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International Law

: China Hearsay

China Visa Follies

By Stan

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One of the all-time favorite topics of expats in China — visas. Jim Fallows announces his most recent success:

Got my Chinese visa renewed! These things are never a gimme, and the outcome isn’t always easy to predict by what we might call logical factors. Eg: last summer’s rash of visa denials at just the time Beijing was "inviting the world" for the Olympics. Tale of my original visa woes included in this article. Lesson of experience: if you’re applying in the US, stick with the LA and San Francisco consulates. Hyper-busy, which has its drawbacks (bring a book! bring two!) but means that the questioning when you get to the window often boils down to "will you pay extra for rush processing?" Suggested answer: yes.

I’m jealous. I recently had some fun in the LA Consulate myself. While there, I enjoyed the following conversation with the official processing my wife’s application:

Me: So you will accept my application for a Z visa, but you are refusing the one from my wife?

Official: Correct. The form you were issued by the Ministry of Justice has your name on it, but not your wife’s name. Therefore I can’t give her a Z visa.

Me: So what do I need to do?

Official: I need to see her name on that form.

Me: I understand, but that form from the Ministry of Justice certifies that I am a foreign lawyer. Obviously my wife is not a foreign lawyer, so the Ministry of Justice will not add her name.

Official: I need to see her name on that form.

Me: And I can’t give you that.

Official: Then I will reject the application.

Me: But as my spouse, she is eligible for a Z visa, correct?

Official: Yes, that’s right.

Me: So there should be a way for you to accept the application.

Official: If I don’t get her name on that form, I will reject the application. That’s all I can do.

Me: If I told you that one of my colleagues with the exact same documents made the same application last month at the San Francisco Consulate, and had no problem, would you be surprised? [this is true]

Official: If I don’t get her name on that form, I will reject the application. That’s all I can do.

Two years ago, when my wife and I decided that she would go for U.S. citizenship (giving up her PRC passport in the process), it seemed like a great idea. We’re not so sure anymore.

To wrap this up, I think the LA Consulate is off my list of places to go for visas, although at least it wasn’t crowded.