Jun 4, 2013, 2:02 pm
Last edit by: mnbp
Your Forum Ambassadors are maintaining this guide. Signed in members with 90 days / 90 posts can edit this Wikipost; wiki contents may be printed by using the 
(lower right wiki corner).
Visa Information for the People's Republic of China (PRC, Mainland China)
Important: China's visa terms and conditions changed effective 12 Nov 2014 as far as duration, and 1 July 2013 for requirements and procedures. Do not rely on information posted prior to that date.
Note new FT thread regarding up to ten year visa duration: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...ov-2014-a.html
The PRC allows certain foreigners to transit China without a visa if they will be exiting the country within 24, 72 or 144 hours provided various other conditions are met. Please see the separate China 24, 72, and 144 hour Transit Without Visa ("TWOV") rules master thread and Wikipost for detailed rules and discussion.
The best source of current visa and travel document requirements is IATA'S TIMATIC, as that is what the airlines rely upon to determine whether they will permit you to fly. Star Alliance provides a free, easy-to-use TIMATIC tool to help you identify your exact requirements based on nationality, residency and specific itinerary. The SkyTeam alliance website contains a link which also allows you free use of TIMATIC, including good printouts of the information.
Note that posts made prior to 1 July 2013 have been archived, but are still available for reference at China Visa / Visas Master Thread (ARCHIVED). The old FAQ: Visa-Free Transit / TWOV thread is also closed but available for reference.
China Forum Ambassadors: moondog----------anacapamalibu----------jiejie----------mnredfox
(lower right wiki corner).Visa Information for the People's Republic of China (PRC, Mainland China)
Main source: Visa Page - Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America (external website)
Important: China's visa terms and conditions changed effective 12 Nov 2014 as far as duration, and 1 July 2013 for requirements and procedures. Do not rely on information posted prior to that date.
Note new FT thread regarding up to ten year visa duration: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...ov-2014-a.html
The PRC allows certain foreigners to transit China without a visa if they will be exiting the country within 24, 72 or 144 hours provided various other conditions are met. Please see the separate China 24, 72, and 144 hour Transit Without Visa ("TWOV") rules master thread and Wikipost for detailed rules and discussion.
The best source of current visa and travel document requirements is IATA'S TIMATIC, as that is what the airlines rely upon to determine whether they will permit you to fly. Star Alliance provides a free, easy-to-use TIMATIC tool to help you identify your exact requirements based on nationality, residency and specific itinerary. The SkyTeam alliance website contains a link which also allows you free use of TIMATIC, including good printouts of the information.
Note that posts made prior to 1 July 2013 have been archived, but are still available for reference at China Visa / Visas Master Thread (ARCHIVED). The old FAQ: Visa-Free Transit / TWOV thread is also closed but available for reference.
China Forum Ambassadors: moondog----------anacapamalibu----------jiejie----------mnredfox
China Visa / Visas Master Thread (all you need to know)
Apr 24, 2016, 8:37 am
#1171
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Exp, United Silver, Delta Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 280
Officially, Houston no longer offers Emergency/1-day service, probably the policy preference of the current Consul. Best possible is now 2-3 day Rush processing. With or without a visa agent. The thing is, Houston has one of the lightest loads for visa processing of any location in the USA, so their Standard processing is only 4 days.
Having said that, I've noted that on each of the many times I've applied there (using a visa agent and always Standard processing) that my package gets to the agent by FedEx on day 0, agent submits application on Day 1, the visa is issued on Day 2 or 3, agent picks up and sends back to me on Day 3 or 4, and I have back in my hands (2-day return) no later than Day 6.
So it may be that Houston just doesn't want to promise a same- or next-day turnaround even though they are capable operationally of doing it. On a more general note, for nearly 99% of China visa applicants in the USA, a little bit of advance planning should render moot, the need for anything under than Standard processing. Particularly now that 10 year visas are available in L, M, and Q varieties (the 3 most often used categories for frequent or infrequent visitors not requiring special paperwork)--there's no need to try to time an application so precisely before a departure to China.
