chinavisa-2017

Getting to China Races

Securing Chinese VISA Travel Documents

(9/11/17, 9/2/17, 8/24/17, 8/23/27, 8/21/17 update. Any changes after 8/18 will be highlighted)

1st NYC batch drop-off=8/31, next batch drop-off=9/7

Getting a China Visa Stamp in your Passport

    • WHERE to get a VISA

        • China has 1 Embassy (DC) and 5 Consulates (Chicago, NYC, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco.) where you can secure a China Visa. Your state of residence determines where you get your China Visa. Here's the listing

        • Chicago: 1 East Erie Street, Suite 500, Chicago Il 60611 (312-453-0210, chinavisachicago@gmail.com), M-F 9-noon, 1-2:30PM (serves: Co, IL, IN, IO, KS, MI, MN, MS, WI )

        • Houston: 3417 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX 77006(713-520-1462), M-F 9:00-11:30a.m; 1:30-3:00p.m

        • Los Angeles : Passport & Visa Office, Chinese Consulate 443 Shatto Place, Los Angeles, CA 90020 (serves: AZ, So Cal, HA, NM, Pacific Islands)

        • NYC : Consulate General of P.R.C in NY, 520 12th Avenue New York, NY 10036-1003 (cares for VISAs for those who reside in: CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT.)

        • San Francisco: 1450 Laguna Street, San Francisco, CA 94115 (415-852-5940, visa.sf@gmail.com ) M-F 9:30-2:30PM (serves: AL, No Cal, NV, OR, WA)

        • DC Embassy: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W. Suite 110, Washington DC. 20007 (202-337-1956, visa_us@mfa.gov.cn) M-F 9:30-2:30PM (serves: DC, DE, ID, KY, MD, MO, NE, NC, ND, SC, SD, TN UT, VA, WV, WY)

    • HOW to get a VISA

        • SELF OPTION

          • Follow the process described below for "SECURING A VISA" and take your application to your assigned processing location. Here's the listing which tells you where to go. Return 4 days after drop off and pay $140 to pickup.

          • THERE IS NO MAIL IN OPTION directly with any China embassy/consulate.

          • THERE IS NO EXPRESS SERVICE - earliest processing, for a fee = 1-3 days. normal processing = 4 days.

          • For those of you outside of any VISA processing location, yo

        • AGENT OPTION

          • This is the most painless time option. Contact one of those online agencies that will help you with your application and work with you to ensure this is done within a week or so. But it will likely cost you $110 over the cost of the VISA. Generally expect to pay $75 for the support, and $25-45 for the carrier service in taking the documents to the embassy/consulate.

          • For those outside any VISA processing location, your only options are to send it to a friend near YOUR location and have them submit it for you. Otherwise you have to trust a commercial outfit to do this. One of my teammates have used a service that is located in the same building as the DC China Embassy - Oasis China Visa, as they were recommended by the CHINESE Embassy (this is for DC embassy coverage only). But do your research and make sure the agency you use can care for your state..

        • ELLEN OPTION

          • If you want to save yourself from the excitement of fighting through NYC traffic and Consulate lines for the dropoff, and THEN Pickup....then I suggest you arrange to have your passport, visa application and $145 check written to "CITI CARDS" with memo: Ellen Law # 9821 ($140 visa fee + $5 for my pain and suffering), in my hands before I leave for NYC.

            • Snail mail to: "Ellen Law", P.O. Box 51, East Hanover, NJ 07936. BUT you must have an official resident within the states covered by the NYC Consulate for me to secure a visa. (Here's the listing)

          • AFTER the Senior A camp (Aug 26), I plan to take a batch of passports and visa applications into NYC's China Consulate General's Office. Passports returned within a week or handed out by Mercer Races (9/16/17). If you want it sooner, give me a self addressed stamped envelop.

          • Let me know if you have a NON-USA passport, China charges $30-90 for a NON-USA Visa application! 8-)

    • PROCESS for SECURING A CHINA VISA

        • CHECK LIST

          • 1. Passport valid AT LEAST thru May 1, 2018 (miin 6 months beyond your planned return from your trip to China).

          • 2. Passport photo that confirms to these guidelines.

          • 3. Photo copy of the passport's "data page" with name/pic/passport number...etc

          • 4. photo copy of your driver's license or other state-issued document you use to complete application field #1.9

          • 5. Properly completed China Entry Visa application: Visa Application Form (Form V.2013) (instructions: web / pdf).

          • 6. $145 check written to: Citi Cards. in memo: Ellen Law #9821

        • 7. IF in SECTION 2.1

          • you check off TOURISM - include

            • 1 copy of your hotel confirmation for each China stopover listed in application field #2.6

            • 1 copy of your airline ticket or confirmed air travel itinerary

          • you check off NON-BUSINESS - include

            • 1 copy of the cover page of the invitiation

            • 1 copy of the invitation page that lists your name. Highlight or circle your name on this.

