Chinese visa for American in Mumbai

Replies: 14 - Last Post: 17-Jun-2009 21:58 Last Post By: ericfish2

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gendesu

16-Oct-2007 13:43
Posts: 16

Chinese visa for American in Mumbai

Hi,

I will be travelling to China in February '08, but am leaving the US in a few weeks and from what I understand if I get a Chinese visa here, now, it will only be valid for 3 month from date of issue(3 months window for me to enter China). Since I won't arrive in China for close to 4 months, I was thinking about getting a Chinese visa in Mumbai, India where I will be in January of '08.
Does anybody have experience getting a Chinese visa in Mumbai, and if so, what do I need with me(passport photo,etc..) how long does it take to process and what is the cost?

Thanks in advance.

everbrite

16-Oct-2007 16:39
Posts: 16,252

Rules changed August 1, 2007. Actually now most Americans getting tourist visas in the US are getting multiple entry visas good for 30 days per entry but the visa is good for a year. Please contact the Chinese consulate near you or a visa service.

Reports suggest that it is increasingly difficult for US passport holders to get Chinese visas other than in the US.

Ruth

First check: Everbrite's travel pages, the New RU sticky,and New RU train sticky

Since I have taken the time to answer your question, it would be nice if you took the time to respond as to whether the information was helpful.

gendesu

18-Oct-2007 01:42
Posts: 16

Thank you Ruth, I did not know that you can now get visas good for a year.

Just curious if anyone has done this(get a Chinese visa) in India and what they're experiences(cost/processing time) were.

Thanks

ericfish2

28-May-2009 20:07
Posts: 9

Hey,

How did this work out for you? I need to get a Chinese visa here in Mumbai..just starting to look into it now.

Thanks!!

everbrite

28-May-2009 20:29
Posts: 16,252

eric - the situation described in this post is from 2007. The situation currently is much different. Try searching this forum for a more recent post about obtaining a Chinese visa in India. Most recent reports I recall is that since March 2008 it is extremely difficult even for Indians to obtain a Chinese visa and that they must show proof of funds, itinerary with hotel bookings and tickets into and out of China.

Also try looking at the website of the Chinese consulate in Mumbai and seeing what requirements are noted there.

Ruth

ericfish

12-Jun-2009 21:48
Posts: 23

Hey Ruth,

I shot you a PM with a few questions.

Do you think it is problematic if on the application I put longest intended duration of stay 45 days, but my confirmed hotel bookings are only for 11 days?

The office in Mumbai says I need confirmed hotel bookings, a confirmed hotel ticket, and a bank statement. They want a stamp on the airline ticket and bank statement, which I am unable to obtain (and I am not even sure what this is). They want to know the entry date, but do not ask for an airline ticket entering the country.

Does the entry date I put on the application matter? For example, if I put August 11 as my entry date and receive my visa on Wednesday, theoretically, will I be able to enter prior to August 11?

Thanks for your help,

Eric

ericfish

12-Jun-2009 21:50
Posts: 23

Also, does it matter if I put down I am entering through Beijing, but really enter through Chengdu (which I do not want to list since it is western China).

I am keeping my letter pretty vague and have only written:

Dear Chinese Consulate,

I am visiting China for tourism. The duration of my stay is eleven days. I am visiting Beijing, Kunming, and Shanghai. I have provided the required documents, including my application form, a photo, photocopies of my passport, my bank statement, my exit plane ticket and my accommodation plans.

Thank you very much. I look forward to visiting China.

Sincerely,

Do you think this is okay?

everbrite

12-Jun-2009 21:57
Posts: 16,252

1. If you only ask for 11 days, there is a possibility that you will only get 11 days. There is no guarantee of any default amount. You definitely WON'T get 60 days without asking for it plus the likelihood of anyone getting 60 days in a country other than that where they have permanent residence is quite low.

2. If hotel bookings are required by the particular consulate where you are applying, then in the past, it was required to show bookings for ALL nights. Last year when this sort of thing was required for everyone, many people used the hostelworld.com website as the fee for booking and canceling is only 10% and Chinese hostels are relatively cheap.

3. If you need to show your tickets, then you must show tickets into and out of China. Again, last year when this documentation was required of everyone, people either purchased fully refundable tickets or bought cheap tickets on budget airlines like Air Asia. Sometimes flights to Hong Kong and Macau were acceptable but for the most part people were required to show tickets to and from mainland China.

4. It would help to know at which consulate in india you intend to apply as the rules are potentially different everywhere. Also where are you going after India? Perhaps it would be easier there.

And finally if you are planning to travel overland from India to Nepal and into Tibet, forget about applying for a visa as it will be cancelled to get a special visa required for entry from Nepal.

Ruth

ericfish

12-Jun-2009 22:10
Posts: 23

Thanks Ruth. I am going from Nepal to CHINA (Chengdu) to Tibet and then heading east in China. I would like the flexibility of having a visa for greater than 30 days so I am able to enter China earlier if I desire. I made refundable hotel bookings for the 11 days I already spoke of, but I guess in order to try for a visa greater than 30 days I need to make refundable hotel bookings for the entire period (i.e 40 days!?!?) and also buy a cheap/refundable entry ticket to somewhere other than Chengdu? The visa service did not mention requiring an entry ticket, but they do ask what city I am entering. I feel listing my entry point as Chengdu coming from Kathmandu is too suspect.

Thanks for your help - Eric

ericfish

12-Jun-2009 22:15
Posts: 23

sorry, forgot to mention, I am applying in Mumbai - visaforchina.org

everbrite

12-Jun-2009 23:01
Posts: 16,252

I don't think you understand Chinese visas. They have three numbers -
1. the number of entries
2. the length of the entry - 30, 60 even 90 days
3. the length of time until which you can make your entries

Normally a single entry visa is good for one entry within 90 days of issuing the visa and for a period of 30 days within China.

Chengdu is not a problem as an entry point.

IF the consulate in India requires hotel bookings then they will require them for the entire period. I have no idea IF they are required for foreigners. They are probably required for locals.

IF there is any chance that you will exit China and reenter at some point in the next 12 months, then I recommend that you send your passport back to the US to get a one year multiple entry visa with entries of 60 days each. The reason for this recommendation is that US passport holders pay the same price in the US whether the visa is single or multiple entry but the ONLY place you can be sure of getting a multiple entry visa is in the US.

Ruth

ericfish

13-Jun-2009 00:10
Posts: 23

i do not really have to much time to send my passport back to the US since I am traveling around. If I try for a multiple entry visa in India, if they reject, will they just give me a single entry or will they flat out reject it entirely?

Thanks a ton for your help.

Eric

everbrite

13-Jun-2009 00:19
Posts: 16,252

i don't know.

Ruth

ericfish2

15-Jun-2009 23:17
Posts: 9

dropped my passport off today. i will report back with the results tomorrow.

ericfish2

17-Jun-2009 21:58
Posts: 9

fyi

I was issued a 60 day, dual entry visa, valid for 3 months

I provided entry and exit air tickets, a bank statement, and hotel bookings from booking.com for 45 days

Thanks for the help,

Eric

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