Having said that, I've noted that on each of the many times I've applied there (using a visa agent and always Standard processing) that my package gets to the agent by FedEx on day 0, agent submits application on Day 1, the visa is issued on Day 2 or 3, agent picks up and sends back to me on Day 3 or 4, and I have back in my hands (2-day return) no later than Day 6.
So it may be that Houston just doesn't want to promise a same- or next-day turnaround even though they are capable operationally of doing it. On a more general note, for nearly 99% of China visa applicants in the USA, a little bit of advance planning should render moot, the need for anything under than Standard processing. Particularly now that 10 year visas are available in L, M, and Q varieties (the 3 most often used categories for frequent or infrequent visitors not requiring special paperwork)--there's no need to try to time an application so precisely before a departure to China.
Q; I have a pickup for tuesday but can anyone pickup my passport if they have the pickup slip.
Last edited by fnuhenry; Apr 24, 2016 at 10:00 am
Apr 25, 2016, 3:56 pm
#1172
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: DFW
Posts: 675
Went last week to drop my application at houston embassy and no rush or expedited services. In the visa requsting section, i marked "OTHERS - multiple entry valid for 10 yrs". Not sure if that was right. Also submitted a aa ticket which was on hold. I hope that's ok.
Q; I have a pickup for tuesday but can anyone pickup my passport if they have the pickup slip.
Q; I have a pickup for tuesday but can anyone pickup my passport if they have the pickup slip.
Apr 26, 2016, 11:06 am
#1173
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 2
USA - Q2 visa problems?
I had a tour agency apply for a China visa for me and they got me a 10 year Q2 visa. I technically do not have close family in China - I suspect they went for Q2 to get their client the longest possible stay in the country. Obviously if I had known they would do it this way, I would have specifically told them to get me an L type tourist visa. That said, my question is - should I be concerned about traveling on this Q2 family visa? Will immigration/border officials ask a lot of questions? I had a friend write me the invitation letter, but the agency told me to just say they are my cousin. I really don't want to have to go through the trouble and expense of re-applying for an L type visa when I already have a visa on such a harmless technicality.
Apr 26, 2016, 2:12 pm
#1175
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: DFW
Posts: 675
I had a tour agency apply for a China visa for me and they got me a 10 year Q2 visa. I technically do not have close family in China - I suspect they went for Q2 to get their client the longest possible stay in the country. Obviously if I had known they would do it this way, I would have specifically told them to get me an L type tourist visa. That said, my question is - should I be concerned about traveling on this Q2 family visa? Will immigration/border officials ask a lot of questions? I had a friend write me the invitation letter, but the agency told me to just say they are my cousin. I really don't want to have to go through the trouble and expense of re-applying for an L type visa when I already have a visa on such a harmless technicality.
Apr 26, 2016, 2:40 pm
#1176
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 2
It sounds pretty shady that a tour agency would falsify a visa application especially when you can get a 10 year L visa as well. It really depends on the official, they may ask which relative you are visiting and where they live. If you stumble in your questioning, they may ask more in-depth questions. Worse case scenario is they won't let you enter the country. Okay, they could arrest you under suspicion that you're doing something illegal but that's unlikely.
Apr 26, 2016, 6:01 pm
#1177
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
Assuming you are ethnic Chinese/part-Chinese, the border officials aren't going to raise an eyebrow at all, they'll just stamp you in, likely without questions.
It sounds pretty shady that a tour agency would falsify a visa application especially when you can get a 10 year L visa as well. It really depends on the official, they may ask which relative you are visiting and where they live. If you stumble in your questioning, they may ask more in-depth questions. Worse case scenario is they won't let you enter the country. Okay, they could arrest you under suspicion that you're doing something illegal but that's unlikely.
