China visa - price hike!

[auriga]

The Chinese consulate in Sydney apparently won't be accepting normal visa applications from next week. Instead, they have opened up a new "visa center" in the city.

Downside is this place will charge an application fee of $38.50 for standard (non-express) processing, in addition to the $40 visa fee. What a rip off.

:evil:

 

[wxxnxs]

The Chinese consulate in Sydney apparently won't be accepting normal visa applications from next week. Instead, they have opened up a new "visa center" in the city.

Downside is this place will charge an application fee of $38.50 for standard (non-express) processing, in addition to the $40 visa fee. What a rip off.

:evil:

No need to be angry. Comparing to Australian government charge Chinese residents, it is still much cheaper.

 

[gibspmuh]

The Australian Embassy in Jakarta has been doing a similar thing for a couple of years now, all their visa processing has been outsourced to Australian Visa with Rp150,000 added on top (or around AU$20). Seems it's the way a lot of countries have gone to look at the list just for VFS Global .

 

[Natt]

I think the US is much worse again

given that countries like Canada/Mexico are counted in the 90 day visa waiver we were looking at getting a visa

you have to show up in person for an interview

fine if you live near an embassy but I would have to go interstate

China seems a good deal easier

 

[2muchplastic]

China is much easier this year to get a visa than it was last year. When the olympics were on it was a right royal PITA to get a visa.

The price has gone up, but it is still cheaper than other close countries - for a 6 month multi entry it's $80, for Vietnam I paid nearer $200

 

[auriga]

The price has gone up, but it is still cheaper than other close countries - for a 6 month multi entry it's $80, for Vietnam I paid nearer $200

No, it is $80 plus the "service" fee.

 

[kamchatsky]

Given it costs an arm and a leg for any people with PRC passport to go just about everywhere else, we still get Visa pretty cheaply.

 

[2muchplastic]

No, it is $80 plus the "service" fee.

No. If you apply at the Brisbane consulate it's $80. No service fee.
Visa

 

[auriga]

No. If you apply at the Brisbane consulate it's $80. No service fee.
Visa

Oh I see....., but the consulate in Sydney will not be taking applications from next week, so it means having to use their new "visa centre", with the application fees.

 

[2muchplastic]

Oh I see....., but the consulate in Sydney will not be taking applications from next week, so it means having to use their new "visa centre", with the application fees.

I hope that the Brisbane consulate doesn't go down the same road. Sending off a passport for an inderminate amount of time is not always convenient, or possible.

 

[ethernet]

Blame the politicians.
No one is saying a visa costs X in that country and Y in another.

Presently visa prices are mostly tit for tat, not cost based.
(ie over stayers, immigrants and undesirables).
And they are failing to fix things - global unity my cough.
For .cn and .vn , it is just a revenue gouge.

For Vietnam Visa in Australia (A good reason not to go) - they do not like to publish their prices.
VIETNAM
$50 ONE Month for Vietnamese Born (This was supposed to become free)
$75 ONE month single entry for Everybody else
$120 One month multiple entry
$50 to sign other papers/documents

Any more of this bullsh** and it will be cheaper to POST, or friend to carry your passport over for the stamp. Somehow, I don't think this is what DFAT wants - but that is where it is heading.

 

[Lucky_man]

Or you could just get an Apec card and only pay about $300 / 3 years for many countries. Best travel investment I made.

 

[drron]

Off to China in 3 months time.is the Brisbane consulate still taking visa applications?

 

[2muchplastic]

Off to China in 3 months time.is the Brisbane consulate still taking visa applications?

It certainly was when I got my last one a couple of months back!

When and where are you going drron?

 

[drron]

Off to Shanghai for the expo late May,then to Macau.
Glad you can still get visas in Brissy as off to Tassie again at the end of next week for another 10 weeks.

 

[2muchplastic]

Off to Shanghai for the expo late May,then to Macau.
Glad you can still get visas in Brissy as off to Tassie again at the end of next week for another 10 weeks.

Maybe see you there! I'll be in Shanghai in March for 3 weeks, May for 3 weeks, June for 2 then July for 1.

 

[drron]

Maybe see you there! I'll be in Shanghai in March for 3 weeks, May for 3 weeks, June for 2 then July for 1.

Flying QF129 on 28/5.
Staying at Sheraton pudong.
Flying out on 4/6 CX6833.
So let us know if you are there and we might catch up for a drink or 2.

 

[2muchplastic]

Flying QF129 on 28/5.
Staying at Sheraton pudong.
Flying out on 4/6 CX6833.
So let us know if you are there and we might catch up for a drink or 2.

Just my luck. I'm flying out of PVG on 28/5 on Thai at 1725 - so we'll cross somewhere just off the Chinese coast

 

[wtolmie]

Flying QF129 on 28/5.
Staying at Sheraton pudong.
Flying out on 4/6 CX6833.
So let us know if you are there and we might catch up for a drink or 2.

I will be in Shanghai for Expo.. not sure what dates yet.. vim living in China currently, so just a short hop..