Britain set to ease visa rules to attract Chinese

[webfact]

Britain set to ease visa rules to attract Chinese
Cecily Liu and Zhang Chunyan
China Daily

LONDON: -- Britain will further simplify visa applications for Chinese tourists and businesspeople, the UK government said on Monday.

The development came as Premier Li Keqiang was due to start a visit to Britain, with insiders saying that UK visa policy was one of the key topics on the agenda.

From the autumn, Chinese visitors will be able to use Irish visitor visas to travel to Britain, without the need for a separate UK visa and vice versa.

In addition, a pilot programme introduced last year that allows selected travel agents to use a single application form when processing UK and Schengen visa applications, will be extended to all Chinese visitors applying to travel to the UK. The British government says the extension follows positive feedback from tour operators.

The Schengen Area comprises European countries that have removed controls between their common borders. The UK and Ireland have opted out.

Figures from the British Home Office show that in 2013, UK Visas and Immigration issued about 290,000 visitor visas to Chinese nationals, up by nearly 40 per cent from 2012 and almost three times higher than in 2008.

The British government has opened 12 visa application centres across China, more than any other country, the UK Home Office said.

It also said that talks are continuing with European partners about further streamlining visa processes with Schengen arrangements to make trips to the UK easier for Chinese visitors.

Schengen visas have held far more appeal for Chinese visitors, who are able to travel to 26 countries on a single visa.

Mark Boleat, policy chairman of the City of London Corporation, said a simplified visa process means the UK will become a more attractive destination for foreign visitors and businesses.

He said London cannot afford to fall behind its main rivals in the business and financial sectors such as Luxembourg, Frankfurt and Paris.

"That's why our visa regime needs to be quickly adaptable to the realities of a fast-changing global economic landscape."

Paul Barnes, a spokesman for the lobbying body UK China Visa Alliance, said the group hopes the Home Office can reach some agreements with Schengen countries to allow parallel processing of the same application.

This would mean Chinese applicants were only expected to make one trip for visa applications, but would receive both visas. Under the current pilot program, two visa applications must be made by applicants in person.

Barnes said he hopes Britain can reach this agreement with three key Schengen countries that attract the most Chinese visitors - France, Germany and Italy.

Yan Xin, a public affairs manager at Chinese online travel agency Ctrip, said the new measures will reduce paperwork for Chinese tourists and agents. "More tourists may visit Britain and Ireland."


-- ANN 2014-06-17

[JoePai]

Now why on earth can they not "ease" Visa rules for Thais ?

[wooloomooloo]

Now why on earth can they not "ease" Visa rules for Thais ?

Money.

[nontabury]

Now why on earth can they not "ease" Visa rules for Thais ?

Possible because they think most of the Thai female visa applicants will resort to prostitution, not always the case, admittedly, but that is the perception, along with the thought that maybe they would also avail themselves of the benefit system, why they do not think the Chinese would want to claim the same benefits, I've no idea.

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[timewilltell]

Why ever would they think that about Thai girls, fine upstanding Buddhists and arguably amongst the most beautiful in the world - well some of them anyway.

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[laislica]

Because they are frightened that Thai's will overstay and gain the handouts.....

[wooloomooloo]

Now why on earth can they not "ease" Visa rules for Thais ?

Money.

I don't see this as anti-Thai, it's quite simply that the Government want to tempt the masses of nouveau riche Chinese with less obstacles to overcome and, boy, do they spend.

[thumper101]

WOW!!!

What a shock.... The UK exercising an open door immigration policy....... NOT!

Who do they think are going to come streaming in?

I have seen what happens when they open the doors, it gets abused.

At least they don't have to come in hidden between pallets of a trailer.

Someone ought to remind Cameron that China is not Bulgaria and has double the population of the entire EU.

Edited June 17, 2014 by thumper101

[folium]

WOW!!!

What a shock.... The UK exercising an open door immigration policy....... NOT!

Who do they think are going to come streaming in?

I have seen what happens when they open the doors, it gets abused.

At least they don't have to come in hidden between pallets of a trailer.

Someone ought to remind Cameron that China is not Bulgaria and has double the population of the entire EU.

