I occasionally work as an air courier and was recently offered a job, leaving that night, going from Bangkok to China; destination city not specified at that time. I declined the job because I was in the belief that US citizens needed a visa in advance for any China entry and I had none.

I was later told by a friend that at most major international airports in China, 24 hour, sometimes 48 hour entry is allowed without a visa provided one exits at the same location. He also said that ongoing travel to domestic locations is allowed for up to six days, as long at the return is via same route and one has a ticketed itinerary.

Can anybody confirm this information?

Suck it up, get a 10 year multi-entry visa (now available to US citizens) and you won't have to wonder if you meet the requirements of the transit visas available in limited airports, for limited times, no travel outside the local area in some locations, and no round trips allowed- it's got to be transit. Unless the rules have changed this week. Which they often do.

Edit: Get it fast. They may change the rules after tomorrow.

Agree, just get the 10-year multiple-entry visa and stop worrying. Not sure if the embassy in Bangkok gives these, but the Visa Office in Hong Kong usually will.

As to transit without visa, it comes with various catches. For example, since it's for transit, you can't fly in and out from the same country. So BKK-CAN-BKK will not work.

Agree, just get the 10-year multiple-entry visa and stop worrying. Not sure if the embassy in Bangkok gives these, but the Visa Office in Hong Kong usually will.

I got mine in BKK earlier this year.

Thanks Impulse & Taxout for the replies. What does the 10 Year cost? In my five years of doing courier work this is the first time I've been asked to do BKK-China...usually done by Chinese Nationals as the primary contractor is based in HK.

Interesting about the "Transit vs. Roundtrip" rule.

In rough terms, it's about US$150. Indeed, prices should be the same for U.S. citizens no matter what type of visa you get.