1 FAQ on TRAVEL & TESTING REQUIREMENTS (v.4) This document is intended to be a living document to provide assistance to non-Chinese citizens attempting to return to China from the U nited States . (Chinese citizens have similar testing requirements, but different ways of getting their results authorized.) This FAQ is meant to reflect the NEW testing requirements starting on 12/23. PLEASE NOTE that currently there are roadblocks at every step of the process of getting back to China. 1) Getting PU Letters (no PU letters for dependents; very hard to get PU letters in general for others) 2) Getting a visa, even WITH a PU Letter or an expired RP 3) Getting (affordable) flights to fly back to China that are on the approved flights list 4) Getting authorized for a Health Declaration Code (you might not get approval even if you have negative COVID results and have a valid visa, especially if you can’t prove your travel is “necessary” and “urgent” This FAQ aims to assis t people with the last two points above (finding flight routes and getting testing/authorized for a HDC) , however nothing is guaranteed. NOTE THAT TRAVEL AROUND THE TIME OF CHINESE NEW YEAR MA Y BE VERY DIFFICULT. Please see the newly added “Updates from around the world” to see how travel is being restricted around the world. Please read through everything carefully. Updates are based on the feedback and experiences of others to help those trying to return to their adopted home. As the situation is dynamic and unfolding, please use this as a guide only. TABLE OF CONTENTS IMPORTANT PAGES on the Embassy Website 2 UPDATES from AROUND THE WORLD (NEW SECTION - started 1/30) 3 KNOWN FLIGHT SUSPENSIONS (Updated on 2/1/2020) 4 1) PLANNING TRAVEL BACK TO CHINA 5 Option 1: Fly back directly from the US. 5 Option 2: Fly back via a transfer in Europe. 6 Frankfurt airport 7 Zurich Airport 8 Helsinki-Vantaa Airport 9 Copenhagen Airport 10 Paris-Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport 11 Vienna Airport 12 2) GETTING TESTED (WITH APPROVED LOCATIONS) 13 OVERVIEW of Process 13 REQUIRED details on the Test Results 13 APPROVED LOCATIONS 14 2 Los Angeles Consulate For flights departing from LAX 14 San Francisco Consulate For flights departing from SFO and SEA 17 New York Consulate For flights departing from JFK 19 Chicago Consulate For flights departing from DTW (Detroit) 20 DC Embassy For flights departing from DFW (Dallas) 21 Commonly Asked Questions 22 3) GETTING AUTHENTICATION OF TESTING RESULTS 23 OVERVIEW of Process 23 1) Sign up for an account on the website https://hrhk.cs.mfa.gov.cn/H5/ (can do ahead of time) 23 2) Upload/Fill in requested information 23 3) Wait for the QR code to turn green 25 Commonly Asked Questions 25 4) LAST STEPS BEFORE THE PLANE 26 Documents to bring to the airport 26 At the airport… 26 Commonly Asked Questions 27 APPENDIX: OTHER sources of support 27 APPENDIX: LETTERS OF URGENCY (Suggested Details/Samples) 29 Letter f or an educ ator: Written on school letterhead 29 Letter f or a corporate employee: Written on company letterhead 30 IMPORTANT PAGES on the Embassy Website All relevant Information is expanded upon in this document, but in case you want to read through the original notices: Updated Test Requirements (as of 12/23): http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/visas/t1841416.htm Testing Requirements (as of 10/29 - clarification of requirements for transit passengers) : http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/notices/t1828184.htm Q&As Concerning Airline Boarding Requirements for Certificates of Negative Nucleic Acid and Anti-Body Blood Tests Results ( http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/visas/zyxx/t1829922.htm ) PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CHECK THE CONSULATES FOR THE MOST UPDATED TE STING LOCATIONS - SF Consulate Notices (for flights departing from SFO): h ttp://www.chinaconsulatesf.org/eng/zytz/ - New York Consula te Notices (for flights departing from JFK): http://newyork.china-consulate.org/eng/lsfwss/ - Washington D.C. Embassy Notices (for flights departing from Dallas): http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/visas/ - Los Angeles (for flights departing from LAX): https://docs.qq.com/sheet/DSExicEdBeUFiWFpw?tab=BB08J2 - General Notices Page: h ttp://losangeles.china-consulate.org/eng/lghd/ - Chicago Consulate Notices (for flights departing from Detroit): http://www.chinaconsulatechicago.org/eng/zytz/ 3 UPDATES from AROUND THE WORLD (NEW SECTION - started 1/30) Namely, there are 2 types of bans: 1) Bans for non-Chinese citizens (r egardless of nationality or residency): This is similar to the situation back in March 2020, where foreign nationals with valid residence permits were NOT allowed to return to China. People with new visas issued after that date (usually for exceptional reasons) were allowed to return. 