Applying For A China Tourist Visa In Bangkok Or Chiang Mai

[Tomtomtom69]

I have read on the following website http://www.travelchi...bassy/thailand/ that since August 20th, Chinese embassies and consulates, including those in Thailand will require additional documents from applicants in order to grant a Chinese tourist visa. I have previously studied and worked in China and this time would like to apply for Chinese tourist visa as I will be starting a post of employment in Kunming for a while. My job will require significant regional travel and may eventually require me to move back to Thailand, however I will still require a Chinese work visa in the meantime.

I was told to apply for a tourist visa first, which could then be converted into a work visa in China. I was wondering if anyone had any recent experience with applying for a Chinese tourist visa given the new (and hopefully temporary) regulations? Since I have a sponsor in China, I could ask her to write a letter for me, which could be used in lieu of air tickets and accommodation bookings. However, I am currently in Thailand on a tourist visa and have heard that some applicants in Bangkok have had difficulty obtaining visas recently.

Despite what it may say on various websites and even the consulate/embassy website, the way the clerks interpret or apply the rules doesn't seem to follow any logic and is sometimes randonly applied (it's not much different with Thai embassies and consulates abroad). Does anyone have any recent experience about what they were required to show? Is Bangkok or Chiang Mai a better place to apply for a Chinese visa under current circumstances? Please also mention your status in Thailand as that could be relevant too.

Edited September 13, 2012 by Tomtomtom69

[Crossy]

I don't think we should dilute the information into another thread, since you posted in this thread http://www.thaivisa....ts/page__st__25 please continue discussions there.