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Current Events - May 2008
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Chinese government temporarily increases visa requirements
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China last month unofficially restricted the issuance of Chinese visas and increased requirements for obtaining a visa, reportedly as a temporary precaution against unrest and/or potential terrorist activity during the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games.
Though China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has refused to officially confirm any changes to its visa procedures and has not outlined specific details for the new requirements, widespread media and anecdotal reports indicate the following:
Restricted visa issuanceThe Chinese government has begun to almost solely issue single- and double-entry visas to foreigners wishing to enter the country. These visas restrict frequent travelers’ access to China because the documents expire after just one or two instances of entering the country. Conversely, the issuance of multiple-entry business visas has been drastically reduced; until recently these were easy to obtain and were widely used by foreign business travelers and tourists.
Travelers already in possession of a valid Chinese visa, regardless of type, have reported no problems gaining entry into the country.
More supporting documentation required
- The Chinese government has increased the supporting documentation required to accompany each visa application. Note: the following documents are now required in addition to the standard application items, such as the application form, a valid passport, a photograph, an invitation letter from a China sponsor company, etc.
1—Official notification of visa issuance
- The Chinese company issuing the invitation letter must apply for this official notice. Once received, the company must send the original document to the foreign traveler to provide as part of their visa application.
2—Confirmation of roundtrip air and hotel reservations- Travelers must prove they have a confirmed reservation for a flight leaving China, as well as confirmed hotel arrangements for the duration of their stay in China.
- CWT recommends: Travelers should ensure they book their air and hotel reservations through CWT, resulting in both reservations being reflected on their CWT-issued itinerary. The itinerary should suffice as proof of air and hotel accommodations, and should be submitted as part of the visa application.
Longer visa processing time
Visa application processing times have increased due to these restrictions and a general increase in the amount of visa applications as a result of the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games.- CWT recommends: Travelers who do not possess a valid Chinese work visa should apply for one immediately upon learning of upcoming travel to China. If needed, expedited processing is available for a fee. Travelers should contact their corporate travel department to determine their organization’s preferred process for applying for a visa or passport.
Carry travel documents at all times
As security measures increase, the Chinese government has begun to more frequently ask visitors to show their passports and visas. Since these requests can occur at any time, travelers should carry their travel documents and personal identification at all times. CWT also recommends travelers keep a copy of their itinerary with them as proof of air and hotel accommodations.
Sources: Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Wall St. Journal, Associated Press, The Center for International Business and Travel (CIBT)
Flights increase at New York’s Stewart Airport
Stewart Airport in New York soon may officially become the fourth international airport in the New York City area. Located about 60 miles north of NYC, Stewart International Airport, for years, has been served by AirTran, Jet Blue, and commuter airlines associated with Delta, Northwest, and US Airways. Traffic over the past year has nearly tripled at Stewart, while traffic reached 104 million passengers at the New York area’s other three airports: Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey sees a demand for a fourth airport, in particular to serve those passengers north of Manhattan. With a plan to provide more international flights, Stewart may become a more appealing option for travelers, thereby relieving congestion at the other airports.
Attractive features of Stewart include:- Its large airfield space
- Its 12,000-foot-long runway, capable of handling the largest jumbo jets
- Its capacity to add flights and airlines
- Its landing fees—lower than the other New York airports
On the downside, Stewart lacks customs and immigration inspection facilities. However, due to its size, it has the space to expand its terminal to add an inspection lane. In addition, it may be difficult to draw NYC travelers to the two-hour drive north to the airport, or to attract and maintain the right mix of flights to continue growth. The goal of the airport is to expand its international flight options and to grow overall, surpassing one million passengers this year and reaching three million by 2010.
Sources: New York Times, newyorkology.com, blogs.usatoday.com
