On 18 March 2025, the British Consulate-General Shanghai, in partnership with BritCham Shanghai, successfully hosted a Pop-Up Consulate event in Suzhou. The event began with an exclusive closed-door roundtable meeting, followed by a public session designed to provide tailored consular guidance and UK visa support to both British nationals and visa applicants in China.
Roundtable Meeting (by invitation only)
Attendees had the unique opportunity to interact directly with the Consular Section, including Alan Bryson, British Vice Consul, as well the UK Visas and Immigration Visa Outreach Officer, Ed Humphris.
Alan Bryson underscored the UK’s commitment to delivering 24/7 global consular support, with a special emphasis on assisting vulnerable individuals. He highlighted the services that the Consular Section was able to carry out and signposted where to look and who to go to for specialist advice. Alan encouraged people to use the 24/7 number: +86 (0)21 3279 2000 for urgent consular assistance, check out FCDO Travel Advice, join the UK Consular WeChat Account and ensure they are properly insured. Additionally, he outlined the areas where British people most commonly fall foul of local law: drug and immigration-related offences, the potential consequences of committing offences in China, local procedures around this and what Consular Staff can and cannot do.
Alan Bryson, British Vice Consul, British Consulate-General Shanghai
Ed Humphris, Visa Outreach Officer, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)
Ed Humphris shared valuable insights into the processes for family, business, and visitor visas, covering essential topics such as visa selection, application preparation, and identity verification. Updates on eVisas and Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) were also provided, offering attendees a clearer understanding of the latest advancements in UK visa services. Additionally, he showcased the extensive visa services available, including access to over 250 global application centers and priority processing options in 190 countries.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our Venue Partner, WeWork China, as well as our lucky draw prize sponsors, whose generous contributions played a pivotal role in making this event a resounding success.
Thank you to everyone who attended, and we look forward to welcoming you at our future events!
Visa Portal: http://www.gov.uk
Fraud Alert: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/frauds-tricks-and-scams/fraud-tricks-and-scams
Contact: +86 21 3279 2000 | Consular hours (Shanghai): Tue/Thu by appointment.
The UK remains committed to empowering its community in China with adaptive, secure, and respectful services. In an emergency, remember to make the right call: +86 (0)21 3279 2000
Use our web contact form to find the instant answers to your query or submit your query online.
Local emergency numbers:
Counter Service Hours
Consulate access is an appointment only. For details, please visit www.gov.uk/world/china
Or call +86 (0)21 3279 2000
