China Travel Forum

[currydowson]

I am currently doing an internship in Beijing and hold a 6-month single entry F-Visa. However I was planning to Hongkong when I discovered I should have registered at my local police station, which I did not do. Now I started to search for information and discovered that there is a hefty fine for late registration. The registration certificate is also required to get a re-entry visa here in Beijing (which will allow me to go to HK). Now I have the following questions:If I leave China, and I have never been registered, will there be problems at the border? Will they still charge me a fine or will they allow me to leave the country?

If I would leave China for Hongkong and then in HK would apply for a new visa to China would they grant me such on the same conditions as I have received my first visa in the Netherlands (I am dutch/EU citizen), namely with an invitation letter from my hosting company?

Could I with this new visa then register myself at the local police station without facing the fine?

I will probably fly to Ghuanzhou and then take a train or bus to HK. My Dutch passport should be enough to enter HK, right?

Hope somebody can help me out!

[Marlin]

I don't think the fact it is an F visa makes any difference.
All foreigners are required to be registered with the local police within 24 hours in a city, 72 hours in a rural area.
On my reading of the regulations, it is not the foreigner's responsibility, but that of the person or organisation you spend the night(s) with. Foreigner approved hotels do it and so should your employer when it arranges accommodation.
If you stay in private accommodation the householder should register you.

[phoebe]

They recently changed the Chinese entry forms (the one you fill in at the border) to include a departure attachment which you keep for when you leave. It clearly states on the back of this that all foreigners must register at their local Police station if not staying in an approved hotel. However, although you are supposed to register within 72 hours of arrival, what you can do is turn up at any time, and say that between your arrival and now, you have been travelling around, staying in approved hotels. Explain that you now plan to live in private accommodation, and need a temporary residents permit. I've done this a couple of times with no problems at all.