      • HOW TO Complete the China Entry Visa application

          • NOTES:

          • 9/2/17 - Use Safari or Chrome when completing the pdf form. apparently Firefox does not print extra lines well in the small boxes.

          • 8/24/17 - Guidance from Holly on women's team is to not enter the purpose as the invititaion already lists this.

          • 8/23/17 - guidance from holly is to Check off "non-business" purpose in section.2, and to only request single entry.

            • 8/21/17 - Chinese DBA Invitation received today. SECTIONs #1, #2 updated to reflect a visa for a participant/athlete in an event.

          • 8/21/17 - SECTIONSs #1, #2 underscored in box Parentheses reflects info needed for applying for a tourist visa as a spectator or anyone who has not listed on the "official invitation

            • 8/18/17 - These instructions are for the "L" Tourist Visa. As of today, no one has received the "official invitation" from the Chinese Dragon Boat Association.

            • ALL FIELDS MUST BE TYPED in ALL Capital Letters (this PDF form allows for online entry).

            • Complete the PDF form and print out with your entries. They will NOT accept handwritten applications.

            • Complete all empty fields with "N/A".

            • Complete a 2nd application to show tourist info

          • SECTION 1

            • #1.1 - your name: EXACTLY as it appears on your passport.

            • #1.2 - name in chinese: type in "N/A", if you were not born in China. If you were born in China, write this in Chinese

            • #1.3 - Other name: If applicable, maiden name or other names you are known by officially or listed in previous visa application. If you never applied for a Chinese visa,

            • Then maiden name is NOT needed, otherwise "N/A"

            • #1.7 - Former Nationality: enter if you have one, otherwise "N/A"

            • #1.9 - Local ID/Citizenship#: Driver's License number or number of other state-issued Photo ID. AND THEN include a photo copy of this document. (SS# is NOT acceptable)

            • #1.10 - Passport/Travel document type: Check off ORDINARY

            • #1.13 - place of issue: USA is ok vs local location

            • #1.17- Employer/School: Complete address for your employer or school, including city and state.

            • #1.18 - Home Address: ensure to list your city and state

            • #1.23 - Major family member: must include at least ONE direct family member, nationality, occupation and relationship to applicant.

          • SECTION 2

            • #2.1 - Major purpose of your visit: CHECK OFF

            • NONBUSINESS: if you ARE listed on the invitation OTHER "Compete in 13th World Dragon Boat Racing Championships"

            • TOURISM (if going as a spectator OR not listed on the invitation )

            • #2.2 - Intended number of entries: CHECK OFF 1 2 or Multiple, your pick (this is the same visa fee, and just to be safe in case you have to cross the border a couple times, but check off the THaT best applies)

            • #2.4. Intended date of your first entry (yyyy-mm-dd): 2017-mm-dd 10-14

            • #2.5 Longest intended stay in China among all entries: 14 days (or whatever is applicable, but add a week just in case). The duration of stay granted is decided by Chinese Consulate. Duration of Stay allowed is normally 30 - 60 days. You do not always get what you request for, it is not a mistake

            • #2.6 Itinerary in China (in time sequence, may type on a separate paper): list cities and provinces to visit in China in a date order (more current first): October 14-Oct 23, 2017 hotel address, Kunming, Yunan Province; (add others you may be visiting)

            • #2.7 Who will pay for your travel and expenses during your stay in China: SELF

            • #2.8 Information of inviter in China:

              • If you entered Tourism on section 2.1 = [Name=NONE, address=N/A, Phone number=N/A, Relationship with Applicant=N/A]

            • If you entered NONBUSINESS on section 2.1 = Name=Chinese Dragon Boat Association, address= No.9, Tiyuguan Road, Beijing, 100763, China, Phone number=86-10-67128832, 86-10-87182890, Relationship with Applicant=participant

            • #2.9 Have you been granted a China Visa?

              • if yes: date and place of issue

              • if no: NO

            • #2.10 Other countries or territories you visited in the last 12 months: list countries/territories or NO

          • SECTION 3

            • #3.1-3.5 Other information:

            • #3.6 Give details if you answered YES to 3.1-3.5: Give details and submit relevant official documentation, e.g. punishment decision on overstay in China issued by Chinese public security bureau, final court judgment with details on the crime, diagnosis certificate issued by a hospital, doctor's advice on long distance travel, etc. Note: If your answer is "YES" to any question from 3.1 to 3.5, your chances of getting the China visa is significantly decreased. Refund may not be available.

            • #3.7 If you have more information ... please give details: NO

            • #3.8 shared passport info: NONE

          • SECTION 4 - Declaration & Signature

            • Sign and date this portion, Of course this is the only portion handwriting is allowed.

          • SECTION 5 - Minor application

            • If the application is for a minor, Parent or Guardian should complete BOTH sections 4 and 5.

Getting a US Passport