moondog

1. The consular websites are almost completely useless

2. Some staff are flexible, and some aren't

3. If you don't want to waste time, consider preparing 2 applications, and trying with the non-US passport first

4. I wouldn't sweat too much about the "consular protection" thing

threeoh

I have not personally tried at the Chinese consulate. I have direct evidence that the Italian consulates in the U.S. work this way (though I guess there are always exceptions) and I read two different reports on other online forums where people were not able to get the Chinese consulate to consider their non-U.S. passport at a U.S.-based consulate (I found one when I was looking around for an answer to my upthread X vs L visa question, and then another when I was trying to find that again in response to your question). So a combination of direct evidence from another country and hearsay evidence for China. Sorry if I contributed to the internet echochamber!

But I definitely was not relying on the Chinese consulate website, which I agree is not very useful.

I only have secondary sources, I mainly just saw some other people warning about it and thought it was worth mentioning. One thing to keep in mind is that the U.S. recognizes dual citizenship and China doesn't really, or at least not to the same extent. How U.S. law treats this is not really going to say anything about how Chinese law treats it.

I agree with the suggestion to prepare to applications and try first with the passport you want, and if not just go with the U.S. one.

And I will re-iterate my suggestion that if you are doing an L visa and there is even a small chance you will return to China in the next decade, consider getting the 10-year visa in your U.S. passport.

maxdml

Hello,

I am a F-1 student (non resident alien) in the U.S, at Seattle for the summer, and looking forward applying for a Chinese tourist visa.

Would it be possible for me to do the application in Vancouver? Or do I have to go to San Francisco?

Also, I have heard about www.chinavisadirect.com. Is this a scam?

Thanks!

moondog

That site has some pretty useful information, but they seem to focus on group visas, VOA, and free trade zone only visas. I suggest you Google visa agencies in NorCal, and make a few phone calls. Vancouver might be an option as well, if you can stay there for a few days; call first to run your details by the consulate.

889

If you're in Seattle, then www.freechinavisa.org in SF works well. Not really free, but reasonable and reliable and easier than making a trip to Vancouver and risking getting turned away.

maxdml

Thank you for both the answers. I was told by a visa service company that, being a F-1 student (a not a US citizen), I cannot hire them and have to go in person to a consulate. This is why I a trying to figure out the best choice between SF and Vancouver.

moondog

I suggest you call more visa agencies before committing to a trip to SF or Van.

jiejie

Agree with @moondog to consult different agencies and see if you get the same answer before travel planning. In addition to www.freechinavisa.org also try www.mychinavisa.com (SF Office). It's possible that fingerprinting may be required for non-citizen applicants in SF, which of course means your presence is required.

If you must make an in-person trip, you may have to go/want to go to SF instead of Vancouver. Why?
1) You have a visa for the USA not for Canada. You may not be allowed to apply in Vancouver. Contact the place mentioned in 2) to suss out whether Vancouver is even on the table.
2) Applicants for Chinese tourist visas in Canada now have to go to an outsourced agent--China Visa Application Service Centres. Their application form is much more lengthy and intrusive than the one used in the USA, so check out the website and look at the process before you automatically assume that the geographically closest city to you now is the best choice. https://bio.visaforchina.org/YVR2_EN/
3) You need to cross an international border for two round trips, one for application and one for pickup, unless you plan to stay in Canada during the processing. Even one border crossing cycle seems like a hassle especially for a non-citizen of either country.

maxdml

One of those company (mychinavisa) answered the following to my email two weeks ago:

"Thanks for reaching out to us. For a Non-US citizen to apply in the USA, he or she must have a valid green card or resident type visa. Does either apply to you? Also, what is your nationality? Please advise."

They never answered back when I provided the response. I think they mean that I cannot hire their service to get the visa done, not that I cannot apply at all in the country.

I will call more agencies soon.


I also have a somewhat related question: I am planning to go with my friend, and I got an hotel reservation under my name, for two adults. Can my friend use this reservation for her visa application? Or does the booking need to clearly state her name too?

Thank you,

maxdml

And, by the way, I started filling the online appointment for for Vancouver, and they say:

" (1) The Visa Centre accepts visa applications from Canadian citizens in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory and the citizens of other countries staying in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory with appropriate legal status (ex.permanent resident card or work visa or study visa). However, we cannot accept the application if you are not physically in Canada when your application is being submitted.

If you are not currently in the country in which this centre is located, please apply from where you normally reside, or apply after you return to the country. Application acceptance is ONLY available to people lawfully residing in the country in which this Visa Centre is located. "

Which means that it is not an option for me, if I understand correctly.

Visconti

I can only relay my experience with the SF consulate. In my case and those whom I know have also applied, they only requested my airline reservation and weren't interested in my hotel reservation. From what I recall, the application process in SF is relatively painless. Just show up early to line up and get an early number for processing. You'll be out of there by 10 am - 11 am; then, just return in a few days to pick and up and pay. That's it. They even have a photo machine there for the passport photo, which has to be a certain size.

moondog

The hotel is the least of your concerns. I actually think you'll be okay in the end, but since it's increasingly apparent that you're going to need to go to SF yourself, I suggest you focus on those logistics, including a phone call to the consulate running your details by them.

maxdml

That's a good suggestion =)

jichikawa

Hello, I am planning a brief trip to Beijing in October to attend a conference. (I also plan to stay a few days for tourism.) I am a dual US–Canadian citizen, living in Vancouver, Canada. I wanted to see if anyone had advice as to whether I would be better off using my Canadian or my American passport? I believe the conference host plans to help me with visa arrangements, and is asking for my passport information; I wasn't sure which passport I should give, or whether it matters.

If it's relevant, I expect that I'll be planning to travel to and from Canada.

Any advice would be appreciated!

moondog

When ten year visas first emerged, US passports had a slight edge over Canadian passports because visas survived passport expiration in the case of the former. I'm not sure whether or not this is still the case. If the Vancouver PRC consulate is convenient, you could also head there with both passports, and play it as it lies.