How To Apply For Visa To China

China's visa requirements for U.S. citizens are slightly different for each type of Chinese visa. There are some items, no matter what kind of Chinese visa you apply for, they are the same.

For those interested in Chinese visas for U.S. citizens, the two most common problems related to the cost and time of the visa.

How much is a Chinese visa with a U.S. passport?

By 2020, Chinese visa fees for US citizens were $140. This is the same whether you apply for a six-month visa, a one-year visa, or a 10-year visa.

Visa service fees for US citizens can be paid by Visa, MasterCard, money order, or cashier's check payable to the "Chinese embassy". The Chinese embassy does not accept cash and personal checks.

How long does it take to get a Chinese visa in the United States?

According to the website of the Chinese Embassy, the normal visa processing time should be 4 working days. In my experience, it's more like 5-7 working days.

You can pay extra for express service (extra $20 / visa, return within 2-3 working days) or emergency service (extra $30 / visa, return within 1 working day). Emergency services are allowed only in extreme cases approved by the consulate.

How To Apply For Visa To China

The process of applying for a Chinese visa for US citizens is quite straightforward. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean it's easy.

Step 1: determine the appropriate Chinese Embassy and Consulate

Unfortunately, you can't just apply to the Chinese embassy. You must apply to the Embassy that serves your state of legal residence (that is, the state listed on your driver's license).

According to this map, you will see that if your legal residence in Tennessee, you will have to apply for your Chinese visa in Washington, D.C. If you try to apply in Houston, your application will be rejected.

Step 2: fill in the application form and collect the appropriate documents

The next step is to fill out the Chinese visa application form and collect all the other necessary documents mentioned above. To be honest, it's easier said than done. You may find yourself asking very specific questions, such as what box you should write in, or what kind of documents you absolutely need.

There are two ways to solve this problem:

You can try to do it yourself, maybe you can ask some knowledgeable friends for help. I've done it several times. One was successful; two times my application was rejected because of some small mistakes. It's frustrating. I can tell you so much. The Chinese consulate will not charge you a fee, but it's a waste of time.

You can use passport visa express and other visa services. They will check your application and all documentation to make sure you have done the work correctly. If you miss something, they will tell you.

Step 3: submit your Chinese visa application

It should be noted that the Chinese Embassy in the United States does not accept visa applications by post. You cannot apply online or by fax.

This means that you have to submit your application in person to the Chinese Embassy and then wait 2-7 days to collect it from the embassy.

If you live in a city with Chinese embassies (Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Washington, D.C.), then this may succeed. But if you live out of town, it can be very inconvenient.

Once again, I would like to introduce you to a Chinese visa service, such as passport visa express. There are many options, but they can apply on your behalf (no authorization required). They will also take your visa back and mail it to you.