New Chinese visa rules mean more hassle for travelers

New Chinese visa rules mean more hassle for travelers:
PLANNING a trip to China in the near future? Better brush up on the new visa rules then, lest you find yourself being turned down when applying for this essential document for travel to China.

Chinese visa Pic: china-mike.com

New requirementss for tourist and business visas, both of which were fairly easy to obtain in recent years, became effective on August 1 and require would-be tourists to do a bit more legwork before departure than was previously necessary.
According to China Daily, applicants for tourist visas must have an invitation letter detailing the “personal information of both host and invitee, along with information such as the purpose of the visit, arrival and departure dates, places to be visited and who will pay for the visitor’s accommodations in China.”
The new requirements seem to have sparked confusion among visa agencies and even international Chinese consulates. There have been mixed reports of additional required documents, with some officials stating that round-trip flight documentation and accommodation information is accepted but not required, while other agencies and officials have listed those as essentials for the tourist visa application.
Business visas are even more difficult to come by, requiring an official invitation letter from the Chinese government. Even the details surrounding those requirements are murky. Some consulate workers insist that business visa applicants need only an official invitation letter, roundtrip flight and accommodation details, while other reports say invitation letters are needed from the government and from the inviting company, as well as travel information.
Travelers should note that for either visa, if they plan to stay with a friend who lives in China, they will need to provide specific documentation of that as well. If the friend is Chinese, a letter detailing where he or she lives, how long the guest will stay and who will pay for their travel and accommodation costs is needed, as well as a copy of their national identification card. If the friend is foreign, he or she will need to provide a similar letter, as well as a copy of the host’s passport and valid Chinese visa.
Private visa agencies inside China, Hong Kong and in other capital cities such as Hanoi, have been popular among tourists for securing visas in the past. But if you decide to go this route, be sure to contact the companies in advance and ask if they will actually be able to secure a visa for you, what documents they require and the length of stay they expect to be approved. Be sure to ask about prices as well, as the cost of visas and extension services have increased significantly in the past year.
Agencies such as Forever Bright in Hong Kong have advised that those who already have multiple Chinese visas in their passport may have difficulty obtaining a new one, or may receive entry approval for only 7–10 days.
Because all travel arrangements must be made in advance of applying for a tourist visa, it’s a good idea to purchase travel insurance and refundable airline tickets in case there is some delay in obtaining the visa. And do not wait until the last minute to apply. In the past, it was possible to obtain a visa through a same-day or overnight service but the new laws have made that a rather expensive option, if it is even available to you at all.
These new laws have come in the midst of increased government scrutiny of foreigners, including a 100-day crackdown on illegal residents. Stricter exit/entry laws will be enacted next summer, though those seem to apply more to foreigners working in the country rather than travelers passing through.