Passport renewal, China visa, and Apec Card question... all on a *A circle asia fare

[olamapus]

Hi,

I need your expert advise on the following situation I am faced with:

- I am currently based in Singapore and plan to renewal my Aus passport as part of a circle asia fare. I prefer to use the priority service (2 days turnaround) to renewal my passport rather then wait 10-15 days minimum to renewal the passport from the Australian High commission in Singapore. The reason, is I need to travel fairly often for business and don't want to be restricted by not having a passport to travel whilst i wait for my application to be processed and sent to Singapore.

- I will be back in Australia for 4 days (arriving on a Monday & departing on Thursday night).

- After Sydney I will go to Auckland (1 day), Tokyo (for 2 days) and then on to Hong Kong and then cross the border into Guangzhou (China).

My questions are:
- China Visa issue: I have a 12 month multi entry visa into China. Would I need to transfer the Visa from the old passport to the new passport before I left Sydney or can I carry my visa in the old passport when using my new passport?

- When I am in Sydney, is it enough time for me to get a new passport and get the Chinese Visa in the 4 days I am in Sydney? What are the fees of transferring the visa (assuming that this is required). Or is it considered a completely new visa application?

- For the priority passport service, I would ideally like to submitt my passport application at the passport office instead of an Aust. Post Office. The passport office website says only in certain situations will they allow that. What are those special situations and what do I need to do to guarantee an interview on the Monday morning when I return to Sydney.

- I also have an APEC card application pending. My China pre-clearance has already come through. If I get my APEC card issued now (under my current-soon to be old- passport) will that suffice for entry into China under my new passport when I get it in Sydney? Also, how long does it take for them to send the APEC card to Singapore (I travel in two weeks)? Alternatively, if I can't use my APEC card (linked to old passport) with my new passport, would there be enough time to get a new APEC card (linked to new passport) in the 4 days I am in Sydney.

Please do let me know what is the best option (least risk)...

Thanks for your kind input and help !!!
​

 

[olamapus]

Re: Passport renewal, China visa, and Apec Card question... all on a *A circle asia f

Also, for reference, my routing is

SIN-SYD-AKL-NRT-HKG-SIN

I don't really need to go to AKL, so was wondering if anyone knows a way to get to Narita more efficiently from Sydney then via AKL on AirNZ...?

Edit: actually what i don't like is that the flight timings would have me fly into AKL at midnight and then have an 830am flight the next morning. My preference is to fly someway to fly SYD-NRT all on the same day if possible (and on *A as it is a *A tix that I am booked on)..

Cheers,

 

[Evan]

Re: Passport renewal, China visa, and Apec Card question... all on a *A circle asia f

I last gotr my new passport and immediately a new CN visa as my other was expired just before anyway.

You wont need an interview for a passport renewal.

2 years ago i submitted my passport directly to the office in MEL and it was more than ok to do it. So i am interested to hear it has changed and they want you to use Aust post.. strange.

 

[olamapus]

Re: Passport renewal, China visa, and Apec Card question... all on a *A circle asia f

Thanks Evan -

In terms of Chinese Visa, my Visa doesn't expire until November 2009....

So wanted to know what I need to do. Can I just take my new passport and show them the visa that is in the old passport at chinese immigration?

Or, should I go to the Chinese Consulate and do something - and that's part of my question - do they transfer the current visa to the new passport or is it an entirely new visa application....

thanks

 

[justin23]

Re: Passport renewal, China visa, and Apec Card question... all on a *A circle asia f

As soon as you get issued a new passport, your old passport will be invalid. They cut the corners off if you want it back Ie for business records.

So any visa in it will need to be renewed with the embassy consulate of that country.

 

[serfty]

... 2 years ago i submitted my passport directly to the office in MEL and it was more than ok to do it. So i am interested to hear it has changed and they want you to use Aust post.. strange.

You can still join the queues at Casseldon place if you wish.

I renewed my PP just over 12 months ago.

Filled out renewal form online (https://www.passports.gov.au/Web/Renewal/index.aspx) and printed the .pdf document provided. Filled this out and took with new photos to GPO (near work); new PP arrived 3 days later.

 

[olamapus]

Re: Passport renewal, China visa, and Apec Card question... all on a *A circle asia f

Thanks all.

