It's getting more complicated.
I have all the documents needed (vaccination and insurance) for entry into Thailand since they don't require a Covid test.
I'll only be staying for a few days, though, then I'm moving on to Canada.
Technically I'm not transiting in Bangkok, so there's no connecting flight, but Canada will still want the covid test (in English or French) because I've been in China within 10 days.
As usual it seems the only notification I receive is from GoKunming forums. Airline and travel agent have not given any notification and browsing the web just in the past hour yields nothing from Thailand either.
The change in arrival is confirmed by a story on CNN this morning. I notice that even though there is no quarantine, it may still be necessary to have a negative covid test:
"Travelers still must take a Covid test before arriving in China, but passengers will no longer need to submit their results to a Chinese embassy or consulate and apply for a code. Starting January 8, travelers can test and display the result before they board the plane."
I'm interested in the answer to Kelisi's question, but since I'll be going out in January and returning in late February or early March the rules may have changed a dozen times between now and then.
OK, lots of changes and new information we need to know about. Let me start by answering my own question.
If you are here on an L Visa, visiting family, then you can change to the Q or S Visa without going out of China. Also, since those two Visa classes lead to a residence permit they will do the residence permit at the same time as the Visa so no extra trip to the PSB is needed.
The Q Visa
Yesterday my wife and I went to the PSB. She recently got a new passport and her Visa was about to expire today. Here's what we learned:
First of all, my wife is here to take care of her sister who is seriously disabled after a major stroke. That's no problem for the Visa, however, they now wanted proof of the relationship which we never had to provide before! That required a trip to the police station to have them go through the archives (manual records - not computer) to find that information. I was quite impressed that they located it in only 10 minutes.
Back to the PSB with that new information. They now told my wife she could get a 1 year Q visa (that would be a Q1) but to get a 2 year she would need to go to a specific hospital to get a health certificate. It's nice to know about this but we just didn't have time with the current Visa expiring, but next time ....
The S Visa
I just have to prove my relationship with my wife to get the S Visa with the same expiry as my wife. I'm guessing they'll also want the health certificate for a 2 year. For many years now they've just been accepting our marriage certificate. Now they want that certificate notarized by the consulate. That means I have to make a trip to Chongqing (Canadian Consulate) to get that done at a greater expense than a taxi trip to the PSB. I'll need to phone and ensure that the Canadian consulate will do this for a marriage certificate issued in Las Vegas or do I then need to go to the American consulate in Chengdu as well?
The new rules seem a bit strange, but in the long term will be quite a bit more convenient for us. Also, if they're issuing longer term visas then there should be (eventually) a reduction in the workload at the PSB.
It also does not address which of the VISAs may be issued (on renewal) here in Kunming. For example, can my wife and I change from L visa to Q and S without having to leave Kunming?
This is not a uniquely Chinese problem either. It seems people in government jobs all over the world follow the patter. In Canada and the US the politicians like to claim there is no corruption, while at the same time they all have their "entitlements", like free lunches, apartments and limousines at the tax payers expense.
Toronto councilors even made trips to Shanghai to "study" the transit system, then went home and did nothing with it.
People may have three consecutive days off work or school, but they went to work or school on Saturday and Sunday to make up for some of that lost time.
Had my first ever visit to Slice of Heaven last night for a group party. Barbara recognized me as a newcomer and immediately came to welcome me and introduce herself.
While speaking with her at the counter, a server walked past with a pizza for one table. The aroma immediately caught my attention. It was awesome.
Our group shared 4 different pizzas. All were amazing. I think the sauce really makes the difference since it was very flavourful. I also put back to cups of cappuccino. I guess they must have fixed problems noted in other reviews because I found it to be quite good.
If I lived closer I would be a regular here.
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New visa and residence regulations for the PRC
Posted byOK, lots of changes and new information we need to know about. Let me start by answering my own question.
If you are here on an L Visa, visiting family, then you can change to the Q or S Visa without going out of China. Also, since those two Visa classes lead to a residence permit they will do the residence permit at the same time as the Visa so no extra trip to the PSB is needed.
The Q Visa
Yesterday my wife and I went to the PSB. She recently got a new passport and her Visa was about to expire today. Here's what we learned:
First of all, my wife is here to take care of her sister who is seriously disabled after a major stroke. That's no problem for the Visa, however, they now wanted proof of the relationship which we never had to provide before! That required a trip to the police station to have them go through the archives (manual records - not computer) to find that information. I was quite impressed that they located it in only 10 minutes.
Back to the PSB with that new information. They now told my wife she could get a 1 year Q visa (that would be a Q1) but to get a 2 year she would need to go to a specific hospital to get a health certificate. It's nice to know about this but we just didn't have time with the current Visa expiring, but next time ....
The S Visa
I just have to prove my relationship with my wife to get the S Visa with the same expiry as my wife. I'm guessing they'll also want the health certificate for a 2 year. For many years now they've just been accepting our marriage certificate. Now they want that certificate notarized by the consulate. That means I have to make a trip to Chongqing (Canadian Consulate) to get that done at a greater expense than a taxi trip to the PSB. I'll need to phone and ensure that the Canadian consulate will do this for a marriage certificate issued in Las Vegas or do I then need to go to the American consulate in Chengdu as well?
The new rules seem a bit strange, but in the long term will be quite a bit more convenient for us. Also, if they're issuing longer term visas then there should be (eventually) a reduction in the workload at the PSB.
New visa and residence regulations for the PRC
Posted byIt also does not address which of the VISAs may be issued (on renewal) here in Kunming. For example, can my wife and I change from L visa to Q and S without having to leave Kunming?
Shangri-la hit by 5.9 earthquake
Posted by"Travellers in affected areas have been asked to leave until blocked roads are reopened"
If the roads are blocked, how will the travellers leave?
Beijing attempts to curtail "excessive" government spending
Posted byThis is not a uniquely Chinese problem either. It seems people in government jobs all over the world follow the patter. In Canada and the US the politicians like to claim there is no corruption, while at the same time they all have their "entitlements", like free lunches, apartments and limousines at the tax payers expense.
Toronto councilors even made trips to Shanghai to "study" the transit system, then went home and did nothing with it.
Dragon Boat Festival
Posted byPeople may have three consecutive days off work or school, but they went to work or school on Saturday and Sunday to make up for some of that lost time.