Question about Chinese visa expiry

Lama

I understand that this is not the appropriate forum however would
be thankful for any information regarding chinese visa expiary
rules/system.
My friend is in Bejing today.Her flight is on the 2nd nov
but the visa expires on the 1st nov.Is it posiible/allowed to pay
a penalty at the airport and catch the flight.Or wait for 7 days
for a visa extension.Missing the flight and buying new flight ticke which would be a costly loss.

Earthling

Hi Lama,

I don't know about paying a penalty after the visa expires. I don't know if such a thing would be possible at all, and it sounds highly unusual for any country to have such a policy. It may perhaps be possible to pay a penalty at the visa office for an extension if you overstay but perhaps not at an airport.

I would not take any chances in an airport. If they find you have overstayed and are trying to board a flight, they'd be well within their rights to arrest you to ascertain why you have overstayed.

Having no specific knowledge of the visa policies in China, I can only generally advise you to contact the China visa office for their advice on the issue...hope you get more specific advice.

You=your friend..

Goodluck..

__________________
I don't know with what weapons WW3 will be fought. But WW4 will be fought with sticks and stones.
-Albert Einstein

Minnesota

I've had a lot to do with China but never this specific situation. So if someone has actual experience, I would listen to them. But extrapolating based on my experiences I would certainly get myself an extension rather than risking it.

This is not because of anything really bad that is likely (a fine is the worst thing probable, methinks). Rather, without the proper paperwork, your friend is in an in-between zone, and how things turn out could depend on luck: who she happens to meet up with and what kind of mood they're in. She could end up just paying extra and no problem, or with bad luck she could end up missing the flight because of waiting around and end up paying lots more.

On the plus side, in my many travels there I've never (yet -- knock wood) found Chinese immigration officials nasty or unreasonable (like I've sometimes found, say, in the USA). They are usually indifferent, and sometimes surprisingly friendly.

If your friend does try to wing it, I think getting to the airport extra early and going through the exit formalities as soon as possible could help make sure there's time to get things squared away.

Plus, a few extra days in Beijing could be well spent -- there's always another restaurant to try, another sight to see, or another pirate DVD selection to peruse!

__________________
"Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing." Proverbs 18:22

Lama

Thank you so much for the response.Rightly the chinese immigration
is not unfriendly for my frien had met the immigration and expla-
ined the position.Also showed them the flight ticket etc. and she
has got the okay from them to take the flight sans any extension
formalities.I just hope that it stays like that.

Earthling

Glad you got that sorted.

Myself, I'd never take any chances in a communist regime. There is no due process of law..Everything is in the hands of the petty official dealing with you..If he didn't like his brekkie that morning it's off to the kalaboose with you. Come to think of it, rather like India. *Duck and RUN smiley*

Minnesota

Lama, How did everything turn out for your friend?