According to the US Chinese Embassy website, you must APPLY for the visa in person, but then there is the option of having it mailed back to you -- as long as you include a self-addressed, stamped envelope, etc.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Is it common or will they hassle you about it? The process of getting a Chinese visa (/any visa) is already so heavily bureaucratic and impersonal that I fear adding that step is just rife with negative possibilities (losing it, mailing it somewhere else, etc)...
...but it would also be incredibly convenient, as I can take no more than two days off of work to go to NYC to get the visa.
johndoe99
1
born2go
Use a visa service. I used this one a couple of years ago and am getting ready to use them again. It will cost you an extra $29.00 plus FedEX of $14.00 in addition to the consular fees. I would have to go to either Houston or Washington DC...and I live in Florida. Money well spent!
2
anonymous
Where are you entering China?
If through Hong Kong, then use the same day service there. FBT
If through Beijing or Shanghai, then #1 has it.
3
chengdude
No problem with the consulate, but trusting USPS with just a stamped envelope containing a passport is another matter....and no, the consulate won't do the registered/certified thing.
If you choose the visa service route, I'll put in another vote for the link in the first reply; mom's used that one twice and has been happy.
4
mountainmark
I just used this company last week. I used a FedEx letter envelope and prepaid a return FedEx letter and included it with my passport and their application and payment. I sent it standard overnight on March 23 and received my passport and visa back on March 30th. I paid for standard service, no express, no rush. I feel good recommending them.
http://www.visa-chinese.com/china-tourist-visa.htm
5
erebus
johndoe, is there a Chinatown near you? Travel agencies in many Chinatowns will handle the whole transaction for you. I got all my China visas that way. The last time was Fall of '06, so unless they've changed the rules since then, you don't have to go to NYC. The only time I went to the NYC consulate was to accompany my wife when she renewed her passport.
6
ricci
Last year I went to the consulate in Chicago to obtain visa for myself and three friends. If you go to the consulate, I think I had to pay with a money order. As for the return postage, I simply brought a postage paid USPS priorty mail envelope and gave it to the consulate with our passports and applications. They were returned with the visas in about a week. No problem.
In my opinion, you would need to decide if it is worth your time and time off of work to get the visa yourself, versus using a visa service. In my case, I was able to get to the consulate without taking time off of work.
7
johndoe99
Thanks, everyone, for your help. I was trying to do this as cheaply as possible, but of course it seems that the gas to get to NYC or DC (I am in Pittsburgh) will be more than the cost of simply having an agency do it...
...So then my second question:
Are there places who will do all of your visas in one fell swoop? I need to get visas for China, Russia, and Belarus (Transit Visa) -- is there somewhere who will get all of these for me if provided with the necessary paperwork?
Thanks again!
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner
trusted partner