Question

Asked by Gerry from usa | Apr. 21, 2019 15:32

About:240-Hour Visa-Free Transit

I plan arrive Beijing on 9/3, travel to Hong Kong on 9/8 and back to US from there on 9/9 or 9/10

Can I travel by train or do I have to fly to Hong Kong from Beijing? Do I have to be out of Hong Kong by end of day on 9/9 or does the clock on the 144 hr. visa only relate to my time in the Beijing area? If not, can I stay longer in Hong Kong?

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Answers (11)

Answered by Walt | Apr. 21, 2019 19:22

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If you have a USA passport, you can stay in Hong Kong for up to 90 days without a visa. Your 144 hours in Beijing starts at 00:01 on the day following the day of entry. You cannot take the fast train from Beijing to Hong Kong.

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Answered by Gerry | Apr. 22, 2019 09:37

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Thank you very much...you confirmed what I thought after reading the visa free transit guidelines some more is that you can fly US-Beijing-Hong Kong-US but not US-Hong Kong-Beijing-US. Is this correct? Thank you again for clarifying.

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Answered by Hector | Apr. 22, 2019 13:08

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Either is fine if those are your only landings. But USA-Hong Kong-Beijing-Hong Kong-USA requires a visa.

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Answered by Gerry | Apr. 24, 2019 17:05

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Just 1 more question...after arriving in Beijing from the US and establishing visa free transit and then staying 5 days in Beijing before flying to Hong Kong for 2 days, can I then fly back to Beijing from Hong Kong for about a 3 hour layover to get a flight back to the US or do I need to leave for the US from Hong Kong?

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Answered by Saul | Apr. 24, 2019 20:20

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It’s very simple. You must fly non-stop Country A - Beijing - Country B. Either A or B can be Hong Kong, but not both. It’s not difficult to understand.

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Answered by Saul | Apr. 25, 2019 04:20

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Zupan, as you know, Hong Kong-Beijing-Hong Kong is not fine without a visa! I guess you mistyped...

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Answered by Gerry | Apr. 25, 2019 06:57

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Zupan, thank you again for your very helpful and courteous answer. I knew what you meant that on the return I can fly: Hong Kong - Beijing - US. Since I may be using some award travel for portions of the trip, my ticketless travel from US to Beijing may be one way, but I will have airline ticket and seat info available for the authorities in Beijing for my onward travel to Hong Kong. I might also use a round trip ticket from US to Beijing instead that will encompass 9/10 days but I would be still eligible for the 144hr visa free transit in Beijing as long as I don't stay beyond that window. I presume that on the return from Hong Kong my 3 hour layover in Beijing is covered by the 24 hour visa free policy.

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Answered by Hector | Apr. 25, 2019 07:30

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Gerry, you are totally over-thinking this. It is really very, very, very simple. It doesn't matter if it's award travel or not. There is no such thing as "ticketless travel". If you fly Country A-Beijing-Country B then you don't need a visa for 144 hours in Beijing. Separate tickets and different carriers are fine. Hong Kong can count as Country A or Country B (but not both).

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Answered by John Doe | Apr. 25, 2019 18:52

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Award tickets are absolutely fine. It is the employee pass/buddy pass/whatever airline employees get for free (officially known as a standby ticket or nonconfirmed ticket) that doesn't count. If you fly, you will absolutely receive a ticket (even on standby), the only difference is how or whether you paid for it.

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Answered by ZUPAN | Apr. 25, 2019 03:01

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Yes, you can fly from Hong Kong via Beijing to US on your return journey back home.

US - Beijing - Hong Kong - fine
Hong Kong - Beijing - Hong Kong - fine

As mentioned before, you can use a slow train on one or two of your journeys between Beijing and Hong Kong and vice versa in case that you would like to have such an experience.

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Answered by ZUPAN | Apr. 25, 2019 13:08

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Uh, apologies... I have I mistyped. What I wanted to type was Hong Kong - Beijing - US, of course...

Everything what you have mentioned is fine and your return trip from Hong Kong to US via Beijing will definitely be covered by 24 hours visa free transit.

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