Getting Your Chinese Visa
All international travelers to China must carry two essential documents: passports from their home countries as well as Chinese visas. A passport is a form of identification that is recognized in nearly all countries, declaring the owner’s country of citizenship. A visa is a travel document issued by the destination country, which grants permission for the visitor to be in that country. Passports and visas are matters of national security, and are taken very seriously by all countries.
Nearly two million Americans travel to China each year, and every one of them must obtain the proper paperwork. While there are many places to get your passport--such as courthouses, post offices, and public libraries--you must get Chinese visas from the Chinese consulate. The Chinese consulate is a diplomatic office of the Chinese government in the United States, and is the only place to get Chinese visas.
However, there are only a few offices of the Chinese consulate in the US, and it is often inconvenient for a traveler to visit one of their offices before leaving. On top of this, the Chinese consulate stopped accepting visa applications by mail for security reasons in May of 2003. At China Visa Service Center, we help you get your visa quickly and easily.
The consulate does not require visa applications to be filed by the applicant--so you can send us your application, and we will bring it straight to the consulate in person. There is no delay in this process, either. We bring your application to the consulate as soon as we receive it, and then ship your visa to you via FedEx right after it is processed. Many other visa services have waiting periods of up to a few weeks, but we have the fastest turnaround time in the business.
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China Visa Applications
At China Visa Service Center, we are happy to help you get your visa. While nobody can get China visa applications filed faster than we do, our prices remain competitive despite our superior service. We have an excellent record of satisfied customers, and we are on great terms with the Chinese consulate. No matter what kind of visa you are applying for (whether it be a tourist, business, or any other type of visa), we will get it to you quickly and without error. We can also help you determine which type of visa you need, if you are unsure which category you fall under. Nowhere else will you find a more reliable, affordable, easy and fast visa service.
When you apply, you’ll need to know whether you need a single entry, double entry or a multiple entry visa. Single and double entry visas are valid for six months from the date of issue, and multiple entry visas are valid for either six or twelve months from the date of issue. You must arrive on Chinese soil before your visa expires, or you may be turned away.
You must have a valid visa with you when you arrive in China. Some travelers think that they can get a Chinese visa when they get there, but this practice is no longer allowed. Because of a diplomatic dispute between China and the US over the US fingerprinting all foreign visitors, the Chinese government stopped issuing landing visas to American travelers in March 2004.
Now, US citizens must obtain a visa before they board a plane to China. If you show up for your flight without a proper visa, you will not be allowed to board the plane, or worse, will be turned back at the airport upon arrival in China. If you need a visa in a rush, don’t even think about leaving without one--just call us, and we’ll get it to you faster than you thought possible.
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China Travel Visas
Many people do not know how to properly prepare for a trip to China--this is dangerous, as failure to procure China travel visas can cause a traveler to be sent back home before reaching his or her destination. Americans require minimal travel preparations for trips to Canada, Mexico, and most of Europe, so they often don’t realize that their ease of travel is a result of many diplomatic relationships between nations. Traveling outside the United States’ sphere of influence, such as into China and many parts of Asia, subjects you to the same travel procedures as other international travelers.
At China Visa Service Center, we have been helping travelers get their China travel visas for years. Originally the visa section of a successful travel agency, we spun off as an independent service three years ago, specializing in Chinese visas. Since then, we have become the premier China visa service agent in the US, boasting a perfect service record and earning a membership in the Better Business Bureau.
Our specialization and our relationship with the Chinese consulate have made us a top choice for people traveling to China. Our prompt service, reasonable prices, and convenience are among the best in the business, and it shows. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, more and more people are choosing the China Visa Service Center for their travel document needs.
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China Business Visas
There are several different categories of visas to choose from--you’ll need to know which you need when you apply. Each country has its own unique categories for types of visas--these categories define the types of visitors by either the purpose of the visit, the length of the visit, or both. In China, there are nine different categories of visa, each of which has its own privileges and limitations based on the stated intention of the traveler.
When getting China business visas, you should apply for an F visa. This type of visa is for people who have been invited to China for business or academic reasons, generally under the supervision of a company or university. These visas are good for six months for a single or a double entry, or twelve months for a multiple entry. If you have been hired by a Chinese company, you will apply for China work visas (Z visa) instead of China business visas. If you are working for an American company but you are going to China to conduct business, you will need an F visa.
There are other types of visas you may need if you are a foreign correspondent. Depending on how long you intend to stay in China, you’ll need either a J-1 or a J-2 (for temporary assignments). Also, if you’re a student or an intern planning to study for longer than six months, you’re in a different category--you should apply for an X visa.
To apply for a business visa, you’ll need your passport (with at least six months remaining before the expiration date and at least one blank page), the visa application form (which you can download from our website), one passport style photo, our order form, and an invitation letter from either a Chinese company or your own company, stating the reason for your trip. If you have questions about what this letter should say, there’s an example available from our website. If you can’t determine which category of visa to apply for, feel free to call us at China Visa Service Center. After talking with one of our experts, we’ll be able to determine the type of visa that is most appropriate for your travels, and get that to you as soon as possible.