SHANGHAI - 144 HOUR VISA EXEMPTION

Since February 2016, the State Council of Shanghai has adopted a 144-hour visa-exemption transit policy (6 days stay) for eligible passport holders. The purpose of this Temporary entry permit or visa exemption is to support and fund the construction of Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Center.

The Visa exemption is available at the following ports of entry in Shanghai:

• Shanghai Pudong International Airport 
• Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport 
• Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal 
• Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal 
• Shanghai Railway Station 
• Nanjing Lukou International Airport 
• Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
  

On arrival at a Shanghai port of entry, the Shanghai immigration inspection authority has set up dedicated inspection lanes for 144-hour visa-exemption transit passengers within the entry inspection areas at all the ports of entry. There is no government visa fee for the Visa exemption transit stay in Shanghai. Note that the foreign visitor must provide the Immigration officer with the following documents:

1. Passport

2. Onward air/vessel/train ticket to a third country (region) with confirmed date and seat within 144 hours upon arrival.

Can the applicant travel and stay anywhere in China for 144 hours?

No, the visitor must stay within the administrative precincts of Shanghai Municipality, Jiangsu Province and Zhejiang Province for 144 hours.

The following 51 countries are covered by the Visa Exemption policy, in Shanghai:

Albania, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America.


VisaConnect: Migration Agents and Lawyers

SHENZHEN - VISA ON ARRIVAL

As a tourist, you may be eligible to apply for the Shenzhen Visa on arrival. Generally, if you are traveling to China for Business, you need a Letter of Invitation and a business visa stamp, from the Chinese Consulate.

However, if you are not prepared or you didn't have time to get to the Chinese Embassy, in your country of residence then you could visit Shenzhen for up to 5 days, Single entry, as a Tourist, and still attend meetings, business expos and exhibitions. The visa on arrival cannot be extended.

Note that the Visa on Arrival does not allow you to enter the whole of China. You are not permitted to travel outside the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. In other words, you cannot just jump on a train to Guangzhou or Dongguan or take a flight to Shanghai.

Citizens of the following countries can get a Visa On arrival:

Germany
Switzerland
Netherlands
UK
Austria
Italy
Australia
Canada
New Zealand
Russia
Spain
South Korea
Indonesia
Thailand
Malaysia

Passport holders of  India and Philippines are not eligible for the application and even get fined for arrival without a valid Chinese visa.

You can get the Visa on Arrival at the following ports of entry:

Lo Wu (7:30-23:30)
Huanggang Border (24hours)
Shekou Ferry Port (9:00-16:30)

The procedure at the above port of entry is that you need to complete the white paper form, with your personal details, the take a ticket from the machine and wait until your number is called.

Once your number is called, you present your passport to the Chinese officer, and they check your visa eligibility, take a photo of you, with a web cam, and then you return to your seat.

The next step, involves waiting for your number to be called again, and then you need to make the payment of the visa application fee, which is about 168 Chinese Yen (RMB) except that UK citizens pay a higher fee of 304 RMB. Payment can be made in cash or credit card.

The last step occurs when your number is called again, and you simply collect your passport with your visa label. Finally, you need to queue up and present your passport and Immigration Entry card to the Immigration officer, who stamps your passport, with an entry date stamp, and then  you proceed through security, and arrive in Shenzhen.

So, the total time spent from the moment that you get to the Immigration Entry office is about 15 minutes, at quiet times (early mornings during the week and not public holidays) up to about 1 hour at busier times.

Note, that if you are arriving at Lo Wu port from Hong Kong, the train travel time is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes from Central, and you would need to change lines twice.


VisaConnect: Migration Agents and Lawyers

PARTNER VISA - AUSTRALIA

So you’ve finally decided to move to Oz, with your Australian partner? Good choice! Australia is consistently ranked as the top country for quality of life, warm climate, countless beaches, cold beer on tap, and a quiet location, away from the European mayhem and rat-race.

Now that you’ve found yourself an Aussie partner, he or she can sponsor you! In other words, if your partner is a citizen of Oz or permanent resident then they can vouch for you, put their hand up and support your quest for a temp or permanent visa!

