China Visa

[Always Moving]

What do the staffing companies mean by China Visa?
I mean what kind of visa? tourist, business?
You can not even get a legal visa to China if you do not know when, where, with whom, etc, etc,etc.

[GIVSP]

(C) Crew visa.
You need a sponsor to get one - usually your dispatch or a handling company would apply for one. They can be issued with many different terms, but are usually incremental - a 2 entry visa first and then gradually becoming more open as you apply more often. For instance, my current crew visa is a multiple entry with a 5 year validity, max stay 1 month.

[arketip]

Ow about if you position in/out using an airline?

[A Pandy]

The Company I fly for usually just use multiple entry business visas. If you use a commercial airline to either position in or out you will require a special letter in Chinese that explains why that was done.
The letter format can be given to you by a local handler. I have used it myself. It can cause some confusion at the check in desk when you leave but eventually they understand what is being done.

[McMax]

gonna hijack this thread...
I want to be get a Visa for China in order to be able to do some freelance work in the region.
Any idea how to get an invitation letter without an actual trip planned and therefore no handler at hand?

[DCThumb]

Contact Vaz at Altitude 8 - I’m sure he’ll sort it (for a price of course!)

[Daifly]

Vas has expanded, it's Altitude 50 ;)

Altitude50.com (http://www.altitude50.com)

[gulliBell]

I want to be get a Visa for China in order to be able to do some freelance work in the region.

You can't work in China without a work permit, and you can't get a work permit without a sponsor. So, there is no such thing as freelance work in China. You work for your sponsor, and they take care of the visa.

[Globally Challenged]

We found the 2 entry crew visas to be useless as you use up 1 entry even on a tech stop where you don’t leave the aircraft.

We we now have 2 year multi entry business visas sponsored by JSC.

[McMax]

You can't work in China without a work permit, and you can't get a work permit without a sponsor. So, there is no such thing as freelance work in China. You work for your sponsor, and they take care of the visa.


I don’t wanna work for a Chinese company, just trying to sort out a Visa for short notice freelance trips into or out of China.
But I do understand the while sponsor requirement...

[oz_faf81]

If you fly private ops, tourist or business visa are enough and better (maximum length of stay 30 days vs 10 on a crew visa).

[McMax]

Thanks oz_faf81, it is private ops...

[dc9-32]

We found the 2 entry crew visas to be useless as you use up 1 entry even on a tech stop where you don’t leave the aircraft.

A Visa is not required for a 1hr fuel stop so long as you don't want to leave the aircraft.

[tommoutrie]

We found the 2 entry crew visas to be useless as you use up 1 entry even on a tech stop where you don’t leave the aircraft.

A Visa is not required for a 1hr fuel stop so long as you don't want to leave the aircraft.

its China. What is a one hour fuel stop? Last time I tried that they made us shut the aircraft down completely and go in to have our passports checked. We had to be checked together as a crew so we couldnt leave anyone on the aircraft which is why it had to be shut diwn. The fuel came and went while we were inside. So it took hours to fuel. Wouldnt fancy that without a visa!

i think a business visa is ok for GA ops irrespective of whether its public transport or private. My inderstanding is that you only need an aircrew visa for scheduled ops. Happy to be corrected - worked in china for the last two years without a problem kn a business visa.

[dc9-32]

1hr fuel stops are no problem in China if you select the right airports and use the right handler.

On the Visa, the rules are that a Visa is not required for a fuel stop so if forced to the terminal by the feds, then you are doing so under force. If you don't have a Visa, it is the feds who cause you a problem. My advice, check with your handling agent and ensure they are present when making a fuel stop.

[tommoutrie]

1hr fuel stops are no problem in China if you select the right airports and use the right handler.

On the Visa, the rules are that a Visa is not required for a fuel stop so if forced to the terminal by the feds, then you are doing so under force. If you don't have a Visa, it is the feds who cause you a problem. My advice, check with your handling agent and ensure they are present when making a fuel stop.

At some Chinese airports (Beijing, for instance) the handling agent is not allowed airside. You deap with the handling agent by phone and the ramp company will supply the services that you previously requested. That is absolutely fine when it works. When it doesnt, or if you go tech, its an absolute nightmare. My advice, which is based on having been there and plenty of other Chinese airports, is get a business visa. Because China is a tough place to negotiate when you cant leave for three hours because the GA ramp shuts because of an unplanned government movement and you run out of hours to continue. The handling agents do not swing a very big bat in china -when it falls apart they are powerless.

[tommoutrie]

I met a crew in a falcon having a nightmare with the refuellers who didnt actually realise that the guys on the ramp werent their handlers - the handling agent couldnt come airside and they were arguing with the Capital Jet facilitator. Lots of rules in China, not much flexibility.. I realise you can stop without a visa but it puts you in a crappy positon if plans change and you have to position out on an airliner..

[Klimax]

Get a Business visa via a China handler arranging the invitation. The timeframe if ur efficient and they are is 2-4 days for that. Go to the consulate or embassy and expect 1-5 days handling, pay for express service. Expect invitation letter from China country cost approx 100usd and Express Visa service approx 100usd. Agree Business Visa much more
ussfull than screw visa. Good luck.