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Dubai: If you're heading to the Olympic Games in Beijing next month, be aware that gaining a visit visa is not guaranteed.
To even apply for a visit visa for Beijing, applicants have to show evidence of a flight booking, hotel booking and tickets to the Games. The new visa regulations for the Olympic Games have been in force since April 15.
However, this does not mean that a visa will definitely be issued, the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Dubai has confirmed.
Lin Jianxin, Consul, said: "The basic requirements are a flight and hotel bookings and tickets to the Olympic Games; but this does not guarantee that a visa application will go through." Other documentation includes passport and residence visa copies depending on nationality.
"Visit/tourist visa applicants also have to provide bank statements for the last three months," he said.
Applicants should check the Chinese embassy website for exact details of paperwork required.
Visit visas can sometimes be processed by the next day; however, this can take longer if the documents provided are not filled in correctly or are incomplete.
"We are still issuing tourist and visit visas, and there is still time to get visas before the Olympics start - there is no deadline for this," Jianxin said. Rules for business travellers have also changed. Business travellers are required to provide an 'original visa notice' from an authorised government department, eg foreign affairs office, or the foreign trade offices of the cities or provinces that are to be visited.
This invitation needs to correspond with the location of any business meeting. For example, an application with an invite from Nanjing and a hotel booking in Shanghai will be rejected and will require further confirmatory paperwork.
Fee structure
Visa Type Emiratis Expatriates US Nationals
Single Entry Dh100 Dh110 Dh370
Double Entry Dh150 Dh165 Dh370
Express Dh75 Dh75 Dh75
Timings
The consulate is open from 8.30am to 12pm for visa applications, with an express service from 8.30am to 10am, and 8.30am to 10.30am for visa collections. Website: china-embassy.org/eng. Single-entry visas are valid for three months and permits a stay of 30 days.
Have you ever applied for a special visa just to watch the olympics in the host country? How was the experience? Would you want to go for the Beijing Olympics despite restrictions? Why? Tell us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com
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