So who is eligible for an Australian partner visa? Essentially, a couple in a de facto relationship or marriage that have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months! So, if you’ve just met at the bus stop or had a romantic night out after your first date, then that doesn’t qualify!

What’s more, you should be ‘living together’ or separated only briefly. If he lives with his mother and you live with your flatmates then you won’t get past first base! The Immigration Officer wants to see that your relationship is ‘genuine and continuing’, and not a momentary encounter or a relationship of convenience!

Okay, so your relationship is genuine and you’ve been living together for years – how do you prove this? The answer is that you need to provide evidence of your household (joint bills, joint ownership/rental, joint correspondence), evidence of the social aspects of your relationship (statutory declarations from friends), and finally evidence of the type of commitment you’ve made to each other (e.g. A will leaving everything you own to your partner).

But all of this info may still not be enough! The Case Officer may call you in to the Aussie High Commission for a face to face interview or perhaps a telephone chat, to check that your relationship sounds cool! You may be asked what he/she usually has for breakfast, what time he/she leaves or returns to the house and about joint friends/family members or his/her favourite TV programme.  

Of course, you need to provide a medical examination and chest X ray and provide police certificates to prove you are in excellent health and got an almost flawless character! 

Right, you got the picture now? So, if you fancy getting started with help with a partner visa for Australia then get in touch with our Migration Agent’s today.  

For information about the Australian partner visa or to send us a question or get help, go to our website:

Family Migration to Australia | Partner Visa Assistance (visaconnect.com)

SKILLED MIGRATION - AUSTRALIA

Do you believe that you are skilled? Skilled in what? If you are skilled at doing the dishes or cleaning the house that doesn’t count! What we are talking about here is if you have a skilled occupation like a Registered Nurse, Carpenter and Joiner, Bricklayer, Doctor, Engineer, Software Developer etc.

Ok, so you are skilled, but do you fancy immigrating to Australia? It’s a big decision! Relocation from Europe, Asia or wherever to a country way down under – a long way from the northern hemisphere! But, if you got over this dilemma, and are 100% sure that you need a fresh start in Oz – then we can help you with your visa and relocation.

The first step in embarking on your new journey is to get your skills assessed by an Assessment authority. To cut a long story short, the Authority checks your qualifications to see they are genuine and verifies them and verifies your work experience. They check that your degree certificate wasn’t obtained over the internet from a fraudster for $500 and that your work experience and references are all bona fide. At the end of the day, they will write back and say you are ‘suitable for migration’ or not.  

So let’s assume that you get a positive skills assessment. Now what? Well, the next step is we will need to submit an Expression of Interest to the Government about your background. You are making your case for why Australia needs you! Your Expression demonstrates your value and employability and proves that you won’t end up a beach-bum or retire early and go on a surfing safari. 

Okay, sorry to confuse you, but if your Expression of Interest is accepted then you get an ‘Invitation to apply’ through SkillSelect. So, this means that you have been given the all clear, you got the green light to apply for the skilled visa for Australia.

Now, you must meet a points test! I know what you are thinking – you’ve got no experience at Gymnastics at the Olympics! That doesn’t matter, you don’t need a 9.9 or perfect 10, you just got to pass the points test. 

So how do you get points? Well, you acquire points for different factors, like Age – the younger you are the more points. So apply before you turn 45 years (the cut-off age!). Secondly, you get points for English language ability – the better you speak our native tongue – the more points you will get! Thirdly, points are offered for skilled employment – the more work you’ve done the better. Fourthly, you get points for your qualifications – the higher the qualification, the more points you will get – so if you’ve got a PhD and you are a research geek then you will get maximum points! Finally, you can get bonus points if you’ve studied in Oz previously, based on your partner’s skills or you have been nominated by a State government. 

Before applying, we need to see the originals of all your documents, and certify them as ‘true copies of the original’. We are Migration Agent’s and qualified to do this quick verification procedure for you. 

One more thing, you and all your family will need to do a medical examination and chest x ray to see that you don’t have tuberculosis or any other unpleasant disease. Also, you will need Police certificates showing that you are of good character! That reminds us of the old joke – a Brit (Pom) arrived at the Airport in Oz and the Immigration Officer asked him: ‘Do you have any criminal convictions? He replied, ‘I didn’t know that it was still a requirement’. 

