Cruise Question about 144 Hour Visa Free Trip

You need a visa prior to arrival. The 144-hour transit is for those visiting one region only. However tourist L type issued to US citizens are valid for 10 years and cost the same as the transit G type.

I appreciate the information, but it differs from what is listed on China's official website for the 144 Hour Visa Free Exemption Program.

The website says you can visit any of the listed regions under specific conditions. We are not familiar with the 3 ports, so we are unsure if we meet the conditions. We know 2 of the 3 ports do qualify and our time in the country will be less than the 144 Hours. These are brand new rules as of 12/28/2017.

The rule is for boarding a cruise with the first port of call in another country. In your case, your first port of call is domestic and in a different city. However, your entry permit is not valid for that city (or Shanghai, for that matter) which means that you would have breached the terms of your entry permit by arriving at the city and subsequently breaking Chinese immigration laws. That will jeopardize your future chance of getting free transit of any kind.

Can you cite your source, please. I got a very different answer when I called the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles. The information I received verbally, matched the information I read on the Chinse Government website with regard to the 144 Hour Free Exemption.

They said they will get back to me about the second port (the only part of the trip that may be outside the visa waiver program), their interpretation was that you could fly into Shanghai, China and depart via a cruise ship, so long as we left China before the 144 hours were up, that we stay in the approved provinces, and that there was an intermediary third country before returning to my home country.

No disrespect intended, what is your background? You are saying something different than the Chinese Government is telling me.

Did you tell them that your first two ports of call are Qingdao and Beijing, both of which are outside the areas permitted to stay? Look, no offense, but no one is stopping you from traveling like that. If you don't trust me then you can proceed with your own conclusion.

Michael, you came here and got the correct advice; you need a visa. If you don't like it or believe it, then you're free to attempt your trip without a visa.

Kevin,

I posted my question because the Cruise line informed us there are new rules as of 12/28/2017, that we may qualify for the exemption, and they did not have clarification back from the Chinese Government yet. They directed us to the Chinese Consulate in our region.

Forgive me for calling into question anonymous advice (with a moniker of John Doe no less) on the internet that is in direct conflict with information I received on the phone from the Chinese Government, after I posted the question here.

For the record John, Yes... the consulate is aware that we are landing in Shanghai, that it is the first port of call and where we board. They are aware of the second port, Qingdao (and that is the part they are checking on and will get back to me) and the last port of call being Beijing then onto Japan. The consulate said the 144 Hour Visa Free Exemption is good for arrival in the first port and in the third port as well because we are on the ship and not traveling by land to the other destinations. They said I will hear back by next week about the second port.

Our travel agent received the same information about the new rules and that our sailing may qualify for the exemption.

Michael, again, no one is stopping you. However, refusal of entry by Chinese immigration is not only time consuming and emotionally damaging, it will also cause you to be blacklisted so you cannot be transiting through China without a visa in the future. Your future visa applications will also be scrutinized. Consider this my final reply.