reving etc. No way. I have already been deported fror PEK because of that manuever, thanks to my company. But I was always able to get across on the ferry from HKG with crew only.

I hear that you can get a tourist visa at immigration if you already have a crew visa or expired visa and have 2 passport size photos with you. Personally, I would not take the chance.

Thedude

Slice this is what I would do and what I am about to do.
Buy a full fare refundable ticket with the approx dates you are planning to travel. I assume you are gonna stay in a hotel while you there, so go ahead and make reservation.
Print out the hotel reservation and airline reservations to take them to the embassy. As soon as you get the visa, cancel the ticket since it is fully refundable and cancel the hotel reservation if you don't need them.
I believe you have 90 days from the time the visa start date is to actually use it.

(You maybe be able to do an ID90 for the ticket, I am not sure since the company I used to work for did not have access to ID90s)

If you think you may be going back to China get the longest visa they will allow you since all the visa validty periods cost the same. I hear that until the olympics are over they are limiting the visa to 2 entries over 90 days if you have never had a Chinese visa before.
If you dont have the time to go to the embassy yourself, there are plenty of agencies that will handle it for you for about $70+ depending on how fast you need it.

TheBaron

Maybe it's the way you have this worded, but it doesn't sound quite right to me. I have entered PVG many times as an operating crew member and left several days later on commercial flights to DH home (and vice versa.) All I have is my crew visa. I also carry a CHOP letter but almost never have to show it (maybe 1 in 20 times.)

Slice

Thanks for the help guys. Last time I headed out of PVG it was commercial. It took a few extra minutes and a phone call for some reason, but I only had a crew visa...