We are coming to Nanning on the 11 June and planned to leave on the 15 July.

It appears however that now the Chinese Embassy in the UK is restricting visas to 2 months instead of 3 with a maximum stay of 30 days. The 2 months is not a problem but the 30 days limit is!

Our options seem to be either (i) change our inbound flights to 10 July or (ii) get a double entry visa,leave China,and return.

Both options involve further expenditure and inconvenience.

Anybody any other suggestions??

Do we need visas for Viet Nam? Being close to the border that might be a possibility using a double entry visa-just go for a couple of hours to get the passports/visas stamped and return.

Hi Peter,
Yes, you need a visa to go to Vietnam, the cost is 400 rmb (I think) and you can obtain it from the Vietnamese Consulate on Minzhu Dadao, near to the 5-elephant square. You would also need a double entry Chinese visa.
There is a much easier way: you can extend your class L visa once by going to the PSB in Nanning and paying about 160 rmb. I have the forms and details, so I'll catch up with you when you arrive.
Have a good trip.
Graham

PS. Just thought of something else, Have you told the UK Chinese Consulate that you are married to a Chinese National and have a residence in Nanning? I would have thought they would issue you with at least a 90 day visa.

Peter, you do need a visa to go into Vietnam unless you are a passenger in transit (ie: connecting flight and you don't go through immigration). I know of a few people that have done what you are suggesting, visited Vietnam for the day then came back. I think the changes happening are Olympic's related as i believe there are now difficulties in gaining multi entry visa's there for China. If you google "vietnam+visa" there is a company that does it over the web and you produce your passport on arrival to pickup the visa if you want to organise it beforehand or go to the consulate here when you have arrived, if my memory serves me correctly (been drinking too much beer with Graham lately ) . Of course if you want to make a day or two of it there is a direct flight to Ho Chi Minh city from Nanning.

Thanks for the info chaps-Graham,your idea about being married to a Chinese lady would have worked before Lian got British citizenship and a British passport and the property is in WeWen's name. I guess I should have kept both Chinese and British passports for Lian but I did not foresee this snag. However the extension to maximum stay by going to the PSB sounds brilliant.

I think I should apply for a double entry visa to be on the safe side-yes Mcrobski, I am sure you are right about the Olympics dimension to the problem.

Thanks for the tips anyway lads!!

All suggestions gratefully received!

I will phone up my Travel Visa Company on Saturday and try and find out was it going on.
Dave and Wu Ming

Thanks Robert for the up to date information. It doesn't seem 15 months ago since I visited Hanoi.

Visa upon arrival is available for airport in Hanoi capital city, Ho chi minh city (Saigon) and Danang city. http://www.visatovietnam.org/index.php

Vietnamese citizens living in other countries are granted visa exemption. But most other foreigners require a visa before entry, unless they enter via the above 3 airports.

Who needs a visa to Vietnam ?

Only citizens of certain countries can visit Vietnam without Vietnam entry visa. Those countries include:

- Most citizens of ASEAN member countries (Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Lao, Philippines and Brunei) don't need Vietnam visa for visiting Vietnam within 30 days;

- Citizens of Korea, Japan & Scandinavians (Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland passport holders) are no need Vietnam visa for visit Vietnam within 15 days.

All other citizens are required to get Vietnam entry visa before departure (Vietnam visa issued prior to departure by Vietnamese consulates or embassies) or a pre-approved Vietnam entry visa (visa is issued on arrival at Vietnam’s International Airports) supplied before arrival in Vietnam.
http://www.visa-vietnam.org/?Itemid=37

http://www.visa-vietnam.org/news-event/ordinance-on-entry-exit-and-residence-of-foreigners-in-vi.html?Itemid=28

Also:
http://www.e-travelvietnam.com/visaexemption.asp

There is a Vietnam consulate in Nanning so it is easy to get a visa before you travel, it takes 4 or 5 days.

Graham

Hi, My wife still has her Chinese passport. Does she want to keep this? or do we want to try for an american passport? I would appreciate all and any information. robertaaagraham@sbcglobal.net thanks, robert

Chinese/American Passport
Robert Graham
When your wife applies for her American passport she will have to relinquish her Chinese passport. America does not recognize dual citizenship with China. My wife could not wait to get rid of her Chinese passport. The American passport is King, it's accepted everywhere and there is an element of protection when in another country.

Johnd, Thanks. Will this cause a problem when we return to Nanning to live? We are planning on retiring there. All of her family live there and I have come to love the place. Do you have to renew your visa regularly or is there a permanent reidence visa available? robert

UK do allow dual citizenship but China doesn't. Since we also intend returning to live semipermanently in China my wife doesn't want UK Citizenship, just permanent leave to remain...
She says if she takes out UK Citizenship and the Chinese find out they will rescind her Chinese Citizenship.
I'm not sure how true any of this is and would appreciate any advice.
David

Even though China doesn't recognise dual nationality it is very prudent to keep BOTH passports valid. I have a friend who has done this and it is only beneficial. For example. she doesn't need to obtain a visa to enter China if she visits, and if her circumstances change in the future she can return to live in China. She has UK and Chinese passports.
Graham

ChinaTyke is right about the UK & China. I stated US and they will not allow you to keep the Chinese passport. I don't remember when she HAD to give it up, Green Card or Citizenship interview.

Hi David
My Wife never wanted a UK passport, when she passed her #Life in the UK test# we applied for the #Right to remain# and we were granted it.
so now she is happy, she remains Chinese but with the right to enter or leave the uk when she wishes, and as the boys above have said she does not need to apply for a visa to return home (which is where we are now)
All she has got to do is renew her passport (either here or in London) when it expires
John

Hi John,
That sounds like what my wife wants to do. The only problem is that I rather wanted to take her for a holiday to USA to see Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon and to India to see the Taj Mahal etc... I suppose we can restrict our travels to China, Uk and Europe with a Shenzen visa without too much hardship. It will probably take me the rest of my life to travel around seeing everything in China anyway.
David