Sometimes the most simple questions produce a wealth of
information. I can't remember how I origninally found his
blog, but I decided to send him an email.
"Hello Old Codger,
I would guess that you might be younger than I if you are teaching actively. My question has nothing to do with teaching, but about retirement. I'm an expat, having lived in Thailand full time since '96. But I'm thinking of leaving and have become intrigued with Hainan Island. One obstacle I have encountered is obtaining accurate information about a long-stay visa.
If you can help me out with information .. point me in the right direction, I will appreciate it.
Regards from Thailand,
David"
the following was taken from Old Codger's email
"Good Day David:
First, thanks for visiting The Old Codger web site.
A bit surprised at your interest in Hainan Island. You must like typhoons and a lot of rain. LOL
Visas in China are a bit like those in Thailand, but without a lot of the complications and need for a lot of money in the bank. Definite advantages! The similarities in the Visas seems to be that the rules are all subject to individual interpretation rather than what is written in the regulations. How a visa renewal is handled seems to be pretty much up to the local police office which somehow is also part of the immigration department.
Typically, a tourist visa can be obtained for a maximum period of 6 months - two periods of three months if memory serves me correct. Believe that the cost is now USD $130 at the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok. If you want 24 hour service there is an additional charge. Otherwise, it is a four day wait. Make sure that you have plenty of blank pages in your passport - 6 would be the minimum.
When it comes to renewing your visa, this is where things can get murky. A visa can be extended. I have heard of it happening over in Nanning. Nanning has a lot of foreigners visiting there -- it is considered as the Lonely Heart's Center of China. A lot of single women in Nanning are looking for foreign husbands, so there are a lot of foreigners coming there for that purpose. Kind of like Udon Thani there in Thailand (natives looking for falangs to marry - though here it is Lao Wais - old foreigners) These men have been able to have their visas renewed because the original visa was issued in their home country, I believe.
I say "I believe" because I have heard of many people who have had to leave the country and return to their home country in order to obtain a different type of visa from the Chinese consulate / embassy there, or have the original one renewed. My cousin is one such person. Once that has happened, then there is no problem of having the visas renewed from what I understand. To clarify this however, this was also happening during the run up to, and immediately subsequent to the Olympics. If things have changed, I am not aware of it.
A residency visa can be obtained after one has been in the country for a period of 5 years. All that must be demonstrated is that the individual have a place to live and has enough money to support himself. At this time, from what I understand, there is no minimum amount required per month or per year.
In short - once again, it appears that things are pretty much left up to whoever is in charge at the local offices. To renew a visa takes about a week or so, for some reason.
The best advice that I can give you is to basically, give it a shot. Prepare yourself by getting a copy of your police record from your local country's embassy before coming. Once you are here you can get a complete physical from a local facility. Save your rent receipts and what not. Be able to prove that you are self sufficient. If the local police are foreigner friendly, it might not be a major problem. As stated, the most foreign friendly place that I am aware of is Nanning.
Offering "tea money" is not appropriate. Here in China, "tea money" is solicited from locals but never foreigners. They are afraid that the foreigner will turn them in.
Know that there isn't too much solid information here - but it just doesn't seem to exist for the most part. Ideally, you would like to go in and discuss extending your visa a couple of weeks before it is due to expire, rather than wating until the last minute. Find yourself someone that speaks the local lingo and English and take them with you. The Chinese are similar to the Thais - they often don't fully hear what you are saying in English.
Good luck.
The Old Codger"
The Old Codger is semi-retired, lives in Nantong, China; and
writes a very nice blog Old
Codger.
I would guess that you might be younger than I if you are teaching actively. My question has nothing to do with teaching, but about retirement. I'm an expat, having lived in Thailand full time since '96. But I'm thinking of leaving and have become intrigued with Hainan Island. One obstacle I have encountered is obtaining accurate information about a long-stay visa.
If you can help me out with information .. point me in the right direction, I will appreciate it.
Regards from Thailand,
David"
the following was taken from Old Codger's email
"Good Day David:
First, thanks for visiting The Old Codger web site.
A bit surprised at your interest in Hainan Island. You must like typhoons and a lot of rain. LOL
Visas in China are a bit like those in Thailand, but without a lot of the complications and need for a lot of money in the bank. Definite advantages! The similarities in the Visas seems to be that the rules are all subject to individual interpretation rather than what is written in the regulations. How a visa renewal is handled seems to be pretty much up to the local police office which somehow is also part of the immigration department.
Typically, a tourist visa can be obtained for a maximum period of 6 months - two periods of three months if memory serves me correct. Believe that the cost is now USD $130 at the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok. If you want 24 hour service there is an additional charge. Otherwise, it is a four day wait. Make sure that you have plenty of blank pages in your passport - 6 would be the minimum.
When it comes to renewing your visa, this is where things can get murky. A visa can be extended. I have heard of it happening over in Nanning. Nanning has a lot of foreigners visiting there -- it is considered as the Lonely Heart's Center of China. A lot of single women in Nanning are looking for foreign husbands, so there are a lot of foreigners coming there for that purpose. Kind of like Udon Thani there in Thailand (natives looking for falangs to marry - though here it is Lao Wais - old foreigners) These men have been able to have their visas renewed because the original visa was issued in their home country, I believe.
I say "I believe" because I have heard of many people who have had to leave the country and return to their home country in order to obtain a different type of visa from the Chinese consulate / embassy there, or have the original one renewed. My cousin is one such person. Once that has happened, then there is no problem of having the visas renewed from what I understand. To clarify this however, this was also happening during the run up to, and immediately subsequent to the Olympics. If things have changed, I am not aware of it.
A residency visa can be obtained after one has been in the country for a period of 5 years. All that must be demonstrated is that the individual have a place to live and has enough money to support himself. At this time, from what I understand, there is no minimum amount required per month or per year.
In short - once again, it appears that things are pretty much left up to whoever is in charge at the local offices. To renew a visa takes about a week or so, for some reason.
The best advice that I can give you is to basically, give it a shot. Prepare yourself by getting a copy of your police record from your local country's embassy before coming. Once you are here you can get a complete physical from a local facility. Save your rent receipts and what not. Be able to prove that you are self sufficient. If the local police are foreigner friendly, it might not be a major problem. As stated, the most foreign friendly place that I am aware of is Nanning.
Offering "tea money" is not appropriate. Here in China, "tea money" is solicited from locals but never foreigners. They are afraid that the foreigner will turn them in.
Good luck.
The Old Codger"
