Visiting China Question

[Vinny]

Hi,

 

We plan on visiting China later on this year. We usually order our plane tickets and get the Chinese Visa done at the same time. Can we apply for the Chinese Visa before we buy plane tickets? If so, Where do we send our US Passports to get that done?

 

Thanks,

Vinny

[dnoblett]

You can apply for visas before having plane tickets.

 

Either visit the consulate having jurisdiction over where you live, or use a visa service. I used Oasis visa service the 3 times I visited China. https://www.oasischinavisa.com/tourist_visa.html

 

Counselor district map.. (I believe you are in the Carolinas, so Washington DC (Alexandra VA) will be the consulate you deal with, Oasis Visa service uses this consulate.)

 

If spouse is a naturalized US Citizen getting a visa for first trip over after becoming a US Citizen, will need to also include their Chinese passport so that it can be invalidated.

 

One other thing being discussed is needing to also attach some form of invite, can be a letter from family, or a travel agent in China. SEE: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?/topic/44937-effective-as-of-aug-1-a-new-visa-requirement

[Vinny]

Thanks Dan.

 

My Wife is holding Green Card and China Passport so she doesn't need to apply for the Visa right? Only myself and our new US born baby girl?

 

Thanks,

Vinny

[dnoblett]

Thanks Dan.

 

My Wife is holding Green Card and China Passport so she doesn't need to apply for the Visa right? Only myself and our new US born baby girl?

 

Thanks,

Vinny

Correct, only US Citizens need visa, green-card holders do not. When you said passport(s) the assumption was spouse had naturalized.

 

That's a year or more from now from seeing your prior I-751 thread.

 

Also I believe to satisfy the invite letter requirement you can simply attach a photo copy of spouses bio page from Chinese passport.

[Vinny]

Thank you again Dan!

[William Lee]

You can apply for visas before having plane tickets.

 

Either visit the consulate having jurisdiction over where you live, or use a visa service. I used Oasis visa service the 3 times I visited China. https://www.oasischi...urist_visa.html

 

Counselor district map.. (I believe you are in the Carolinas, so Washington DC (Alexandra VA) will be the consulate you deal with, Oasis Visa service uses this consulate.)

 

If spouse is a naturalized US Citizen getting a visa for first trip over after becoming a US Citizen, will need to also include their Chinese passport so that it can be invalidated.

 

One other thing being discussed is needing to also attach some form of invite, can be a letter from family, or a travel agent in China. SEE: http://candleforlove...isa-requirement

 

I just came back from the Chinese Embassy in California. Starting August 1 they are requesting some more documents. For a tourist visit, they are requiring proof of hotel reservation and a copy of your round trip ticket to China BEFORE they issue you a Chinese visa. You can also have a letter from friend or family. For letter, they need to write their address and a copy of their ID. For business visa it was something else. It was very confusing and they could not explain what was needed. They should have had a sign so people didn't I have wait over 2.5 hours before finding out. Two ladies kept telling me to look at their website. I was very frustrated and mad after waiting for 2.5 hours. I will go back tomorrow with a hotel reservation I just made on the net and the plane ticket.

Edited August 16, 2012 by William Lee (see edit history)

[Randy W]

You can apply for visas before having plane tickets.

 

Either visit the consulate having jurisdiction over where you live, or use a visa service. I used Oasis visa service the 3 times I visited China. https://www.oasischi...urist_visa.html

 

Counselor district map.. (I believe you are in the Carolinas, so Washington DC (Alexandra VA) will be the consulate you deal with, Oasis Visa service uses this consulate.)

 

If spouse is a naturalized US Citizen getting a visa for first trip over after becoming a US Citizen, will need to also include their Chinese passport so that it can be invalidated.

 

One other thing being discussed is needing to also attach some form of invite, can be a letter from family, or a travel agent in China. SEE: http://candleforlove...isa-requirement

 

I just came back from the Chinese Embassy in California. Starting August 1 they are requesting some more documents. For a tourist visit, they are requiring proof of hotel reservation and a copy of your round trip ticket to China BEFORE they issue you a Chinese visa. You can also have a letter from friend or family. For letter, they need to write their address and a copy of their ID. For business visa it was something else. It was very confusing and they could not explain what was needed. They should have had a sign so people didn't I have wait over 2.5 hours before finding out. Two ladies kept telling me to look at their website. I was very frustrated and mad after waiting for 2.5 hours. I will go back tomorrow with a hotel reservation I just made on the net and the plane ticket.

 

http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?/topic/44937-effective-as-of-aug-1-a-new-visa-requirement/page__fromsearch__1

 

Also this: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?/topic/44961-chinese-consulate-in-usa-slowdown-on-visa-and-authenticationnotarization/page__fromsearch__1

[Vinny]

Hey Dan or anyone,

 

I just spoke to my Travel Agency in NYC and they told me about this new Invitation Requirement. Once I get the Invitation, do you know where I would apply for the Chinese Visa? Yes I live in South Carolina. Anyone know why they putting restrictions like they did during the Olympics back in 08?

 

Thanks,

Vinny

[dnoblett]

Hey Dan or anyone,

 

I just spoke to my Travel Agency in NYC and they told me about this new Invitation Requirement. Once I get the Invitation, do you know where I would apply for the Chinese Visa? Yes I live in South Carolina. Anyone know why they putting restrictions like they did during the Olympics back in 08?

 

Thanks,

Vinny

Use Oasis, they deal with the Embassy in Washington DC which is the one that you would use.

 

http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/visas/hrsq/

https://www.oasischinavisa.com/tourist_visa.html

 

Chinese government is having their elections, so are more restrictive due to this, they are looking to prevent trouble from political activists.