The visa s being talked about are tourist visas and those for business people. Being outside the Schengen Agreement means that Chinese tourists need a separate visa for the UK rather than a single European one. Result:

Chinese tourists to France 1.5 million

Chinese tourists to UK 196,000

As they spend to spend four times as much as the average overseas tourist, increasing their numbers makes good economic sense.

[jmccarty]

May upset some of the recent ethnic immigrants that don't like Chinese food!

[attento]

To date, the majority of Chinese tourists visiting Europe (or any destination) do so in groups. Their idea of successful tourism is to visit as many cities as possible in their 7-10 days. It is so easy to 'tick off' a number of countries from the list in mainland Europe, where they can achieve 2-3 countries in 1 day. A side trip to UK involves too much "unproductive" time, crossing the channel. This accounts, in part, for the large disparity of Chinese visitor numbers to continental Europe as against the numbers visiting the UK. However, the tourist Visa process for Chinese to visit the UK is horrendous, especially for single or family travellers, outside of group travel.

But the nature of Chinese tourism is slowly changing, with an increasingly worldly-wise middle class. The vast majority of Chinese tourists are exactly that, tourists. They have no wish to remain in UK or any part of the EU. (whereas, anecdotal wisdom is that this is unlike some visa applicants from certain other countries, who privately plan for an 'open-ended' sojourn)

Edited June 17, 2014 by attento

[Brian Corrigan]

Now why on earth can they not "ease" Visa rules for Thais ?

Could it be that China,which already owns vast swaths oF UK, has just announced investments in the UK to the tune of 15 billion pounds and that the UK is full of Thai restaurants selling make believe Thai food that no body wants.

[bangon04]

"This would mean Chinese applicants were only expected to make one trip for visa applications, but would receive both visas. Under the current pilot program, two visa applications must be made by applicants in person."

erm, this sounds like they might as well accept the Schenghen visa if it is stamped in a Chinese passport.

As for the "deal" with China.. instead of grovelling one way to the Chinese, maybe they could get an agreement that Chinese overstayers who hide/destroy their passports can be repatriated to the home country of China. Currently the Chinese authorities refuse or stonewall such cases. It is virtually impossible to repatriate an illegal Chinese.

[bangon04]

Now why on earth can they not "ease" Visa rules for Thais ?

Could it be that China,which already owns vast swaths oF UK, has just announced investments in the UK to the tune of 15 billion pounds and that the UK is full of Thai restaurants selling make believe Thai food that no body wants.

You forgot the "genuine Thai" massage parlours...

[belg]

Now why on earth can they not "ease" Visa rules for Thais ?

because most that "work" in farang countries is in the dubious "entertainment" business, aka massage parlours

and thailand is a hub for human trafficking? enough reasons ?

[ggt]

I thought this was a thread about easing visa requirements for Chinese entering Britain...how did we get to Thai women exporting prostitution, massage parlors and bad Thai food? This is offensive to the Chinese...

[Krataiboy]

Now why on earth can they not "ease" Visa rules for Thais ?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

"Possible(y) because they think most of the Thai female visa applicants will resort to prostitution, not always the case, admittedly"

What do you mean by ". . . not always the case admittedly"? Do you have any evidence at all to support the obvious implication of your remark that most Thai women applicants for visas to visit the UK will end up as sex workers? It sounds as if you are as irrationally prejudiced as the consular drones who dreamed up this nasty piece of propaganda to justify their inherent racism and sexism. Put up or shut up.

[rhythmworx]

Why not Thais you ask?

Compare a group of 1000 average 9 year old Chinese people against 1000 21 year old Thais in both numeracy and literacy.

The result will give you the answer.

[easybullet3]

it would be nice if the CHINESE EMBASSY made their visa application more easy too!!!
i counted 22 sheets of paper in my trip to shanghai for 4 days!!! and the woman gave me a 6 day visa!!!!!!

what a waste of paper, time and massive aggravation!!!

[folium]

it would be nice if the CHINESE EMBASSY made their visa application more easy too!!!

i counted 22 sheets of paper in my trip to shanghai for 4 days!!! and the woman gave me a 6 day visa!!!!!!

what a waste of paper, time and massive aggravation!!!

