Chinese visa as a journalist

[Justinf]

I searched for an answer everywhere but couldn’t find one.
‘I’m heading to china early next year as part of a two week trip to China (of course), South Korea and Japan.
I am a journalist.
with the visa application form asking for my occupation, do I tell the truth?
I will not be working during my 8-day stay. It will only be on an L tourist visa.
however, I don’t want to be refused a visa.
can or should I just put self-employed?
I have heard stories (only stories) of any type of journalist won’t denied a visa even though they won’t be working as one during the time in the country.
My first instinct is to be honest as I have nothing to hide.
but something sinister within says to play it as safe as possible.

 

[Matt_01]

@Justinf theses are just my thoughts.

Straight off the bat I am not sure if I can answer your question as I'm not a journalist. I have had Chinese visas in the past and am familiar with the questions on the visa application around employment. One of those questions also includes are you in the military however as I've been out for 20 plus years I could confidently select no. I mention this as I was planning to go to Tibet in June, the tour company advised not to disclose going to Tibet as my visa may be knocked back. This raised some concerns, so I did a dummy booking on the Chinese visa website and was quite surprised as at Section 8 or 9 the visa application now asks were you ever in the military any if ticking yes they want to know all the details. Not sure what is asked if you tick yes to journalism. The Australian Chinese news anchor Cheng Lei was held/ detained for around 3 years.

Where am I going with this, for me I had made the decision to be completely honest and disclose I was in the military as when submitting the visa application you need to declare everything is truthful. If you are not completely honest there is a risk that you can be denied exit. If you do have your own business, you could potentially indicate you are self-employed but they may ask what the nature of the business is and ask for evidence. I have not had this experience.

In the end I did not apply for a visa and changed my plans as an impromptu work trip saw me needing my passport and the timeframe required to get the Chinese visa (sending in your passport) did not allow sufficient time to apply for one. I will have another go at Tibet next year and will still be completely up front in in my application.

All the best in your decision making process.

 

[VPS]

I searched for an answer everywhere but couldn’t find one.
‘I’m heading to china early next year as part of a two week trip to China (of course), South Korea and Japan.
I am a journalist.
with the visa application form asking for my occupation, do I tell the truth?
I will not be working during my 8-day stay. It will only be on an L tourist visa.
however, I don’t want to be refused a visa.
can or should I just put self-employed?
I have heard stories (only stories) of any type of journalist won’t denied a visa even though they won’t be working as one during the time in the country.
My first instinct is to be honest as I have nothing to hide.
but something sinister within says to play it as safe as possible.

Is that why you write your TR so well

 

[Cruiser Elite]

My first instinct is to be honest as I have nothing to hide.
but something sinister within says to play it as safe as possible.

Isn't being 100% honest playing it 'as safe as possible'?

 

[moa999]

Note you say 8 days and then onwards to South Korea.. if only one major city area, with a bit of juggling you might qualify for the 144-hr Transit without Visa.

I previously used it for Shanghai/ Wuxi/ Suzhou.
But doesn't work for say Beijing and Shanghai.

Alternatively maybe use some alternative descriptors, say Sports Analyst if you were a journo covering sport.

 

[Happy Dude]

Jon Faine (former ABC broadcaster) also faced the same dilemma whilst driving from Melbourne to London, including China, the 'stans and other places not known for liking journalists and a free press. He declared his occupation as a Lawyer, which he justified as true, but not entirely of course, because he had a law degree and he often spoke about legal issues on the radio.

If you declare you are a journo, at the least I'd expect a call from the embassy to confirm you're a tourist and that you're itinerary does not or should not include Xinjiang or Tibet. I'd be tempted to say "media blogger" or some such.

 

[Cynicor]

I’d definitely consider if your exact occupation could be phrased differently?
Print media specialist. TV personality etc…

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I searched for an answer everywhere but couldn’t find one.
‘I’m heading to china early next year as part of a two week trip to China (of course), South Korea and Japan.
I am a journalist.
with the visa application form asking for my occupation, do I tell the truth?
I will not be working during my 8-day stay. It will only be on an L tourist visa.
however, I don’t want to be refused a visa.
can or should I just put self-employed?
I have heard stories (only stories) of any type of journalist won’t denied a visa even though they won’t be working as one during the time in the country.
My first instinct is to be honest as I have nothing to hide.
but something sinister within says to play it as safe as possible.

If someone was to google you, would they find your occupation?

If so, don’t like your chances too much. If you can juggle it to meet the 144 transit without visa, might be the easier route, but still not without risk if they do a search using advance passenger information.

Might be better to pull the bandaid off now, so to speak, and find out in advance if your occupation is likely to be an issue.

 

[Justinf]

If someone was to google you, would they find your occupation?

If so, don’t like your chances too much. If you can juggle it to meet the 144 transit without visa, might be the easier route, but still not without risk if they do a search using advance passenger information.

Might be better to pull the bandaid off now, so to speak, and find out in advance if your occupation is likely to be an issue.

I’m toying with the idea of putting copy writer and with the help of the editor in chief if they call her to say I just do real estate stories etc.
i have already booked the flight and it’s non refundable so that was my first mistake.
oh and a google search would give my game away completely.
i might investigate on whether a tourist visa and my occupation would uncover any hurdles.

 

[Justinf]

Note you say 8 days and then onwards to South Korea.. if only one major city area, with a bit of juggling you might qualify for the 144-hr Transit without Visa.

I previously used it for Shanghai/ Wuxi/ Suzhou.
But doesn't work for say Beijing and Shanghai.

