How to Apply for a China Visa in US?

How to apply for a China visa in US? Some of US citizens may think it a very complicated procedure to get a China visa in US, however, if you have all the required documents and know every step for the whole process, it will save a lot of your time. If you have questions about the cost and requirements for a China visa, this China visa guide will help you al lot. Now let’s walk through all the things you need to know about US citizens applying for China visa.

 

Do I need a visa to China from the US?

Sure. US citizens need China visas to enter mainland China. But you don’t need a visa for visa-free transit. For most of cities in China, US passport holders could stay in the entry city for no more than 24 hours without a visa. For cities like Guilin and Xi’an, you can have a 72-hour visa-free transit. And for major cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, you could enjoy a 144-hour visa-free tour.

Read for more details: How Do US Citizens Visit China without Visa?

 

How to apply for a China visa in US?

1.Check what kind of visa you need

Once you’re sure that you will need a China visa to travel to China, it’s time for you to decide the category of visa you are going to apply. If you’re going to China as a tourist, you can apply for L Visa. Search for some basic information so that you could know every step for the process.

 

2.Get ready for the required documents

You must get ready for all the necessary supporting documents before you go to the Visa Office. Here are required documents you need to prepare:
 

• Valid passport for at least 6 months
   
• Completed visa application form with recently-taken headshot photo
   
• Itinerary showing the confirmed air tickets (Round trip) and proof of hotel reservation

3.Submit your application to the Visa Office of Chinese Embassy

According to your residence area, you have to submit all the documents to the Consulate General that serves your state. In other words, you can’t apply for a visa in any Consulate you want to choose. You may check your state from your driver’s license.

4.Pay the visa fee and pick up your visa

Pay your visa fee by the acceptable payments and check the exact pick up time to get your visa. It’s not available to pay the visa fee online.

How much does a tourist visa for China cost?

For US citizens who are planning a trip to China, you may need a tourist visa. It takes $140 for a US passport holder, no matter for 6 months, 1 year, or 10 years. For express service, it takes an additional fee of $25 per visa, and $37 for rush service. The cost of a China visa almost keeps the same each year, you can check the newest information about the visa fees on the website of the Chinese consulate in the United States.

For acceptable payments:
 

• Credit card for only Visa and Mastercard
   
• Money order
   
• Cashier’s check/company check

Tips:
 

• Pay the visa fee upon collection of your visa.
   
• No cash, personal check or online payment will be accepted.

How long does it take to get a China visa for US citizens?

Even though the whole procedure won’t cost a lot of your time, it’s better to apply for the visa in advance. According to the processing time from the Chinese Embassy, normally 4 business days will be needed. The exact processing time may be longer than the regular time, it won’t be confirmed until notified by the Visa Office.
 

If you don’t have enough time, you may pay extra fees for express service, you can get the visa in 2-3 business days. The rush service takes just 1 business day, but it is only available under extreme emergencies and acquired approval from the consular officer.

Where can I get a China visa in the United States?

As what we mentioned above, you are only allowed to apply in the Consular General serves your state, otherwise, your application will be rejected. In order to finish the whole process smoothly and successfully, you’d better check the residence area ahead of time. And it’s convenient to check on the website of Chinese Consulate General. Here are some information for districts of related Consulate General.
 

• Embassy of PRC in Washington DC: Washington DC, Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming
   
• Consulate General of PRC in San Francisco: Northern California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska
   
• Consulate General of PRC in Los Angeles: California, Arizona, New Mexico, Hawaii and U.S. Pacific islands, including Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa
   
• Consulate General of PRC in New York: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island
   
• Consulate General of PRC in Houston: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas and Puerto Rico
   
• Consulate General of PRC in Chicago: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana and Iowa
  
   

Create Your Unforgettable Memory in China

Once you get your China visa in the US, here comes the other essential step before travelling —— Trip Planning. If you don’t want to spend so much time on planning, professional travel advisors from Top China Travel will be delighted to plan the most suitable itinerary for you.
 

Customers from TCT

 

For group tours:
 

• 6 Days Beijing-Xian Group Tour
  
   
• 12 Days Beijing-Xian-Shanghai-Guilin-Hong Kong Group Tour

For private tours:
 

• 8 Days Classic China Tour: Beijing, Xian, Shanghai
  
   
• 12 Days Experience the Highlights of China: Shanghai, Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Hong Kong

Want to create your unique tour in China? You can easily get a tailor-made tour by telling us all your requirements. Just join Top China Travel to explore the best of China.