Hello, any fellow travellers to China.   Im very excited about this holiday, looking forward to meeting my fellow travellers and and am busy preparing my packing list.    I do have slight anxiety over the Visa.   I submitted my application through the new online process over a week ago and when checking the website it is still under review.   I need to plan my trips to London and obviously cannot yet as I have not had an email to tell me its time to submit my passport.   Im wondering if anyone else has successfully managed to get their Visa yet?   Tina

It has been a nightmare trying to get my VISA for China in the end I used Sherpa and I have just received my passport with Visa back today - that is after about a month of filling in various forms - during which time apparently the Chinese embassy changed the form?

It wasn't clear whether I needed to go to the Chinese Embassy in person - over 70's don't need to go under 70's do but what happens to those aged 70?

The form asked for information on my highest academic qualification now is that a MSc or an MBA? Plus it asked for the date I started the course and date of completion - I was lucky I could remember the year let alone the month and day

If anyone uses Sherpa they you do need to check the information entered on the form as there were numerous errors on mine and it took over a week to get any changes made 

I was lucky as eventually I was assigned an individual at Sherpa who kept on chasing my application and providing me with an update on progress

To be honest the whole process has put me off ever going to China again - so I hope this trip has been worth all the effort

Good Luck to anyone who is still trying to get their VISA

Oh my word, you have had a nightmare.    I have just checked and see that my visa application has at last been approved.    So, I will make the trip to Liverpool Street on Friday or early next week and will have my fingers crossed and hope that all goes well.    I'm sad to see that most of the EU doesn't need a VISA, another "benefit" of BREXIT, I suppose.       I too am over 70, and its says I can send someone else as we don't need fingerprinting, but someone has to go.      Excitement building though, not long now.

 

Hello Tina 

The visa application process has been a worry.. I have now eventually received my confirmation Email and just need to get to London to collect it/ finger prints/ postage. I have bought a prepaid, traceable , speedy postage envelope for return of my visa.

It took about 11 working days in the 'in review' status.

I am very much looking forward to our adventures but this has not to been a simple process ! Hopefully we can offer future travelers a few tips ! 

Good luck with yours and I look forward to meeting you soon

Julia 

 

Hi Julia,  I went up to London yesterday as my application was approved.     Honestly it was the most painfree part of the process.   Once there it was very easy, although being over 70 I didnt need fingerprinting,   10 people in the payment queue downstairs and £130 lighter I will be picking up my passport with VISA on Tuesday.      Not long now until our adventure.

Tina

Hello Tina 

The visa application process has been a worry.. I have now eventually received my confirmation Email and just need to get to London to collect it/ finger prints/ postage. I have bought a prepaid, traceable , speedy postage envelope for return of my visa.

It took about 11 working days in the 'in review' status.

I am very much looking forward to our adventures but this has not to been a simple process ! Hopefully we can offer future travelers a few tips ! 

Good luck with yours and I look forward to meeting you soon

Julia 

 

I'm glad you're sorted Tina 

I can't get to the visa office until next week so I'm pleased to hear it's a very easy process.  

I look forward to meeting you all in a few weeks when our adventures commence! 

Hi

My application was approved last week, so I will head down to London this week. I really hope this part of the process is painless. I want to make sure I have everything I need when I go to the Visa Centre.

Either way, I look forward to meeting you all soon and exchanging our visa stories at the start of the trip and our wonderful memories at the end of the trip.

Mani

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