Alternatively maybe use some alternative descriptors, say Sports Analyst if you were a journo covering sport.

I’m spending four days in Beijing and then getting 5he high speed rail to Shanghai for four days and then flying out to Seoul from Shanghai so I don’t think the transit visa will cut it.

 

[Justinf]

Jon Faine (former ABC broadcaster) also faced the same dilemma whilst driving from Melbourne to London, including China, the 'stans and other places not known for liking journalists and a free press. He declared his occupation as a Lawyer, which he justified as true, but not entirely of course, because he had a law degree and he often spoke about legal issues on the radio.

If you declare you are a journo, at the least I'd expect a call from the embassy to confirm you're a tourist and that you're itinerary does not or should not include Xinjiang or Tibet. I'd be tempted to say "media blogger" or some such.

I would be able to satisfy those requirements of not visiting those places as I’d have everything booked by the time the time the visa process rolls around.
your info was helpful. Thank you

Post automatically merged: Mar 28, 2024

Also although I am a journalist I am technically the editor of two papers, so I could perhaps make that the focus rather than reporting, which I do little of these days other than sports and feature stories.
the odd hard news story here and there but I usually delegate that to the up and comers.

 

[Happy Dude]

I would be able to satisfy those requirements of not visiting those places as I’d have everything booked by the time the time the visa process rolls around.
your info was helpful. Thank you

Post automatically merged: Mar 28, 2024

Also although I am a journalist I am technically the editor of two papers, so I could perhaps make that the focus rather than reporting, which I do little of these days other than sports and feature stories.
the odd hard news story here and there but I usually delegate that to the up and comers.

I'm a consulting scientist and got a call from the embassy. "Why you go Urumchee. You no go Urumchee. Please change your application to no Urumchee". Changed it accordingly to just Shanghai, Beijing and Xian, and the visa was issued. Still went to Urumqi anyway of course, and anywhere else we pleased, with everyone else it seems. Lot go to Kashgar and the like via there. Dunno why they kick up a fuss at visa application stage, but certainly "journalist" will be a flag to someone.

 

[Justinf]

I'm a consulting scientist and got a call from the embassy. "Why you go Urumchee. You no go Urumchee. Please change your application to no Urumchee". Changed it accordingly to just Shanghai, Beijing and Xian, and the visa was issued. Still went to Urumqi anyway of course, and anywhere else we pleased, with everyone else it seems. Lot go to Kashgar and the like via there. Dunno why they kick up a fuss at visa application stage, but certainly "journalist" will be a flag to someone.

I’m not going until January so I have a bit of time to figure something out.
it’s got me all bothered though.

 

[Justinf]

I’m spending four days in Beijing and then getting 5he high speed rail to Shanghai for four days and then flying out to Seoul from Shanghai so I don’t think the transit visa will cut it.

Just an update on this.
i could potentially use the 144 hour transit visa and just rescedule my itinerary to fit inside 6 days.
I haven’t booked a flight to Seoul or Chinese accommodation yet.
would the 144 hour transit visa be better?

 

[moa999]

could potentially use the 144 hour transit visa and just rescedule my itinerary to fit inside 6 days.

Can only go to one major city area (including satellite cities)

Would be possible to go say
Aus - Shanghai - Seoul - Beijing - Tokyo or similar and use two TWOVs, but you can't use a TWOV that includes both Shanghai and Beijing in the same transit.

 

[Justinf]

Can only go to one major city area (including satellite cities)

Would be possible to go say
Aus - Shanghai - Seoul - Beijing - Tokyo or similar and use two TWOVs, but you can't use a TWOV that includes both Shanghai and Beijing in the same transit.

Thanks heaps.
or I could just do Beijing this time in four to six days and then save Shanghai and others for another time?
would give me time in South Korea to go to Busan as well as Seoul.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Can only go to one major city area (including satellite cities)

Would be possible to go say
Aus - Shanghai - Seoul - Beijing - Tokyo or similar and use two TWOVs, but you can't use a TWOV that includes both Shanghai and Beijing in the same transit.

You can, but limited to 24 hours! (i know what you mean though! It was just a note in case anyone else was thinking to transit china on say a trip to europe etc)

Post automatically merged: Mar 28, 2024

Just an update on this.
i could potentially use the 144 hour transit visa and just rescedule my itinerary to fit inside 6 days.
I haven’t booked a flight to Seoul or Chinese accommodation yet.
would the 144 hour transit visa be better?

Well… the problem with TWOV Is that it really *is* up to immigration on the day. If they have somehow found out you are a journalist and that’s a problem for them, you will be refused entry on the spot.

At least with an L visa, if you disclose your occupation, you’ll know in advance. Skewing your occupation on an L visa still runs the risk of being refused entry in arrival, but with a potentially worse ‘visa cancelled’ status.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Forgive me for appearing naive, but lying on a visa application seems to me to be just asking for trouble. It’s easy for them to check, if they can be bothered, and quoting incorrect information seems to just asking for a trail of woes.

 

[Justinf]

Forgive me for appearing naive, but lying on a visa application seems to me to be just asking for trouble. It’s easy for them to check, if they can be bothered, and quoting incorrect information seems to just asking for a trail of woes.

After some heavy thinking, I think I’m just going to apply for the tourist vis, put media or company employee as my workforce and sports writer as my job.
no lies and whatever happens, happens.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Forgive me for appearing naive, but lying on a visa application seems to me to be just asking for trouble.

I find it hard to believe that anybody would contemplate less than 200% honesty on a Visa Application for China - I guess we are all different huh?