The link does not seem to be working, Kate.

I called Diversity Travel about it this morning who said:

You cannot generally get a group visa for travel to China

Some tour groups are able to get them if the tour operator is based in China.

Unfortunately as we are travelling next month, I do not think the FCO will come up with a fix in time for us, but good luck to those with more time to get it amended.

From: Mandarin Chinese Teaching [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kate Hammond
Sent: 08 February 2016 11:10
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: China VISA price increase

Dear All

There is a page on the Chinese Embasssy web site about group visas.  http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng//xnyfgk/t514403.htm

However for tourist visas this increase in price was a reciprocal agreement made in January by Philip Hammond, Secretary of State, between the foreign office and China and obviously the implications for students was totally missed.  We have written to him to ask if he could go back to the Chinese and come up with a reciprocal agreement about student cost for tourist visas.

I suggest everyone who is affected writes to him.  Email   [log in to unmask]

Happy New Year

Kate

From: Mandarin Chinese Teaching [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Theresa Munford
Sent: 08 February 2016 09:59
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: China VISA price increase

Dear All

Not sure if this has been mentioned already, but our trip organizer (the Bath Sino Education Trust) says that they are applying for a group visa that works out at £80 per head.

Happy New Year!
Theresa

> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2016 12:38:28 +0000
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: China VISA price increase
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> Here is the link to the new schedule of prices.
>
> http://www.visaforchina.org/LON_EN/upload/Attach/mrbj/289577.pdf
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mandarin Chinese Teaching [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Marcus Reoch
> Sent: 06 February 2016 12:21
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: China VISA price increase
>
> Hi penny
> Thanks for this.
>
> I cant see anything online about it. Do you have a web link about it?
>
> Thanks
> Best
> Marcus Reoch
> Dragons in Europe
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On 6 Feb 2016, at 11:05, Penny Lynch <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > If you are planning a trip to China soon, you may not have noticed that the visa fee for British passport holders has recently increased from £96 to an eye-watering £151.
> > You might need to adjust your costings accordingly, I know I did!
> >
> > Sent from my iPad