Question

Asked by Paweena from usa | Dec. 11, 2019 13:23

About:24-Hour Visa-Free Transit

San Francisco-l>Chingdao(technical stop)>Kunming>Thailand

Hello. I've booked a ticket from San Francisco (SFO) to Thailand, which needs to transit and layover in Kunming airport. Also, it seems that the fight from SFO will stop for a technical stop in Qingdao airport for 1.40 hours before landing to Kunming on December 19 at 00.10 am. I have to layover in Kunming airport for 13 hours before my next flight to Thailand. I am holding a Thai passport, and I am an international student in the USA. I am not sure if I will receive a temporary stamp for the layover in Qingdao and Kunming airports or not. 

    I don't know how it is going to be since I don't have a Chinese Visa, and it is impossible to have for me since I am currently in CA for college. If I have to get a visa, it means I need to do it in Thailand, which is impossible.

1. Will I receive TWOV (Transit without a visa)?  I will need to transit for Qingdao technical stop for 1.40 hours and Kunming for 13 hours to connect my next flight to Thailand. It is not going to be more than 24 hours. 
2. Am I supposed to inform the check-in desk in SFO when I check in with the airline, or they will tell me what to do that day? 

Please help me.

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Answers (7)

Answered by Paweena | Dec. 11, 2019 15:48

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Thank you so much for your kindly respone. I had been worried about it. I will make sure to print my flight booking, my passport (of course), my I-20 in case they want to see. I am planning to stay in the Kunming airport because I don't familiar with China and I am not so confident to go out by myself. Is it okay to layover in Kunming airport?Will they still give me 24 hours free visa even though I will stay inside the airport area? T

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Answered by Rishav | Dec. 13, 2019 08:45

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I have a similar itinerary. The only difference is that after a technical stop of 1hr 40 minutes in Qingdao, I will be flying to Kunming where I have a 23 hour layover. My final destination is Kolkata. Will they count the technical stop as "entry to China"? I suppose we won't have to leave the airplane for such a short stop

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Answered by ZUPAN | Dec. 11, 2019 14:09

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Paweena, just be relaxed because you don't need any kind of visa. Your itinerary is definitely eligible for 24 hour visa free transit.

You will print out your flight tickets and bring those printouts with you. Also, you will declare at check-in (not before) in San Francisco that you will travel to Thailand via two Chinese cities using 24 hour visa free transit. After a short inspection of your flight tickets, you will be allowed to board the plane. One very important detail here. You will have to inform yourself about the luggage, i.e. whether it will be tagged all the way to Thailand or not. If you are traveling on a single ticket, then in most cases your luggage will be tagged all the way to your final destination, but you have to ask, just for a case.

Upon your arrival in Qingdao, you will immediately approach 24 hour visa free transit counter where you will apply for a temporary entry permit. It will be granted to you because your next flight is a domestic one.

When you arrive in Kunming, you will probably head to a hotel because of your very long layover. I suggest you to book your accommodation in advance and to have a confirmation of than in hard copy.

After your layover in Kunming, you will just continue your travel to your final destination in Thailand.

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Answered by ZUPAN | Dec. 11, 2019 23:24

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Paweena, you are perfectly allowed to stay within Kunming airport during your entire layover time. You will find there something to eat and to rest until your departure for Thailand.

By the way, you will get your temporary entry permit in Qingdao, so you will not repeat your application in Kunming. Also, you should use correct terminology. You are flying or better to say transiting China on 24 hour visa free transit, but you will apply and obtain a temporary entry permit that allows you to fly between Qingdao and Kunming and to be free to enjoy your time in both Qingdao and Kunming during your layovers. Don't worry because you will be perfectly fine :)

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Answered by Paweena | Dec. 13, 2019 18:34

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Thank you. I have one more question. I have to inform the airline that I am flying and transiting China on 24 hour visa free transit? Or I need to inform with the immigration in Qingdao. Or I have to inform both? Thank you so much.

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Answered by ZUPAN | Dec. 14, 2019 02:57

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Rishav, unfortunately you will have to obtain a Chinese transit (G) visa in advance because your entire transit time in China will exceed 24 hours. The rules for 24 hour visa free transit are very simple. The rules say that your entire transit time is calculated from your first scheduled landing in China regardless of the nature of your stop, until your final scheduled departure out of China. Also, Chinese immigration performs all the immigration formalities at the very first stop. So, you will cross all the necessary formalities already in Qingdao.

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Answered by ZUPAN | Dec. 14, 2019 03:02

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Paweena, as already explained, you will tell about your intention to travel on 24 hour visa free transit through China at check-in in San Francisco. You will not tell anything to anybody until your check-in in San Francisco. There you will declare that you will travel to Thailand via China and here you will present your flight tickets. This is so usual procedure, just be relaxed.

Upon your arrival in Qingdao, you will approach 24 hour visa free counter where you will apply, listen now, for a temporary entry permit and you will again tell them that you will transit China using 24 hour visa free transit. This permit will be granted to you and you will continue your journey to Thailand absolutely visa free. Nothing more than this. Really, not so complicated, although I understand your unease because you will use this option for the first time. Just be relaxed, you will be perfectly fine :)

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