Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Tuttle News Wrap

I wish to just note in passing that today marks the first day of my third year in Korea, having flown in to Incheon Airport, and bussed out to Yong-in for SMOE training (losing my camera along the way), on this date in 2008.

In other news, I will be going to Shanghai in September, around Chuseok, for a week or so mainly to see Expo2010. The plane ticket was similar to what I paid going to Beijing last year, but the Chinese have decided to really gouge Americans on our tourist visas. In 2009, my visa cost 80,000 W, including a two-day rush. This time, it cost a whopping 190,000 W with no rush on it! The price for Koreans and other nations did not change.

For most Saturdays from September through January, I will be doing a two-hour course in Public Speaking and Debate for high school students at Yeouido Girls High School, operated by SMOE. I don't like doing extra work (I'm dedicated and energetic, but enough is enough), but I decided to take this because the money was really good, and I really wanted the opportunity to work with a whole class full of kids as advanced as the best two or three I might have in a class at Young-il. And there will be only sixteen of them. I'm looking forward to it.

5 comments:

조안나 said...

You got yours for 80,000 last year?? I had to pay about 150$! how did you get it so cheap?? I went May 2009...

And speaking of Chinese visa rules, they're getting more and more obnoxious... I guess you need at least 6 months left on your ARC to get a visa... it doesn't even make sense!!!!! Sorry... it's not your fault.. I just gotta vent...

Tuttle said...

Well, J-A, it was in January 2009, for a February trip, so maybe some new rules kicked in later. So, it looks like I should be HAPPY, because you got the same raw deal a few months later that I'm getting now!

Wait, that doesn't make sense... Why should I be happy if someone else gets a raw deal? I shouldn't! I wouldn't think anything of it if other nationalities had also experienced an increase, but it's ONLY USA citizens.

As you mention, the 6 mo. ARC thing does nothing other than CUT IN HALF the number of USA visitors China can receive from Korea--what sense does that make?

Still, I'm going to Shanghai to fulfill a lifelong dream of enjoying a World's Fair! Be happy for me, okay?

Anonymous said...

China's visa policy is based on reciprocity. The reason the cost of visas for US citizens increased is because the US State Department increased the cost of Chinese nationals obtaining a US visa. If there's anyone to blame for this it's the US, not China.

As for the 6 month ARC policy... This is the first I've heard of this. What could possibly be the logic behind that one?

Chris said...

It might be possible to travel through Hong Kong, and obtain your visa there before entering China proper. I did that a few times for business. Of course, this adds to the cost and duration of your trip...

Tuttle said...

Anon, I appreciate the info. So, I went looking, and the only changes I could find in the US visa situation with China regarded H-1B and L-1 visas, which are both work permits. IMO, that's a totally different issue--it's hard to argue that tourism damages a country's economy, less hard to argue that immigration can.

Also, the visa fee wasn't increased "for Chinese nationals" it was raised for everyone wanting these types of visas. Unless there's more news out there that I'm missing.

But, you know, Anon, the fact is that a great many people from all over the world want to leave their countries and live in the US. The number of Americans who want to ditch their tourist visa and live illegally in China is a much smaller number.