240 Hour Visa

Question

Hello

I fly into Guangzhou on a Monday from Bangkok. I then have an onwatd flight from Hong Kong to NY, USA on Saturday.

I was going to get driven over the Lo Wu border crossing to Hong Kong. Is this allowed or do I have to exit by air?

The visa says you come from me ne country and transit to another.

Answer

Hello,

You are planning to use the 240-hour visa-free transit (Gulf of the Pearl River Delta region including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Dongguan, Foshan) for your trip, and you are wondering about crossing to Hong Kong overland via Lo Wu instead of departing by air.

Here’s a detailed explanation:

Rules for 240-hour Visa-Free Transit:

The 240-hour visa-free transit allows eligible travelers to stay in certain cities in Guangdong, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and other regions without a visa if they are traveling to a third country or region.
You must have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region. In your case, your onward flight from Hong Kong to the USA qualifies as the final destination.
The visa-free transit rules specify the entry and exit points. For the Pearl River Delta region, entry can be through Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Shenzhen Bao’an Airport, or other approved ports of entry. Exit is usually required through an international airport that matches the visa requirements.

About Crossing to Hong Kong via Lo Wu (Land Border):

The Lo Wu crossing is a land border between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. While travelers often use it for normal travel or tourism, the 240-hour visa-free transit explicitly requires that departure from China must be to a third country or region and typically through approved exit points (including airports or seaports).
Hong Kong is considered a separate region for immigration purposes. Entering Hong Kong overland is technically allowed, but in practice, border officers may question whether this satisfies the "onward international departure" condition of the 240-hour visa-free transit.
Some travelers have successfully crossed to Hong Kong by land under this transit visa, but it carries a risk. The safest and most straightforward approach is to depart China via an international flight, such as your scheduled flight from Hong Kong to the USA.

Options to Consider:

Option 1: Stay in Guangzhou and surrounding cities under the 240-hour transit, and take your planned flight from Hong Kong to the USA. This is fully compliant and risk-free.
Option 2: Cross into Hong Kong overland at Lo Wu. While some travelers do this, it may be subject to interpretation by immigration officers, and there is a small risk of being denied the transit visa if questioned.
Option 3: Adjust travel to exit China by air through Guangzhou or Shenzhen airports to ensure compliance and reduce complications.

Summary Recommendation:

Although crossing to Hong Kong overland may work in practice, it is safer to treat the 240-hour visa as requiring an international departure by air or sea. Using your scheduled flight from Hong Kong to the USA fully satisfies the transit visa requirement. If you wish to visit Hong Kong before departure, consider traveling from Guangzhou to Hong Kong by approved transportation and ensure that you have all necessary entry documentation for Hong Kong.

240 Hour Visa

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