Railway act and Chinese visa

[moonface123]

Hello,
I am travelling to china and I need to apply for a visitor visa next month. Just wondered - should I declare the travel offences (I have one maybe, not sure) on my visa paper? I had enhanced DBS check done and it comes up with nothing.

I am not sure if I have a criminal record at all. DBS check didn't come up with anything recently... It made me think if I have it at all...

Many thanks!

 

[TheEdge]

The only people who will give you a definitive answer is the Chinese embassy, ask them.

 

[danbushell]

an enhanced DBS (previously known as a CRB check) shows up all convictions even if they are spent.
If the enhanced disclosure showed nothing you have no convictions/criminal record.

 

[najaB]

I am not sure if I have a criminal record at all. DBS check didn't come up with anything recently... It made me think if I have it at all...

Do you know or remember what exact offence you were convicted of? Was it (for example) Railway Byelaw 18.2, or was it the Regulation of Railways Act?

The former isn't recorded and so I can't see why it would need to be declared. The latter, however, does leave a record.

 

[185]

If it aint on the DBS ... It didn't happen, simple as.

 

[Tetchytyke]

If it aint on the DBS ... It didn't happen, simple as.

That's probably one of the worst pieces of advice I've ever read on here.

If you're uncertain you should contact the Chinese embassy for guidance.

 

[bb21]

I wouldn't go that far.

I think he has a point that if it doesn't show up on an enhanced disclosure, then there is nothing to worry about. This is true for all spent and unspent offences AFAIK. It is a conclusion many people would reasonably draw.

However I agree that it is best to contact the embassy directly. They may have special requirements.

 

[Flamingo]

That's probably one of the worst pieces of advice I've ever read on here.

If you're uncertain you should contact the Chinese embassy for guidance.

True. After all, if the OP is a fare-dodger they may not be considered moral enough to visit an endemically corrupt dictatorship with an atrocious human rights record...

(not having a go at you AT, just amused by China requiring a clean record to visit there.)

 

[bb21]

True. After all, if the OP is a fare-dodger they may not be considered moral enough to visit an endemically corrupt dictatorship with an atrocious human rights record...

(not having a go at you AT, just amused by China requiring a clean record to visit there.)

Oi. They are doing something about it at last. Don't knock them.

 

[Flamingo]

Oi. They are doing something about it at last. Don't knock them.

I'd better be careful or I'll find my PC hacked by them...

 

[DownSouth]

Oi. They are doing something about it at last. Don't knock them.

Fair enough. It sounds like they are having enough trouble without letting in those deemed to be excessively criminal by even the low standards of the decadent west.

 

[185]

That's probably one of the worst pieces of advice I've ever read on here.

Well, I've quite a lot of experience in obtaining visa using the China Visa Service Center. My passport has rather a few Chinese stickers and stamps, and I know precisely what they are looking for. At worst, DBS could be checked, albeit very rarely, and only then in cases where there are grounds for refusal but a challenge / appeal is likely.

But what do I know about the Chinese. It's not like I'm married to one.

Oh... hang on...

 

[najaB]

Well, I've quite a lot of experience in obtaining visa using the China Visa Service Center...

Which means that you are a good source of knowledge about getting Chinese visas, but doesn't qualify you to make a broad generalisation like "If it aint on the DBS ... It didn't happen, simple as."

 

[moonface123]

Thank you everyone for the advice. I will call the embassy next week. Actually, I always declared it, it never caused any issues however my last DBS check just made me wonder as it didn't appear on it.

It was just a matter of interest. Thanks again!

 

[Tetchytyke]

Well, I've quite a lot of experience in obtaining visa using the China Visa Service Center. My passport has rather a few Chinese stickers and stamps, and I know precisely what they are looking for.

...and?

My objection is you saying that "if it ain't on the DBS it didn't happen". That advice is just wrong, and can open up a whole heap of woe.

The Chinese probably aren't going to give a stuff about a Byelaws prosecution, but that's not what you said.