According to the reports, with verification authorities trickling down to the grassroots, village and township cadres may end up holding substantial sway over whether an individual's travel request gets pushed through. As a result, securing favor with local community heads could become an increasingly common hurdle for prospective travelers.

Whether official policies vary by region or not, the trend toward tighter screening at the departure gate looks set to keep climbing for overseas workers and traders alike. ToNanyang Heat Week|check in & spin for Premium