China Travel Forum

[Bernard]

have recently obtained a chinese visa in Hanoi....got a 3 mth visa with 2 entries...which I thought where optional???
after getting it back..has 30days on it.. with expiry 3 mths after date of issue..
after questioning with another travel agent..was told.. have to leave China every 30 days.. and then come back in for another 30 days..which is totally impractical..for me.... paid $52USD ....
there was a single entry 30 day option for $36USD...I went for the 3 mth ..thinking it the better deal..
If this exit and re entry is true...can I just scrap the original 3 mth visa after the 1st 30 days...and fork out more cash with a new single entry 30 day visa for my next 30 day stay...

would appreciate any knowledgable replies...thanks..

[Paul]

If you don't intend to leave China -- that is, you're making only one 6-8 week visit -- then you'll need to extend your existing visa not get a new one.
No. 2 was telling you that you can get another visa for another trip to China even if you use only one of the two entries permitted on your present visa.
You need to extend your visa before the end of your 30-day stay, not before April 13.
The terminolgy may be confusing: "extending a visa" in China normally means extending your permitted stay (30 days in your case), not extending the overall validity of the visa itself (3 months in your case).