Visa's

There's a general clampdown on the issuing of casual F visas before the Olympic games. These are the 6-month or 1 -year visas for independent business-persons, students and travelers. A lot of students and post-students use them. Tourist visas are presumably still available, but require exit every 30 days without renewal.

The International Herald Tribune had an interesting and disturbing story about China visas in their April 24, 2008 front page story "Expat life in Beijing takes an ominous turn". "Residents who in the past could easily extend yearlong tourist or business visa have been instructed to reapply in their home countries; even if their applications are approved, officials are only giving 30-day visas." Even business people are having difficulties visiting their plants in China now. "Hong Kong executives accustomed to visiting mainland factories or construction projects every few days are now spending one day each week waiting for new visas that are only good for single or double entry." The situation is not good and people in Hong Kong are very upset, including me.