I don't have to actually pay until I go back to pick up next week. But it is spent already.
Not cheap for visas for just the 2 of us.
But it is based on reciprocity, and I imagine it takes citizens of many other countries longer to earn that amount of money to apply for visas(and they have a high chance of being denied).
So while it is annoying, I can understand why China is charging that much.
12 days left!
This time I hope to avoid starting to pack after midnight on the day of the flight. I do that every single time we go somewhere! I spend hours looking for things like batteries and chargers around the apartment and than I am quite tired on the day of the flight. NYC - Hong Kong is a 16 hour flight.
Spent $260 on visa fees today
June 24th, 2009 at 08:33 pm
June 24th, 2009 at 08:59 pm 1245877179
June 24th, 2009 at 10:11 pm 1245881499
Good to know, I guess. Aunt(IL) is in HK - another trip MIL wants us to do (had slipped my mind). Maybe $500 for visas for the 4 of us though? Ouch! Maybe in a few years...
Enjoy your trip!!
June 24th, 2009 at 10:32 pm 1245882772
This is a price of a visa to China. We are only spending few days in HK before going to mainland China.
June 25th, 2009 at 12:50 am 1245891004
June 25th, 2009 at 02:33 am 1245897229
I have been to China 4 times. One of those times I lived there for 6 months(even got "temporary resident" status). I went because I wanted to go for my second semester abroad but did not have much money so I picked a cheap, interesting and safe country - China.
When the semester was over we backpacked. The resident status helped me get permits for traveling in Tibet independently (amazing times). We were students and had little money but we had a lot of time.
I look forward to going back. Each time I go I find it so different.
I have only been to Hong Kong once (and like 8 times to HK airport - my favorite airport of all time).