China Visa / Visas Master Thread (all you need to know)
 

The day has come. Awaits the news.

Since tomorrow is July 1, anyone heard any new procedures or processes for obtaining the visa?

I just checked the Chinese embassy site in Australia... as well as the china visa service offices in SYD/MEL (all visas must be processed through the visa service in Australia) and there is no mention of the new rules. it is 10am there already.

so maybe a transition period?

Nothing has changed on the DC embassy's site either.

There were a couple of small changes announced in China Daily today having to do with work/residence permits but nothing that would affect ordinary business travelers. Perhaps the rumors flying around were a bit overblown?

Give it more time. There definitely will be a change for ordinary business travelers, as there is now a new visa category "M" which will replace the F for those coming for commercial purposes. The "F" visa will remain for more strictly-defined non-commercial purposes such as scientific and cultural exchange. Or perhaps some will qualify for the new and interesting "R" visa based on some sort of perceived and desired foreigner talent...which will come in a short- and a long-term version.

And I suggest that for your information sources, you cast your net wider than the official embassy websites and the China Daily!

My 19 yr old son & I applied for single entry L visa good for 3 months at the DC PRC Visa office on June 27, 2013. Received multiple entry L visa good for 1 year today. Pleasant surprise!!

Picked up my visa on Monday from the Houston consulate. Heard some people talking about "some new rules" as they were walking out of the embassy but didn't bother asking them what had changed. Regardless, I was issued a multi entry L visa for a year at 60 days each.

Applied last week (sent on monday via fedex) for a 2 year multiple f visa in Chicago through my china visa. I provided copies of 4 previous 1 year f visa's . I have never been successful getting a 2 year and I was still issued a 1 year f multiple entry with 90 days per entry. I received it back today with standard processing.

I wonder how much more difficult it is to get the two year visa or if the visa service companies don't want to push it because it will increase their revenue to have you applying every year.

The agencies want to sell them because they can charge more money. The problem is that very few can guarantee success. I believe DC is still the best consulate on this front.

Since I have to go through Chicago I guess I am stuck in the one year loop. I have never had success with Houston before the consular jurisdiction rule and Chicago.

DC is apparently no longer an option except for applicants residing in the coverage area (or can come up with an address in same): Atlantic seaboard DC, MD, DE, VA, WV, KY, TN, NC, SC and some (mid)western states: ND, SD, NE, MT, WY, ID, UT.

Does China require 6 months' validity on a passport for entry (i.e., at the time of entry)?

I already have a double entry visa, with one entry left, but may be arriving about 5 months and 3 weeks before passport expiry.

Also, I assume that with a double-entry visa, so long as I enter before the visa's expiration date I'm okay, and I can stay past the expiry date--yes?

I can't answer the 5 months and three weeks, but on point two, you are correct.

you can enter until midnight on the date printed on the visa (doesn't have to be the day before) and you can stay for the time permitted on the visa. (as you know, your day of arrival and departure each count as one day towards your limit).

This actually depends on how the visa is worded. If your visa's "expiration date" says "enter before," your understanding is correct; if it says "valid until," then you must both enter and leave before the date indicated.

The latter type is no longer as common as it once was, at least for visas issued in the US, but they do still exist and it's worth checking to be sure, especially if you picked up your visa somewhere in Asia.

In my case it does say "enter before", although I would depart anyway by the date. (It's 30 days in my case)

Anyone know if I get a new passport I can use the visa in the old passport (which won't have expired but will have been cancelled)?