[vt]

Yep...as I said, I have an APEC card, but before the card I would just pay my $30 and get a visa.

Now, its strict adherence to the rules.

I got cuaght on hotel booking as I was joining a tour and that info isnt available.

[fortymilliondaggers]

Make some bookings for the cheapest of the cheapest on hostelworld.com to serve as proof of hotel confirmation. 10% deposit required. This seems to be acceptable.

[vt]

I dont know...I am a bit unnerved with making false bookings for the purpose of a visa.

I have been told to book fully refundable flights and accom to get visa...but if I dont come into the port I said I will or stay at the hotel I said I will....what if I get found out?

[fortymilliondaggers]

I did it. Even made up ferry reservations HK-mainland because they wanted proof of entry and exit from China and there was no way I was going to pay for that. It was fine. This sort of thing is routinely done by travel agents in China and Hong Kong.

[vt]

mmm....might ask my agent

dont they track the visa? so if you say your entering from beijing or lo wu, wont they find out when they scan your passport?

[fortymilliondaggers]

It seems not. I said I was entering from the HK-Shenzhen ferry but ended up crossing the Macau-Zhuhai Border Gate. And to return, crossed the Shenzhen-HK border instead of the Shenzhen-HK ferry. This was about 3 weeks ago.

[vt]

mmm...thanks

[Ric]

Agree with Fortymilliondaggers. Just do a dummy hotel booking or get a TA to give you a dummy booking. Once you get your visa, not a problem anymore. I do this too. Can always say that when you arrive at the hotel, you didn't like it etc etc and stayed at another one.
No problems that I know of about which port to go in and exit from.

Ric