Perhaps you should try the PRC consulate in CNX, all very easy and then a short hop to Kunming...

[folium]

Mindless restrictions/paperchases re visa applications are unbelievably counterproductive and don't budge the dial on populist xenophobic tendencies, so ship in the Chinese tourists and business-folk. The UK has little to lose and much to gain.

[nontabury]

Now why on earth can they not "ease" Visa rules for Thais ?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

"Possible(y) because they think most of the Thai female visa applicants will resort to prostitution, not always the case, admittedly"

What do you mean by ". . . not always the case admittedly"? Do you have any evidence at all to support the obvious implication of your remark that most Thai women applicants for visas to visit the UK will end up as sex workers? It sounds as if you are as irrationally prejudiced as the consular drones who dreamed up this nasty piece of propaganda to justify their inherent racism and sexism. Put up or shut up.

Can I suggest that You put your hair back on. I already stated that is not always the case, but it is unfortunately what many people in the UK perceive, and how you can make out that I was somehow implying otherwise is just lost on me. Having stated my thoughts on the subject, what may help you is if you were to look in many of the regional UK newspapers, you may see adverts offering sexual favours supplied exclusively by Thai women, the same can be said of some Escort services in London, couple this with the fact that Thailand happens to be very famous for prostitution and you may come to realise why the UK authorities seem to be strict on applications from Thai females. Is it fair on those Thai females who are not involved in this trade, of course not, but it is realality.

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[Scott]

Let's stay on the topic, which is about visa rules for Chinese.

[phuketjock]

WOW!!!

What a shock.... The UK exercising an open door immigration policy....... NOT!

Who do they think are going to come streaming in?

I have seen what happens when they open the doors, it gets abused.

At least they don't have to come in hidden between pallets of a trailer.

Someone ought to remind Cameron that China is not Bulgaria and has double the population of the entire EU.

The visa s being talked about are tourist visas and those for business people. Being outside the Schengen Agreement means that Chinese tourists need a separate visa for the UK rather than a single European one. Result:

Chinese tourists to France 1.5 million

Chinese tourists to UK 196,000

As they spend to spend four times as much as the average overseas tourist, increasing their numbers makes good economic sense.

And I guess this easing of visa rights for the Chinese has absolutely nothing to

do with the 18 Billion pounds of Scottish oil and gas that Cameron wants to sell

to China then??

Yeh Right.

[Steely Dan]

I've no problem whatsoever with this, and I'll venture neither will UKIP.

[wigantojapan]

it was just a smoke screen to take the attention away from what china really think of the UK.

Britain is an old, declining empire, says official Chinese newspaper

People's Daily takes swipe at UK's 'eccentric acts' as Chinese premier visits Londonhttp://www.theguardian.com/

[wigantojapan]

https://www.google.co.th/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB0QqQIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2F2014%2Fjun%2F18%2Fbritain-old-declining-empire-official-chinese-newspaper&ei=zS-jU7flM46UuASn5oGYCw&usg=AFQjCNGkgtNvwXOFMxrERR4EGkZ1Y-swHw&bvm=bv.69411363,d.c2E.

it was just a smoke screen to take the attention away from what china really think of the UK.

Britain is an old, declining empire, says official Chinese newspaper

Apologies for wrong link in previous posting

[nontabury]

https://www.google.co.th/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB0QqQIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2F2014%2Fjun%2F18%2Fbritain-old-declining-empire-official-chinese-newspaper&ei=zS-jU7flM46UuASn5oGYCw&usg=AFQjCNGkgtNvwXOFMxrERR4EGkZ1Y-swHw&bvm=bv.69411363,d.c2E.

it was just a smoke screen to take the attention away from what china really think of the UK.

Britain is an old, declining empire, says official Chinese newspaper

Apologies for wrong link in previous posting

Why don't you give over, another swipe from an ardent SNP supporter,hopefully we will be rid of you in September, freedom for England from Scottish domination.

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[Scott]

I believe this topic is NOT abotu the Scottish Indpendence, so please don't bring it into the discussion unless it relates to the easing of visa rules.