How many steps to China?

September 3, 2013 9:58 PM

A question about business travel and visas

On short notice I might need to leave for China on business for my first time ... 3 days from now. I am a Canadian living in Chicago temporarily on a TN Visa with an up to date passport.

It's 12am and my google-fu is low. What steps do I need to take? Or who should I call in the next 12 hours to find out everything I need and will help me expedite it? Canadian consulate in Chicago?

Also, any tips on travelling in the ShenZhen area would be fun to hear as well.

Thanks!

posted by gillianr to Travel & Transportation around China (4 answers total)

Um, if you're on an employment-based visa (which is what a TN is), shouldn't you ask your employer about that? Your employer should have the legal and travel resources to advise you.
posted by Ky at 10:06 PM on September 3, 2013

Best answer: You need to talk the Chinese consulate and probably would benefit from a visa expediter service. I am in the USA on an e3 visa and have never needed to talk to the Australian consulate to get my Chinese work visas. See this old comment of mine for the visa processors I used through work: http://ask.metafilter.com/235016/Forgot-to-apply-for-my-Chinese-visa-how-screwed-am-I#3404851
posted by jacalata at 10:11 PM on September 3, 2013

I've used Travisa before. They have an office in Chicago. You should get good answers from them. They've been around a long time.
posted by Dansaman at 11:53 PM on September 3, 2013

Are you flying in via Guangzhou? Are you staying 3 days max? There's a new rule that lets you enter China without a visa as long as you leave within 72 hours.
posted by fix at 11:00 AM on September 6, 2013