Apr 26, 2016, 10:41 pm
#1178
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
Stop worrying. The agency did you a favor, since the duration of stay terms for a Q are better than for an L even if the 10 years is the same. Your Q is fine for sightseeing or even minor business-oriented things. Short-term informal study courses from private agencies, can do that, too. The only thing I would caution you against doing is working.
Assuming you are ethnic Chinese/part-Chinese, the border officials aren't going to raise an eyebrow at all, they'll just stamp you in, likely without questions.
Assuming you are ethnic Chinese/part-Chinese, the border officials aren't going to raise an eyebrow at all, they'll just stamp you in, likely without questions.
Apr 27, 2016, 10:03 am
#1179
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: DFW
Posts: 675
You seem to be quite the rude one. Just because you may not have experience a situation doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
Apr 27, 2016, 11:23 am
#1180
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,688
...
Assuming you are ethnic Chinese/part-Chinese, the border officials aren't going to raise an eyebrow at all, they'll just stamp you in, likely without questions.
...
Oh for goodness' sake, you don't seem to have any clue what you're talking about or any familiarity with China and immigration officials.
Assuming you are ethnic Chinese/part-Chinese, the border officials aren't going to raise an eyebrow at all, they'll just stamp you in, likely without questions.
...
Oh for goodness' sake, you don't seem to have any clue what you're talking about or any familiarity with China and immigration officials.
Let's chill this out over a Durian smoothie?
jiejie moondog and a few others are quite a regular and IMHO quite experience in travelling to from within China and SE Asia in general as white Americans.
Their experience will differ from yours and mine as we will never look white enough.
I had US CBP agents ask me the exact address of relatives who I am visiting at the border when I go to the US.
I have many legal channels to enter China with all the passports that I hold and am legally entitled to but I choose to use my Canadian passport with China visa. I always get the questioning game in PTH when they notice my birthplace as Hong Kong in my Canadian passport.
Apr 27, 2016, 2:16 pm
#1181
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: DFW
Posts: 675
vh_bu98:
Let's chill this out over a Durian smoothie?
jiejie moondog and a few others are quite a regular and IMHO quite experience in travelling to from within China and SE Asia in general as white Americans.
Their experience will differ from yours and mine as we will never look white enough.
I had US CBP agents ask me the exact address of relatives who I am visiting at the border when I go to the US.
I have many legal channels to enter China with all the passports that I hold and am legally entitled to but I choose to use my Canadian passport with China visa. I always get the questioning game in PTH when they notice my birthplace as Hong Kong in my Canadian passport.
Let's chill this out over a Durian smoothie?
jiejie moondog and a few others are quite a regular and IMHO quite experience in travelling to from within China and SE Asia in general as white Americans.
Their experience will differ from yours and mine as we will never look white enough.
I had US CBP agents ask me the exact address of relatives who I am visiting at the border when I go to the US.
I have many legal channels to enter China with all the passports that I hold and am legally entitled to but I choose to use my Canadian passport with China visa. I always get the questioning game in PTH when they notice my birthplace as Hong Kong in my Canadian passport.
Immigration officers are people, which means there are good ones and bad ones and sometimes they are just having a bad day. I never had issues crossing the US/Canadian border, but my ex-wife got grilled by US CBP when she visited me before we got married and she is a Caucasian with Canadian citizenship.
I agree with you that Asians are treated differently in SE Asia if they hold a western passport. My brother, who travels with a EU passport, had issues with Vietnamese Immigration officers on his last trip. I am part Chinese, so SE Asian people perceive me as being from Hong Kong or Taiwan and treat me accordingly. Chinese people would always speak Mandarin or Cantonese to me and then look confuse when I reply in English. Vietnamese people would try to rip me off because they don't think I know Vietnamese.
My girlfriend is from Chengdu and she says that one thing she really hates is how Chinese people bend over backwards for "white" foreigners, but treat other Chinese or Asians poorly. Carry a passport from one of the African countries and Chinese Immigration will scrutinize you even more.