2) “Bans” on Green Codes for non-Chinese citizens and non-residents of the country. Essentially, this is to prevent “country-hopping” by people traveling to another country for the sole-purpose of getting back to China. COUNTRIES WITH BANS ON ALL NON-CHINESE CITIZENS (Ban 1) SOURCE/Notes CANADA http://ca.china-embassy.org/eng/lsyw/t1 849754.htm Newly added: 2021-01-30 Bangladesh Banned since November 2020 Belgium See https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/world. France php India Italy Philippines Russia United Kingdom COUNTRIES WITH GREEN CODE RESTRICTIONS FOR NON RESIDENTS SOURCE/Notes (Ban 2) KOREA No official announcement as of now Newly added: last week of Jan? SWITZERLAND http://zurich.chineseconsulate.org/det/zy tz/t1847061.htm UZBEKISTAN No official announcement as of now 4 KNOWN FLIGHT SUSPENSIONS (Updated on 2/1/2020) PLEASE NOTE that this section will be the most volatile. Check with your airline for the most up-to-date information. The main routes that affect travelers from the US have been lis ted below: 5 1) PLANNING TRAVEL BACK TO CHINA Essentially, you currently have 2 options to get back to China: 1) Option 1: Fly back direct from the US (STRONGLY RECOMMENDED) 2) Option 2: Fly back via a transfer in select cities in Europe (Helsinki, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Paris) (RISKY) Option 1: Fly back directly from the US. - Note that direct flights to China from the US only depart from: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Detroit and Dallas. As of the 12/23 announcements , you should plan to get to those cities at least 2 days ahead of time so that you can get tested and apply for the Health Declaration Code before flying. (h ttp://www.china-embassy.org/eng/visas/t1841416.htm ) - In general it is easier to get approved for the green code if you are flying DIRECT to China. HOWEVER, please note that it has been VER Y DIFFICULT for people to get approval for the Green Code from Dallas and Seattle - mainly because the DC Embassy is overseeing the Health Code approvals from those cities. (It seems that they are trying to divide up the work for giving Health Codes among the consulates.) - Note (1/31/2020): In fact, due to so many flights being cancelled b/ c not enough people got approved for Green Codes, Delta Airlines has rerouted all flights out of Seattle to fly out of Detroit from February 1st to the end of March. There is not yet any updates on what this means for health codes. - Generally, travel agents (based in China) seem to be able to find tickets on flights that show up as “full” on websites. Please ask in the chat for recommendations. The prices are not necessarily cheaper. - Please note that many “direct” fligh ts have a crew change in Incheon Airport. This DOES NOT count as a “transfer” and as such, you do not need to do another test at Incheon (mainly because you aren’t even allowed to deboard the airplane during that stop). If passengers stay on board in the same plane in a 1.5 hr layover in Korea, the flight is regarded as a direct flight. Make sure that your ticket has the same flight number on both legs! 6 Option 2: Fly back via a transfer in Europe. PLEASE NOTE THAT DURING THIS PERIOD OF CHINESE NEW YEAR, CONSULATES SEEM LIKE THEY ARE NOT GIVING GREEN CODES TO ANY FLIGHT THAT IS NO T A DIRECT FLIGHT OUT OF THE UNITED STATES!!! - Theoretically, you can fly with as many transfers as you want, as long as: 1) You get tested (PCR & antibody) at your city of origin (48 hours before departur e) → GET GREEN CODE 2) You ALSO get tested (PCR & antibody) at your last transit city (the one where the flight departs directly for China) AND GET ANOTHER GREEN HEALTH DECLARATION CODE 3) Your last leg is on the appr oved flight list (Please see this page for the official declaration on the above points: http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/notices/t1828184.htm ) - FYI: The “Red Customs Entry/Exit Health Code” that is often referred to in the European airports is the same as the Pocket Customs Form. People in the chat can probably share a wechat app in English (can also access by scanning the QR code to the right) or you can access it here (h ttp://health.customsapp.com/ ) You cannot fill this out until you have checked into your flight and know your seat number. You can also add MULTIPLE family members to ONE account. VERY IMPORTANT!!! - Please note that any requirements to enter China should be based solely upon the announcements from the Chinese government (i.e. not those relayed by airlines or by agents). - Some airlines ha ve not updated their visa requirements to enter China on their websites, so may have outdated information (e.g.