Qing gei wo qianzheng! (Please give me a visa)
27 May, 2008 - San Francisco, CA
So, there was an earthquake in China, we're going to assess, had some delays due to figuring out people and a sense that the govt. is trying to get a handle on things before opening up more access. Which means that I have one day to get my visa, and then I'm jetting out of here on Thursday!
For a US citizen to apply for a Chinese visa in the US, you need the following:
So. Passport. Easy. Photo. Easy. Application form. Easy. Round trip air tickets. Bought mine online at vayama.com. kayak.com was giving me lots of problems with fares repeatedly showing up in the listings, yet being unavailable for actual booking. Not sure if this was because I was booking so late. Proof of accommodation. I booked a two-month chunk of hostels through www.hostelworld.com. With each booking, you need to pay a small deposit, which isn't very much. You can also purchase "cancellation protection" at $1.50 per booking, which lets you keep your deposit for future bookings, in case you cancel. This is important, because after I got my visa, I went online and cancelled all of my bookings, except for my place in Chengdu. This is kind of a hassle, but I couldn't afford any delays with this visa.
I compiled all the paperwork and even typed a brief letter, explaining why I wanted the 1 year, multiple entry visa (explained that I wanted to go to China after the Olympics, but that my time might extend beyond 6 months, the next visa down), and laying out my faux itinerary.
I arrived at the consulate at 9:30AM. It took 20 minutes to get inside, and then an hour and a half to have my number called. At the window, the staffer looked through all the paperwork and made sure my name and the dates were highlighted on all my hostel bookings and plane tickets. She took a brief glance at the letter I had typed, and wordlessly slipped it back under the window to me. A stamp here, a stamp there, and she said I could collect the visa at 2:45PM, in the afternoon.
I napped in my car and then went back to the consulate at 2:15PM. It took until 2:40PM to get to the front of the pickup line, where I handed in my slip, paid $160, and collected my shiny new visa in my beat up old passport. The visa fee is $130, the same for all visas (whether it's single, double, or multiple entry, 6 month or 1 year, or valid for 30 or 60 days at a time). The one-day rush processing fee is $30. Total: $160. Cash and credit cards are ok, no personal checks.
Whee! I'm going to China!
Note: I first showed up at the consulate last Friday 20 minutes before closing, on the last day before a long weekend. The line went out the door and down the block. The line today (first day of the week after a long weekend) was also considerably long. Try to go midweek if you're getting yours in person.
So, there was an earthquake in China, we're going to assess, had some delays due to figuring out people and a sense that the govt. is trying to get a handle on things before opening up more access. Which means that I have one day to get my visa, and then I'm jetting out of here on Thursday!
For a US citizen to apply for a Chinese visa in the US, you need the following:
- passport valid for 6 months
- 1 passport photo against a white/light backdrop (not blue)
- completed application form
- round trip air tickets already booked
- proof of accommodation during your time in China (mixed info whether this is first night booked, first week booked, or entire time booked. Since I only had a day to get the visa, I booked the whole thing. Details below.
So. Passport. Easy. Photo. Easy. Application form. Easy. Round trip air tickets. Bought mine online at vayama.com. kayak.com was giving me lots of problems with fares repeatedly showing up in the listings, yet being unavailable for actual booking. Not sure if this was because I was booking so late. Proof of accommodation. I booked a two-month chunk of hostels through www.hostelworld.com. With each booking, you need to pay a small deposit, which isn't very much. You can also purchase "cancellation protection" at $1.50 per booking, which lets you keep your deposit for future bookings, in case you cancel. This is important, because after I got my visa, I went online and cancelled all of my bookings, except for my place in Chengdu. This is kind of a hassle, but I couldn't afford any delays with this visa.
I compiled all the paperwork and even typed a brief letter, explaining why I wanted the 1 year, multiple entry visa (explained that I wanted to go to China after the Olympics, but that my time might extend beyond 6 months, the next visa down), and laying out my faux itinerary.
I arrived at the consulate at 9:30AM. It took 20 minutes to get inside, and then an hour and a half to have my number called. At the window, the staffer looked through all the paperwork and made sure my name and the dates were highlighted on all my hostel bookings and plane tickets. She took a brief glance at the letter I had typed, and wordlessly slipped it back under the window to me. A stamp here, a stamp there, and she said I could collect the visa at 2:45PM, in the afternoon.
I napped in my car and then went back to the consulate at 2:15PM. It took until 2:40PM to get to the front of the pickup line, where I handed in my slip, paid $160, and collected my shiny new visa in my beat up old passport. The visa fee is $130, the same for all visas (whether it's single, double, or multiple entry, 6 month or 1 year, or valid for 30 or 60 days at a time). The one-day rush processing fee is $30. Total: $160. Cash and credit cards are ok, no personal checks.
Whee! I'm going to China!
Note: I first showed up at the consulate last Friday 20 minutes before closing, on the last day before a long weekend. The line went out the door and down the block. The line today (first day of the week after a long weekend) was also considerably long. Try to go midweek if you're getting yours in person.
posted by Stefanie at 9:02 PM
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