Hi,
In a couple of weeks I will be visiting my friends in Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The friends advised me to use an expedited visa agency as I would need a multi-entry visa. The agency is fine, but it's over $200 with the Fedex and other fees. I am a holder of a US and Serbian passport, and I believe for Serbian passports the visa fee is only $45.
However, someone said if I go through the regular consulate that they do not issue more than 2 entries for non-US passports and this would be a problem as I will be in Hong Kong during the day while lodging in Shenzhen during the night (hence the multi-entry).
I am in Boston and need to get this done within the next 2-3 weeks. What are other people's experiences with going through the consulate directly versus doing the expedited service? I know $150 is not a lot of money all things being equal (or considering all other costs) but regardless...
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA (Recently of San Francisco)
Programs: UA-1P,SPG-Gold,Marriott-Silver
Posts: 10,360
I don't know about Serbian passport holders, but I (a U.S. citizen) have always gone through the LA or SF consulate to get my Chinese visas. It's never taken more than a couple of days and the process has been quite painless. For US citizens, the cost for a multiple entry visa is the same as for a single or double-entry visa. The consulates in LA and SF also have expedited processing for a small fee -- you can get the visa overnight. I can't see any reason to use a private visa service for a Chinese visa.
I don't know about Serbian passport holders, but I (a U.S. citizen) have always gone through the LA or SF consulate to get my Chinese visas. It's never taken more than a couple of days and the process has been quite painless. For US citizens, the cost for a multiple entry visa is the same as for a single or double-entry visa. The consulates in LA and SF also have expedited processing for a small fee -- you can get the visa overnight. I can't see any reason to use a private visa service for a Chinese visa.
The OP mentioned that he is in Boston. Even when taking FedEx charges into account (but, try to steer clear of the super urgent service options), a visa agency would surely be more economical than a jaunt to NYC.
When choosing an agent, be sure to pin down what type of visas they can promise (1 year multi should be standard now, but you might be able to do better than that).
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA (Recently of San Francisco)
Programs: UA-1P,SPG-Gold,Marriott-Silver
Posts: 10,360
Quote:
Originally Posted by moondog
The OP mentioned that he is in Boston. Even when taking FedEx charges into account (but, try to steer clear of the super urgent service options), a visa agency would surely be more economical than a jaunt to NYC.
When choosing an agent, be sure to pin down what type of visas they can promise (1 year multi should be standard now, but you might be able to do better than that).
OP, I think you will have no choice except to use your US passport to get this visa. The reason is, Chinese missions in the US normally only give visas to non-US passport holders IF they have either a Green Card or a valid visa for the US in their passport. Since you likely didn't use your Serbian passport to get into the US, you wouldn't have a US visa in it, right?
So, use your US passport, apply for the 12-month multiple-entry (best to ask for 60 days per entry even if you don't think you need it), pay the visa agent, but DON'T use one that uses the NY Consulate, as lots of reports that they often refuse to give the multientry visas. Especially don't go to NY and try to do this yourself. Instead, use a visa agent that works with either the Houston, LA, or San Francisco Consulates, all of which are known to be highly cooperative Chinese missions. The Fed Ex fees and agent fees are going to be pretty similar regardless of where you send. And you don't need to use the Consulate "assigned" to your region. If you need a suggestion, I've used www.mychinavisa.com with success and ease--they are tight with the Houston Chinese Consulate and because they aren't as swamped as the California Consulates, usually even their regular processing only takes 2-3 business days even though they say to allow a little longer. With 2-3 weeks, get going ASAP and you don't need to pay Rush Fees.
If you need a suggestion, I've used www.mychinavisa.com with success and ease--they are tight with the Houston Chinese Consulate and because they aren't as swamped as the California Consulates, usually even their regular processing only takes 2-3 business days even though they say to allow a little longer. With 2-3 weeks, get going ASAP and you don't need to pay Rush Fees.
Check and check. I will use the service you recommended. My friends have also used visaexpress.net which is in Houston as well however their administrative fee for a multi-entry visa is a bit more than the service you recommended. Therefore I will probably use the service you recommended. Too bad I need a green card as with a Serbian passport the fee would have been a lot less. But I can bite the costs no big deal.
As soon as my passport gets back from the British consulate I will send off to Texas for visa processing.
I think it's pointless to go down to NYC and try to do this in person, it's not a problem but I am working and can only go on the weekdays.
Hi, don't know if you've ever tried this, but what about applying for the visa while in Hong Kong? There's three options. One is to apply at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Wanchai (Harbour Road, I think). (This office is essentially China Central government.) If you do it this way normal service takes four working days, but if you pay the expedited service surcharge you will be able to get the passport back sooner. Expedited service is can speed things up one, two or three days. (Note that their website says that applicants must be living in Hong Kong, but maybe you can get your Hong Kong friends to check out this point for you.) Second option is to go to any China Travel Service office - they're all over Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories. They can handle the visa processing including the expedited arrangments. Third thought: if the intention is to go only as far as Shenzhen, I seem to recall that at the Lo Wu MTR crossing it is possible to purchase a visa on entry for Shenzhen only.
The key to doing this in Hong Kong is for you to be in HK for a few days so that you can retrieve your passport. As you have a Serbian passport, yes you can save quite a bit of money on the visa fee instead of using your US passport. However I'd suggest that if you do this, that you enter Hong Kong using your Serbian documents because I presume MFA would be looking for your Hong Kong entry stamp. I think I should also caution you as a dual national that if you enter China (or any foreign country) on a particular passport, if an issue arises where you need consular help, you're in a grey area if you approach the embassy of your other nationality.
About visa choices, actually the usual list of choices are single entry, double entry, multiple for six months and multiple for one year. It's just that the last time I applied for a visa (8/07), I was only permitted to apply for the one year multiple; I just chalk that up to US and China having some conniption over their relations. Maybe they're back to allowing one of the shorter visa validities for Americans?
(BTW if you're wondering why the fee for US passport holders is so high, actually the visa fee is the same, but there's an additional 'reciprocity' surcharge to equalize their visa fee with what our State Department charges China citizens for an appropriate visitors' visa.)
Last edited by dsgtc0408; Nov 4, 09 at 11:11 am.
Reason: amend item on applying via MFA
I wonder if we ought to have a sticky entitled, "Help! I need a China visa quickly!"
Anyone else agree?
Actually any travel agent in Hong Kong can arrange a China visa for just about anyone overnight (read the classified ads in the travel section of the South China Morning Post). It's just that as a tourist I saw no point in spending the money (read to mean, 'too cheap'!)
(BTW if you're wondering why the fee for US passport holders is so high, actually the visa fee is the same, but there's an additional 'reciprocity' surcharge to equalize their visa fee with what our State Department charges China citizens for an appropriate visitors' visa.)
It's actually 10 times higher with the Chinese visa as the most the consulate will give you is generally 1 year multi-entry whilst the US visa, once approved is valid for 10 years. True reciprocity would mean same length and conditions for same price, but I'm not couting on this coming from the Chinese anytime soon!
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