China - China Visa - US Citizen Outside of USA

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I new to get a Chinese visa for some travel in early April. Unfortunately I will be in India for much of te time between now and then. Does anyone have experience getting a visa as a US citizen at a Chinese consulate outside of the USA?

I've checked the Chinese Consulate in Mumbai's website - it indicates a fee for US citizens but given inconsistencies in policy and execution I was hoping to get some real world experience here.

Appreciate any advice.

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I new to get a Chinese visa for some travel in early April. Unfortunately I will be in India for much of te time between now and then. Does anyone have experience getting a visa as a US citizen at a Chinese consulate outside of the USA?

I've checked the Chinese Consulate in Mumbai's website - it indicates a fee for US citizens but given inconsistencies in policy and execution I was hoping to get some real world experience here.

Appreciate any advice.

No experience of India, but generally, visas outside of one's country of nationality (except in HK) are issued only if the person applying has some sort of residency status (e.g. with a visa).

It is possible to get a China visa in as short a time as one day if going in person, and through a service in a few days (including the overnight fedexing both ways)...so might be best and safer to do it in the US.

tb

PS you appear to live in/near NYC, which has a consulate, so almost no excuse. It's not the friendliest of consulates for getting 12 month visas, but for a short trip should be fairly easy.

If you really have no spare week where you can get the visa in the USA (use an agent and rush processing if you have to), then your best bet is to fly from India to Hong Kong, and get same day or next-day service there. Right now best available is a 6 month multiple entry F visa, though this can change quickly. You will want to use an agent for this--go to the FAQ Sticky 2nd post on this forum, visa post and read about HK options. Use Forever Bright--contact info is there. If you don't already have an invitation letter for the F from a business, they can do one for you. A 90-day L visa is also available right now--no invite letter needed. L's are for tourist visits but if only doing a small amount of minor business stuff, can get away with using it for that purpose.

India has never been easy and is now a nightmare to try to get a Chinese visa. They want air tickets in/out, hotel bookings, bank account statements from an India bank, and other items. Yes it's geared to Indian nationals applying for a Chinese visa but latest word is nobody else is being cut any breaks there on the requirements. Stupid, but there you have it. I strongly advise you to not bother trying to apply in India. If you cannot get to Hong Kong, then Bangkok is next best place, although as of early January, apparently Chinese Embassy there is now requiring air ticketing in/out and hotel bookings. If that is a problem for you, there are travel agencies just around the corner from that Embassy that know the dodge and can put together some genuine-looking documents to fulfill this new requirement.

Regardless of where you apply, as a US passport holder you are going to be charged US$140 or equivalent in local currency, for any type of visa of any duration. There is no inconsistency in policy or execution about this--the fee for US citizens at all worldwide Chinese missions is set by US-China special visa treaty. Agent fees will be extra if you avail yourself of their services--and often it is money well spent.

Does anyone know if it is possible to get a China visa in Bangkok in a single day? I'm fine that it will cost more. No problem with hotel/flight information. I assume I need an invitation letter? Anyone have a good agency that can help with it?

Does anyone know if it is possible to get a China visa in Bangkok in a single day? I'm fine that it will cost more. No problem with hotel/flight information. I assume I need an invitation letter? Anyone have a good agency that can help with it?

I advise you to simply call them, and ask. If they're willing to play ball, I don't think you'll need any sort of invitation letter for a tourist visa, but a letter might qualify you for a better visa. And, even if they say "no", don't be discouraged; if you are determined enough, you'll figure out a way to make it happen (e.g. letter from someone important stating why it's imperative that you visit China on date X; if it comes down to this, feel free to PM me, and I'll reply with some ideas; the thing is, letters of this sort really should come from your own network, if possible).

Thanks. I don't have a problem getting an invitation letter. Just trying to cross my t's.

Recent feedback from other sources is that getting an L tourist visa in Bangkok is possible, as long as you have the flight and hotel bookings. No invitation letter needed for an L. You may be limited to single-entry, 30 days. I believe next-day service is available, but cannot recall that same-day service is still also available. Do try to call and get an answer, but if you can't reach them, get to the Chinese Embassy visa office (in a nearby office building) early in the morning, even before it opens as there will be a queue of visa seekers. Maybe by 08:00. If it is possible to get a same-day visa, you'd have to get the application in to them by mid-morning for a late afternoon pickup.

Recent feedback from other sources is that getting an L tourist visa in Bangkok is possible, as long as you have the flight and hotel bookings. No invitation letter needed for an L. You may be limited to single-entry, 30 days. I believe next-day service is available, but cannot recall that same-day service is still also available. Do try to call and get an answer, but if you can't reach them, get to the Chinese Embassy visa office (in a nearby office building) early in the morning, even before it opens as there will be a queue of visa seekers. Maybe by 08:00. If it is possible to get a same-day visa, you'd have to get the application in to them by mid-morning for a late afternoon pickup.

Since I've never been to the PRC consulate in Bangkok, I have no personal basis on which to comment, but the idea of a queue surprises me simply because I don't encounter many Thai nationals in China (Philippines/VN, yes, but not Thailand). Furthermore, my single experience at the Singapore PRC consulate was unbelievably painless... though, the fact that Singapore nationals can stay in China sans visa for up to 15 days could explain this.

Since I've never been to the PRC consulate in Bangkok, I have no personal basis on which to comment, but the idea of a queue surprises me simply because I don't encounter many Thai nationals in China (Philippines/VN, yes, but not Thailand). Furthermore, my single experience at the Singapore PRC consulate was unbelievably painless... though, the fact that Singapore nationals can stay in China sans visa for up to 15 days could explain this.

Prepare to be surprised then. The queue is extensive and has been for years. Lots of foreigners as well as Thais getting Chinese visas in Bangkok, particularly since it has the reputation of being the easiest place in Asia (outside HK) for a non-resident traveler to get one....although that reputation is under attack by new restrictions. Singapore is not a fair comparison, since as you point out, most of the locals doing casual trips to China don't bother getting a visa at all.

There are lots of Thais in China if you know where to look. ;)