For all those that have been to China...

[Serpent]

Have you ever had a problem leaving China when you chose to? Did you need any special exit visas or anything like that?

[Brad]

I had a tougher time leaving L.A. than I did China :D That was pre 9-11 though. Have things changed much since then?

[oasis]

just dont try to smuggle any antiquities, especially if they're from shaolin! ;)

[zbloff2]

I had no problems, but then I flew out from Hong Kong...

Btw... trying to explain that you want to change your flight-ticket over a crappy phoneline to someone with limited english is an interesting experience =)
After that experience I just made my way to Hong Kong, walked into their office and got it sorted out :)
Hmm... I wanna go back again.. lucky you!

[triskellin]

i was in china at the beginning of this yr, and u don't need any special exit visas. the one u get from the chinese consulate in sydney will state how many entries u intend to make, so if u want to leave and go and back in, just put it on the form. if ur talking about customs, it's very laxed over there... in fact it's too laxed imo. they're suppose to do a medical check when u leave, so u don't take sars or other diseases with u, but they stamped my form without even looking at me. i had no problems with weapons, but they do check it at sydney airport when ur coming back in. mine were all blunt cept for 1 sword that was semi sharp, but i put that one down the bottom, so they only checked the first 2 :D dvds were all put in an inconspicuos cd folder, so they didn't bother checking that either. i just declared a few obvious things like the weapons and food, and hid all the other stuff away, hehe.

[Kristoffer]

lol checkin up on her eh?

I didn't have any problem either. Bear in mind we were a large group and had about 70 kg of weapons with us. They didn't care at all

[GLW]

The only real issue you may have will be in your airline ticket if you are doing it yourself. If you are with a tour, they will probably handle it...

Anyway, for the airline, you need to check your ticket. There is probably a note about contacting the airline to confirm your reservation within a certain number of days prior to travelling. If you do NOT do this, your seat will be reassigned and you will have to pay a service charge or an upgrade. I had this happen to me in 1994. Luckily, I knew someone that was friends with the head of security at the airport. They made a phone call and got me squared away.

As for going through customs as you leave, they tend to ignore a lot of personal use things. You know, the small stuff. It is sort of a nudge nudge, wink wink thing. However, if you are obviously skirting the issue of declaring things, they will get nasty fast.

In 2002, we had a group from Africa ahead of us in Guangzhou. They were OBVIOUSLY running an import business in their homeland...and had BOXES of things that they were claiming were their own clothes. Only two of the group of 6 or 7 got on the plane...and THEY were claiming diplomatic immunity while being escorted out of the baggage check area.

[omarthefish]

Don't believe everything you hear.

The PRC is not NEARLY as authoritarian as they are made out to be in the states. For example, did you know that it is actually a relatively simple matter even for Chinese to leave the country? It's no big deal. It's the US that won't let them in. The Chinese government issues passports easily enough.

As a foreigner it's easier still.

They really don't care.

As long as your not out there spreading the word of Jesus in the schools or trying to learn Falun Gong they pretty much roll out the red carpet for you.

If you are an American in China they pretty much kiss your ass.

[Shaolinlueb]

ill tell you when i go in december

[GeneChing]

I've had more problems getting in than getting out. There is an exit tax, but it's only like 300 yuan or so ($30). I've had my luggage searched getting in several times, but never getting out. I've also had trouble transporting liquor domestically (it cannot be in carry on anymore). I've taken out some antique weapons, but I've never had problems with that either.

[Meat Shake]

Those *******s wont let me bring liquor on the plane?
Bah. Ill be enjoying my first 21 year old plane flight with *legal* beverages in november.
:D

[Mutant]

When I was there it was just as easy as traveling in Europe, no problems getting in or leaving, but that was pre- 9/11.
You'd probably have more hassle returning to the US than getting out of China these days i'd guess. Just make sure you get a valid visa and leave within the timeframe before it expires and you shouldnt have any problems leaving.

That is, unless they decide to keep you, mwaahahahaha :eek:

[Serpent]

Hmmm. See, I posted this wondering if it might help blooming lotus find out why she was having so much trouble leaving China. But it seems that leaving China really isn't an issue, so I wonder why she claims to be having so much hassle?

[Toby]

They just love her soooo much they can't bear to see her go. She's such an awesome teacher, plus they need someone to be head of English at all the universities.

[Serpent]

Funny how she hasn't commented on this thread, huh...

[blooming lotus]

just found it as a matter of fact, and how many of you "breezey exiters" have done it on a working visa, let alone one at a school / firm that neglected to extend your visa ( paperwork / smaper work ) and resulted in a visa overstay....I'm just going to ahead and say this,

I have bought three tickets home, 4 weeks of hotel, net, travel and food costs ( and i'm only eating a few eggs and milk and juice of each day usually) and I have nearly NO $$ left. To work on would be illegal, and for all the hardships I've seen, including heated armed confrontations, I've never believed more that I am going to die.........