Apr 28, 2016, 6:53 am
#1182
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Exp, United Silver, Delta Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 280
Went last week to drop my application at houston embassy and no rush or expedited services. In the visa requsting section, i marked "OTHERS - multiple entry valid for 10 yrs". Not sure if that was right. Also submitted a aa ticket which was on hold. I hope that's ok.
Q; I have a pickup for tuesday but can anyone pickup my passport if they have the pickup slip.
Q; I have a pickup for tuesday but can anyone pickup my passport if they have the pickup slip.
Apr 28, 2016, 9:27 am
#1183
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,688
I prefer jackfruit smoothie over durian. LOL
Immigration officers are people, which means there are good ones and bad ones and sometimes they are just having a bad day. I never had issues crossing the US/Canadian border, but my ex-wife got grilled by US CBP when she visited me before we got married and she is a Caucasian with Canadian citizenship.
I agree with you that Asians are treated differently in SE Asia if they hold a western passport. My brother, who travels with a EU passport, had issues with Vietnamese Immigration officers on his last trip. I am part Chinese, so SE Asian people perceive me as being from Hong Kong or Taiwan and treat me accordingly. Chinese people would always speak Mandarin or Cantonese to me and then look confuse when I reply in English. Vietnamese people would try to rip me off because they don't think I know Vietnamese.
My girlfriend is from Chengdu and she says that one thing she really hates is how Chinese people bend over backwards for "white" foreigners, but treat other Chinese or Asians poorly. Carry a passport from one of the African countries and Chinese Immigration will scrutinize you even more.
Immigration officers are people, which means there are good ones and bad ones and sometimes they are just having a bad day. I never had issues crossing the US/Canadian border, but my ex-wife got grilled by US CBP when she visited me before we got married and she is a Caucasian with Canadian citizenship.
I agree with you that Asians are treated differently in SE Asia if they hold a western passport. My brother, who travels with a EU passport, had issues with Vietnamese Immigration officers on his last trip. I am part Chinese, so SE Asian people perceive me as being from Hong Kong or Taiwan and treat me accordingly. Chinese people would always speak Mandarin or Cantonese to me and then look confuse when I reply in English. Vietnamese people would try to rip me off because they don't think I know Vietnamese.
My girlfriend is from Chengdu and she says that one thing she really hates is how Chinese people bend over backwards for "white" foreigners, but treat other Chinese or Asians poorly. Carry a passport from one of the African countries and Chinese Immigration will scrutinize you even more.
My roots are Southern Chinese so I am on the bottom of the BJer, SHer Southerner list.
I am also marked as a HKer sometimes which put me at the bottom of the overseas, SingMa, Taiwan, HK list.
May 1, 2016, 12:53 am
#1184
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: BUR
Programs: in C/C++, Python, SQL
Posts: 342
I know there are dozens of places online which maintain the visa application form in PDF format, so that you can just tab from space to space as you fill in your data. Is there a particular one that anyone can recommend which handles all of the formatting well? I started at the LA consulate, and the itinerary section on that one takes your hotel information and makes it fit in the box by shrinking the font, so that for a long address it becomes so small as to be unreadable. The form at the US embassy gives you two lines for addresses, which is good, but doesn't allow date ranges in the itinerary section. Another one I tried uses a fixed font for some fields, which was causing overflows. There must be one out there that handle the various fields well.
May 1, 2016, 1:27 am
#1185
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,033
I know there are dozens of places online which maintain the visa application form in PDF format, so that you can just tab from space to space as you fill in your data. Is there a particular one that anyone can recommend which handles all of the formatting well? I started at the LA consulate, and the itinerary section on that one takes your hotel information and makes it fit in the box by shrinking the font, so that for a long address it becomes so small as to be unreadable. The form at the US embassy gives you two lines for addresses, which is good, but doesn't allow date ranges in the itinerary section. Another one I tried uses a fixed font for some fields, which was causing overflows. There must be one out there that handle the various fields well.