pushmyredbutton

If I were the OP, I'd be on the phone with someone high up at A Briggs hoping they have a good relationship with the local SF consulate and can put me in touch with someone who can push through the same-day visa. Just showing up and hoping for the best at Chinese consulates is usually just an exercise in frustration.

moondog

This is a useful data point that leads me to lower my confidence level in same day service there to a point that I might not even bother trying if I was the OP. That having been said, consular staff changes frequently, and some agents have empathy for people in situations like the OP. Perhaps the visa agency can call them, and use some of their 关系 in support of the OP?

In any event, I want to reiterate my advice that the OP should book a weekend in HK, Seoul, ULN, etc in the middle of his Beijing trip. I would do HK with BA points myself because refunds are easy (though my silver status might have something to do with this).

docbert

Whilst your experience doesn't surprise me based on my experience of that same office, the OP is in a slightly different situation in that they have already issued a visa for him, which does potentially allow some of the process to be short-circuited.

PVDProf

Continued thanks for all the information and ideas. Today's update:

I went to the Seattle UPS distribution center, and they said that, in fact, the last physical scan of the package had been in Oakland on Friday. Everything else was of containers that it was supposed to be in, but was not scanned when those containers were unpacked.

With little hope it would materialize today, I went to the Seattle passport office and secured a brand new passport. It's nice that we have friendly and helpful employees at all levels of government here.

A Briggs was less helpful than I would have hoped. Many people were apologetic and called me during the day. But all said that their consular relationships did not extend to same-day approvals. They said the best thing to do was go very early myself and plead my case.

So, I'm sitting at SEA with my new passport, headed to SFO to be at the consulate in the morning. The vibe I get is that I've got about a 70% chance, which I'll take at this point. Wish me luck!

SFHokie

If in China and the government is holding onto your passport for a period of time, be sure to ask for the official document that lets you travel by train and check into hotels! Otherwise you will be seriously SOL in trying to do anything. (I cannot remember what the name of the document is, but just say you need to travel by train (even if that's a white lie) and they will know what to hand you.)

Best wishes! If possible, bring all the paperwork you need in order to obtain the visa (proof of return plane ticket back to America or wherever you travel to next, proof of hotel stay, invitation letter to visit someone or the focus group you're going to be working with) ... not positive it will help, but you'll have better luck if they're feeling generous.

Also, forgot to mention about the US Post Office and money order ... be sure to have your debit card or cash with you; the USPS doesn't sell money orders and let you pay for them with credit cards! Again, speaking from experience.

estnet

Is it a second passport? ( I wasn't aware we could do this so I've learned something potentially useful)
Does A Briggs have a photo of the visa? While it would not be helpful for actual use I wonder if they sent you a jpeg of the existing visa if it would be useful in getting the consulate to do the one day visa thing?

MSPeconomist

narvik

You automatically get that "official document" when dropping off your Passport for the visa application process. It's a yellow paper that acts as a receipt and is also good for domestic train travel and hotel lodging/police registration, etc.

exwannabe

The "two strike" rule is soft. First, if the lost
passport shows up he can mail it in and get the strike removed. Second, he probably can document he never had it, thus never lost it.

The point of the rule is to make people responsible, not be punative.

PaulMCO

Also second passports are now good for 4 years...

Flying Machine

Bear4Asian

moondog

I'm one of the many of who is routing for the OP 100%; this is a solvable problem!

PVDProf

Well, if happy endings are only for fairy tales, it is no wonder that the brothers Grimm wrote of the German forest and not the Chinese consulate. I was not successful today. They refused to give me a visa before Monday afternoon, and the Tuesday flight would not get me to the most important parts of my group's trip. I have notified my companions I'm a late scratch on the trip, and am back home in SEA.

I arrived at the consulate at 7:30, and was about 20th in line, which I would call "close to the front" when they opened at 9. After moving through security, I took a number. Windows 8 and 9 were for visas, and I was 12th in line for a visa issue. I was called to the window shortly before 10. I nicely explained my case, and initially got the response that same day was not possible except for medical emergencies. I then tried the angle that it should not be much work, because they had already given me a visa for this trip last week...the work was done. The agent took my paperwork, saying she would ask the consul after the morning meeting. Hope.

About 11, just as I noticed a Prem/E+ seat finally opened on tomorrow's flight, my phone rang calling me back to the window. The consul had decided: not for a tourist visa. I asked, smiling and kinda laughing (because this is stupid) if they'd talk to me. But, functionary says no. She'd get me one for Monday afternoon. Doesn't help me, I said; I need to cancel my trip and go home.

I retreated to a Starbuck's to review options. TWOV doesn't work for me, even with a quick stop outside PRC, because my destinations are all coastal fishing communities outside TWOV zones. Resignation.

UA was again understanding beyond my expectations. They had already changed my K fare to let me leave later and insert the 36 hours in SFO for the visa with no change fee or refare. When I further explained my plight, the agent put me on the next flight back to SEA, charged me for an SEA-SFO roundtrip, and issued an ETC for the balance, with no change fees. I give them tremendous credit for helping me give this my best shot.

Then I had some Mongolian beef for lunch.

There are some silver linings:

• I spent last night in the Queen Anne Hotel near the consulate, which has a wonderful Victorian ambiance. Charming.
• Immediately upon return, I got to meet up with a college friend who lives in EBB but is in SEA for a conference this week.
• Since my meetings and classes next week are already canceled, I may just spend all of next week hiding at the library catching up on real writing.
• My kids have decided that I left for China, but never came back from China.

For now, my (now invalid) passport is still missing. (Is that Chinese visa still good?) I expect I'll have a chance to recreate some of the value of this trip sometime in the coming year. Also, I get to deal with the insurance claims on the expenses I incurred replacing my passport, etc. A Briggs said they insure for replacement value, which I hope covers their fees and my new passport. Let's see what my Sapphire Reserve travel interruption insurance will cover.

Thanks for all the help and encouragement! I don't regret the effort.

fatlasercat

Too bad it didn't work out. Just out of curiosity: did you report your "missing" passport lost? Did you try to get a second passport instead as others have suggested?