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The time I was turned away from China

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Re: The time I was turned away from China

#91

Post by khuey »

est wrote: post #60
andrewjl wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How did you get that from officials just enforcing the law on the books?

Which law from which book? To quote from TFA > The immigration officers explained to me that a new law that had come into effect in recent months meant I was unable to exercise the longer transit visa. My previous visits were not subject to that, I was told. The officials denied my request for details about this new law. Most of the Chinese "law" are not lawfully legislated and are selectively enforced TBH. Looks lik…

The law, that as the top comment to the article points out, is on the back of the immigration card in English that you fill out when you enter.

Re: The time I was turned away from China

#92

Post by jackcnreturns »

Preaching to the choir, but the man openly admits violating the law and then complains about not being able to obtain a visa. I've heard countless similar stories for students and professionals trying to enter the United States from very politically friendly countries, with a select few being banned from the country altogether, based on very trivial violations of the law (we're talking job semantics here).

In other words thems the rules. China's no different.

Re: The time I was turned away from China

#93

Post by hrowaway183 »

cperciva wrote: post #49
Taniwha wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I travel from NZ, these days I choose to go through HKG (and visit the Shenzhen markets, in China) to Europe. My normal experience of entering China is always fast and courteous, entering the US is frankly scary every time, lots of questions about what you're going to do - I show the same business APEC card at both borders (unlike China it's not a visa for the US border, the US is not a full member of APEC, but it do…

You're not the only person I've heard say that they avoid the TPAC route because they want to avoid the USA. But I've heard people complain that as much as they'd prefer to avoid the USA the flight schedules are far more convenient. Have you tried the ANZ AKL-YVR connecting to ACA YVR-Europe flights? Canada is far happier about transiting passengers than the USA is. (And if you've tried it and didn't like it, I'm cur…

I might be bias here cause I am Canadian. But I am far happier transiting through Canada whenever I need to go back to that side of the world.

The whole 360 body scan and the random questioning by US border control is simply terrifying. I have been asked to spell my name and say my birthday to see my reaction. It’s just an uncomfortable experience in general. I can’t even imagine what treatment middle easterner will get if even I get that treatment.

Re: The time I was turned away from China

#94

Post by ekianjo »

garmaine wrote: post #62
ekianjo wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> democratic countries like Japan To be fair, Japan has only existed as a functioning democracy for a very, very short time, and it still keeps a number of aspects from its previous past as a feudal/centrally governed country.

There are many democracies younger than Japan.

Yes, basically all the ones coming from the decolonization era. Most of them are pretty unstable, unfortunately.

Re: The time I was turned away from China

#95

Post by hrowaway183 »

khuey wrote: post #91
est wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which law from which book? To quote from TFA > The immigration officers explained to me that a new law that had come into effect in recent months meant I was unable to exercise the longer transit visa. My previous visits were not subject to that, I was told. The officials denied my request for details about this new law. Most of the Chinese "law" are not lawfully legislated and are selectively enforced TBH. Looks lik…

The law, that as the top comment to the article points out, is on the back of the immigration card in English that you fill out when you enter.

He is selectively choosing to read what he wants in order to trash talk as illustrate by his emotionally charged comments.

Re: The time I was turned away from China

#96

Post by magicbuzz »

rangibaby wrote: post #81
rahimnathwani wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Most if not all the things we have to do, as foreigners, Japanese also have to do it." Chinese also have to register at the local police station when they move. It's not just for foreigners.

in Japan you do not have to register if you are just visiting somewhere

Exactly. As a visitor you don’t have to “register at the local police station”. Just if you’re a resident.

Re: The time I was turned away from China

#97

Post by friedButter »

titanix2 wrote: post #46
griffinheart wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live in Japan for quite some time (multiple years) and never had to, or heard about, having to "register at local police station".

It’s not at the police station but you still have to register at the ward office when you’re moving to a new city. Also as a "fun" fact, residence cards features the logo of the ministry of justice. Just like if all foreigners were criminal with such a high probability that this minister handle the matter from the beginning.

>Also as a "fun" fact, residence cards features the logo of the ministry of justice. Just like if all foreigners were criminal with such a high probability that this minister handle the matter from the beginning.

No different than US which takes a presumption of guilt when people apply for a visa isnt it?

Re: The time I was turned away from China

#98

Post by starky »

AdamJacobMuller wrote: post #47
desdiv wrote: post #7

>The reason, as it was explained to me, was that in 2015 I had broken Chinese law when I failed to present myself to authorities in Beijing when I had visited and stayed at an Airbnb residence on two different trips. Unbeknownst to me at the time — and something that was not communicated by Airbnb — foreigners are required to register at a local police station, but in most cases the hotels where they stay handle this…

> This rule is clearly explained on the back of the immigration declaration form Is this in English/other languages, or just in Mandarin? The only part of this story that I find particularly egregious is the part where he was made to sign a form that was only in Mandarin.

It is in English on the back of the immigration form. There is really no excuse for not knowing about it. As mentioned in the article, you don't need to worry about it if you stay in a proper hotel, only if you are staying at someone's residence.

Re: The time I was turned away from China

#99

Post by cylinder »

desdiv wrote: post #7

>The reason, as it was explained to me, was that in 2015 I had broken Chinese law when I failed to present myself to authorities in Beijing when I had visited and stayed at an Airbnb residence on two different trips. Unbeknownst to me at the time — and something that was not communicated by Airbnb — foreigners are required to register at a local police station, but in most cases the hotels where they stay handle this…

You have to declare where you are staying on the customs declaration card in the US and UK amongst other countries too.

Re: The time I was turned away from China

#100

Post by rveeblefetzer »

geomark wrote: post #55
desdiv wrote: post #7

>The reason, as it was explained to me, was that in 2015 I had broken Chinese law when I failed to present myself to authorities in Beijing when I had visited and stayed at an Airbnb residence on two different trips. Unbeknownst to me at the time — and something that was not communicated by Airbnb — foreigners are required to register at a local police station, but in most cases the hotels where they stay handle this…

Thailand, where the author said he lives, also has a similar "register at local police station" rule. Even when you live full time in Thailand, if you stay overnight somewhere other than your normal residence you are supposed to report it. Or the hotel or homeowner is supposed to report it. Rarely enforced,except when it's time to make a another big show of cracking down on dirty foreigners making trouble in the coun…

A friend got slapped with a fine over this. He's a foreign resident, and he changed hotels while on a trip. That information is bundled up and sent to the authorities, and they cross-checked him with the address he put on his travel form. Thousand baht fine.

FWIW, I brought this same friend to the police station where I'm a registered resident in Shanghai, so he could stay with me on a 72-hour visa. At the airport, he was told that if he doesn't register and it's discovered, it could affect his ability to get a visa in the future. This was only a few months ago.

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