Anyway, if you are ready to go down the skilled migration route, then get in touch or if you want a free assessment or to ask a few questions, then we can help out. 

For information about the skilled migration to Australia or to send us a question or get help, go to our website: 

Skilled Migration to Australia -189 or 190 Visa Advice (visaconnect.com)

TEMPORARY SKILLED WORK, SUBCLASS 482 VISA - AUSTRALIA

Got a job lined up in Australia? We mean, do you have a job offer or a sponsor, who wants you to work for their company? If the answer is Yes, then you are on the road to riches and fame and fortune! No, really, that’s good news, and we can help you get over to Oz and have a smooth transition into your new role.

The way the work visa (TSS 482 visa) functions is that your Aussie company sponsors you to fill a skilled position on a temp basis for up to 4 years. The company includes your details in a nomination application, including your CV and qualifications. Once that’s’ approved, we can help you with your visa.

Don’t forget that you need to hold a license to work in some jobs, in Australia! So, to work as a Nurse you need to be registered with the relevant State or Territory Nurse Board. They check your education and references and see that everything is cool, then give you a license as a temp worker.

As a temp worker, you will have access to Medicare for doctor visits, but you won’t be eligible for the unemployment benefit, not that you would consider that, if you are working.

Sadly, you got to pay tax in Australia! You will need to apply for a Tax File number. Also, you are covered by the Fair Work Act so no employer can cheat you and underpay you or offer you dinner instead of a salary!

The work visa lets you travel in and out of Oz as many times as you like! In other words, you got a multiple travel visa, which means you could visit your rich Uncle in New Zealand, every weekend, if you like.

If you’re a family person – you can definitely include your partner (married or de facto) and dependent kids, in your visa application, and bring them with you!

If you fancy changing your company, then you would need to make a fresh application to the Immigration office. For a new company sponsorship, you will need a new visa!

So, get in touch and we can get your work visa for Australia ready and prepared, and you can get drinking a few schooners of Fosters beer, at the MCG, during the Ashes! 

For information about the Australian work visa or to send us a question or get help, go to our website:

Temporary Skills Shortage | 482 Work Visa - VisaConnect

STUDENT VISA - AUSTRALIA

Ever considered studying on the beach in the sunshine with a rock concert blearing in the background? Well, you wouldn’t be the only one!

Want a quality degree or diploma from a top Uni or College? This could be your new reality! Get started, and plan ahead for your future career! Study in Australia!

Why Australia? Coz, we got great beaches, sunny weather and lots of sport to keep you busy! But, more importantly, we got a high standard of education and great quality of life, great academics, prestigious uni’s, and reasonable fees.

It’s not all about study. While doing your course, you can join a sport’s team, run a marathon, cycle the Great Ocean road, hike through the desert, and make lots of new friends from all over the world.

You ask – ‘what can I study’? Well, the world’s your oyster. You name it, we’ve got it here in Oz. Engineering, Teaching diploma, Hospitality Management, Hairdressing, Masters in Law, IT degree, Nursing, Medicine, PhD research, and the list goes on and on.

In fact, you just tell us what you want to study, and we will go ahead and search for a course for you in your favourite location (Sydney close to Bondi beach?). We are Education Agents, so that’s our job – it’s a free service to get you on track for the right course and then start your enrolment application.

Don’t forget, you will need health insurance for your entire stay in Oz – protection in case you get attacked by a stingray! We can jack that up for you.

 Also, you may need to do a medical exam and chest x ray, just to check you are in peak condition, fit and healthy and capable of climbing 1 mountain a week and swimming 10 kms each day. The Aussie government is looking for a strong student who will study successfully and also get stuck in to a few triathlons and ironman contests.

Once your enrolment is approved, we shoot off your application for a student visa to the Department, and within a few days - Bob's your uncle, and your visa will be granted!

So, what are you waiting for? Get in touch today, and we will get the ball rolling for you!

For information about the Australian student visa or to send us a question or get help, go to our website:

Student Visa 500 Australia | Migration Agents - VisaConnect