Would be great if you can give me some input on this part of my question too (as maybe I don't even need to renewal the Chinese visa (??):

- I also have an APEC card application pending. My China pre-clearance has already come through. If I get my APEC card issued now (under my current-soon to be old- passport) will that suffice for entry into China under my new passport when I get it in Sydney? Also, how long does it take for them to send the APEC card to Singapore (I travel in two weeks)? Alternatively, if I can't use my APEC card (linked to old passport) with my new passport, would there be enough time to get a new APEC card (linked to new passport) in the 4 days I am in Sydney.

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: Passport renewal, China visa, and Apec Card question... all on a *A circle asia f

Thanks all.

Would be great if you can give me some input on this part of my question too (as maybe I don't even need to renewal the Chinese visa (??):

- I also have an APEC card application pending. My China pre-clearance has already come through. If I get my APEC card issued now (under my current-soon to be old- passport) will that suffice for entry into China under my new passport when I get it in Sydney? Also, how long does it take for them to send the APEC card to Singapore (I travel in two weeks)? Alternatively, if I can't use my APEC card (linked to old passport) with my new passport, would there be enough time to get a new APEC card (linked to new passport) in the 4 days I am in Sydney.

My understanding is that the APEC card is only valid with the passport number listed on it and when you get a new passport you need to request a replacement card which takes about 2 weeks

Dave

 

[auriga]

Re: Passport renewal, China visa, and Apec Card question... all on a *A circle asia f

As soon as you get issued a new passport, your old passport will be invalid. They cut the corners off if you want it back Ie for business records.

So any visa in it will need to be renewed with the embassy consulate of that country.

This is not always the case. Eg, if you have an Aust PR visa, and you renew your O/S passport, you do not need to get a new visa, as long as your previous visa has not expired. I think you are supposed to carry the old passport (with the visa sticker)as well when you travel O/S.

 

[dot]

Re: Passport renewal, China visa, and Apec Card question... all on a *A circle asia f

This is not always the case. Eg, if you have an Aust PR visa, and you renew your O/S passport, you do not need to get a new visa, as long as your previous visa has not expired. I think you are supposed to carry the old passport (with the visa sticker)as well when you travel O/S.

But it is the case for the APEC BT Card which is tied to your passport. If the passport is no longer valid, then the APEC card is also no longer valid until it is re-issued with the new passport number on it. For the OP to attempt to travel on a new passport and use the APEC card that is tied to the expired passport would be very risky with the potential to be refused boarding the aircraft or refused entry at the boarder - either way, a bad thing.

My advice to the OP is to go to the passport office in Sydney and renew the passport, then go to the Chinese consulate and get a visa (expedited) that way, you will be covered. Once you have your new passport, let DFAT know your new passport number and get them to send the new APEC BT card out.

I have in the past got a new passport in about four hours in the Melbourne passport office and got a Chinese visa in two days at the Melbourne consulate - not immediately following the new passport as the OP will need to do, but I think it is easily do-able. The problem of course is that it will eat into the OPs time in Sydney significantly with all that running around...

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: Passport renewal, China visa, and Apec Card question... all on a *A circle asia f

I thought that I read in BT this week that China was not offering expedited visas currently

My advice would be to start by checking with the Chinese Consulate whether a visa in an expired passport can be used, since if it can, then it is a lot simpler

Dave

 

[oldbold]

Re: Passport renewal, China visa, and Apec Card question... all on a *A circle asia f

SIN-SYD-AKL-NRT-HKG-SIN

I don't really need to go to AKL, so was wondering if anyone knows a way to get to Narita more efficiently from Sydney then via AKL on AirNZ...?

Thai is probably the best alternative: there are two possibilities wirh decent connections. The afternoon flight from Sydney connects with an overnight BKK-NRT, and the late departure with a morning flight from BKK.

 

[justin23]

Re: Passport renewal, China visa, and Apec Card question... all on a *A circle asia f

This is not always the case. Eg, if you have an Aust PR visa, and you renew your O/S passport, you do not need to get a new visa, as long as your previous visa has not expired. I think you are supposed to carry the old passport (with the visa sticker)as well when you travel O/S.

Yes that would be up to the discretion of the visa issuing authority i guess. But your old passport is rendered useless and expired and DFAT recommended to me to get new visas to be on the safe side.