Besides on these boards, I negotiate for my life with every single call I make and message I send, let alone train/ taxi ride I take, and to date no such joy.............


and so is life as a foreigner here on a work visa where arrangements are negotiable ( just not by you ) and language is not sufficent enough to bargin.

take care if you come and beware the "work visa"!!

[unkokusai]

Originally posted by omarthefish
Don't believe everything you hear.

The PRC is not NEARLY as authoritarian as they are made out to be in the states. For example, did you know that it is actually a relatively simple matter even for Chinese to leave the country? It's no big deal. It's the US that won't let them in. The Chinese government issues passports easily enough.

As a foreigner it's easier still.

They really don't care.

As long as your not out there spreading the word of Jesus in the schools or trying to learn Falun Gong they pretty much roll out the red carpet for you.

If you are an American in China they pretty much kiss your ass.


Somebody's been drinking the Koolaide too long.

[unkokusai]

Originally posted by Serpent
Hmmm. See, I posted this wondering if it might help blooming lotus find out why she was having so much trouble leaving China. But it seems that leaving China really isn't an issue, so I wonder why she claims to be having so much hassle?


'Cause it's hard to leave an imaginary land? 'She' is a middle-aged man living in a trailer struggling to construct a reality through a haze of glue and cheap booze.

[Ka]

I've done it on a work visa, a student visa and a tourist visa.
One time I even flew from Changmai to Kuming without any dramas.
All no problems but will admit it helps a sh!t load to speak the language and stay with reputable bussinesses and unis.

[blooming lotus]

I have spoken to soo many teachers here who have had schools comprimise on nearly every obligation or "condition" they made in their contracts , but who had no reason to stay and so cut it before their visas expired. They give you about 1 mth after leaving the firm you were granted your visa/ experts permit through. Most initial working visas issued from your country of origin are for 1-3 mths, but when it's the extension they're dodging on , it can cause some major irresolvable differences with the PSB or visa issuing office here.

What d'you do??

[Mutant]

If thats the case why don't you go to a US embassy and tell you you want to G T F O of China?

Better hurry before Serpent emails the Chinese govenment and tells them youre an undercover Falun Gong member / Kung Fu Assassin who was sent there as a spy?!?!
Then you'd really be screwed, sent to a Manchurian prison camp for hard labor... ;)

Or maybe you should just try clicking your heels together :confused:

[GeneChing]

I got this big hassle in Beijing Airport about liquor on my last Shaolin Trip (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=468) - check it out. I retell it in the story in the first few paragraphs. :cool:

[Shaolinlueb]

so gene, is it hard to bring weapons and such back? kung fu weapons.

how about dvds and such? i never traveled outside the country before.

[blooming lotus]

Originally posted by MutantWarrior
If thats the case why don't you go to a US embassy and tell you you want to G T F O of China?

Better hurry before Serpent emails the Chinese govenment and tells them youre an undercover Falun Gong member / Kung Fu Assassin who was sent there as a spy?!?!
Then you'd really be screwed, sent to a Manchurian prison camp for hard labor... ;)

Or maybe you should just try clicking your heels together :confused:

I been clicking an hoping and clicking but no joy !! :( :rolleyes:

I'm an NZ cit w/ residency and family in Australia.thx for your thought, but not going to help .

have been in touch with the NZ embassy though, and they negotiated as far as getting "permission ( would you believe) " for me to pay my penalty fee. As it turns out, now broke as a mofo ( nearly 4 weeks , three airfares, hotel bills and food and travel costs later) , so doesn't do me jack - sh*t - good!!

Ps: if they could accept me as a falun supporter / advocate, they may just arrest and extradite me which lol, 'd solve my problems anyway!! At this stage of the game, I'm taking whatever I can get!!

B

[Brad]

To broke to pay the fee, yet you still have internet access... :confused:

[blooming lotus]

for 2 yuan an hour, so would you ;)

[Mutant]

Originally posted by blooming lotus
I been clicking an hoping and clicking but no joy !! :( :rolleyes:

I'm an NZ cit w/ residency and family in Australia.thx for your thought, but not going to help .

have been in touch with the NZ embassy though, and they negotiated as far as getting "permission ( would you believe) " for me to pay my penalty fee. As it turns out, now broke as a mofo ( nearly 4 weeks , three airfares, hotel bills and food and travel costs later) , so doesn't do me jack - sh*t - good!!

Ps: if they could accept me as a falun supporter / advocate, they may just arrest and extradite me which lol, 'd solve my problems anyway!! At this stage of the game, I'm taking whatever I can get!!

B

Well, in that case i guess youre S.O.L. :eek:
j/k - Or maybe it is time to start practicing those Falun mantras . . . .

[blooming lotus]

1st falun doesn't have mantras and second.......say what S.O.l.????

[cerebus]

S.O.L. drunken bumpkin, not S.O.I. It means "Sh!t Outta Luck". Geez, what lesson number was that? I'm losing track of them all! :p :p

[blooming lotus]

that'll 1 total ;) :rolleyes:

net stalker :eek: :cool: