CHINA VISA APPLICATION PROCEDURES
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION CARFEFULLY BEFORE
COMPLETING THE VISA APPLICATION FORM!
The following three items are necessary in order to obtain your visa to China. It is very important to follow the
instructions carefully because the consulate will reject your application if any of the requirements are not met entirely.
Each passport holder must complete a separate form, which is attached to this notice. If you plan to obtain your own visa,
please notify our office in writing so that we do not bill you for the service. To ensure nothing is left out, please check
off each box as you have verified/completed the item.
1) ACTUAL PASSPORT. (Non-U.S. passport holders must send actual passport AND copy of resident alien card).
a) Must be signed in order to be valid! Parents/legal guardians may sign for minors or persons with disabilities.
b) Must be valid for at least six months from the date of your departure from the U.S.
c) Must have two full blank visa pages. One for the Chinese Visa and the other one for stamps when you go
through immigrations in China. Amendment/endorsement pages cannot be used for Visas.
2) ONE PASSPORT SIZE (2” x 2”) PHOTO. Do not trim photo to fit the box located on the visa form!
a) Must have a completely white or light background with no obstructions (people, furniture, trees, etc.).
b) Must be taken within the last six months with a full front view of your face (side views are unacceptable).
c) Cannot be scanned! If taken with a digital camera, it must be printed on glossy photo paper.
d) Do not affix (glue, tape, staple or paperclip) the photo to the visa form. We will take care of it for you.
3) COMPLETED VISA APPLICATION FORM. Hand writing is permitted, but you must print neatly!
If you obtain your own visa, your district consulate may require you to type your form!
1.1: Last Name, Middle Name and First Name as it appears on your passport.
1.2: Only complete if you were born in China, Hong Kong or Taiwan (must be in Chinese characters).
1.3: Only complete if you had a name change due to marriage or if you went by any previously documented aliases.
1.4: Check the proper box that indicates your gender.
1.5: Enter your date of birth. Please be careful when inputting dates. Input year first, then month, then day.
1.6: If you hold a U.S. Passport, input U.S.A. (not your ethnicity). If you are a non-U.S. passport holder, input the
proper passport you are currently holding and submit a clear copy of both sides of your green card.
1.7: Only complete if you formerly held a non-U.S. passport.
1.8: If you were born in China, Hong Kong or Taiwan, please call our office for instructions. In most cases, at the
Chinese Consulate’s discretion, you will need to provide additional paperwork. Especially if it’s your first
time back to China.
1.9: Enter your local state ID/Driver’s license number.
1.10: Passport Type is “Ordinary.”
1.11: Input your passport number, which is normally located on the upper right hand corner.
1.12: Input the date your passport was issued. Remember to input year first, then month, then day.
1.13: Place of issue is the same as “Authority” on your passport. Example: US Department of State.
1.14: Input the expiration date. Year, month, day.
1.15: Check the box that best describes your CURRENT occupation. If none apply, check “Other” and input your
current job title. Please call our office for instructions if your current occupation is: 1) Staff of media,
2) Religious worker, 3) Lawyer, 4) Attorney, 5) Military or 6) Government Official.
1.16: Please check the box of your highest educational background.
1.17: Input your work/school information. Please type “N/A” if you’re retired or unemployed.
1.18: Must be a residential address. P.O. Box address will cause your application to be rejected!
1.19: Input the zip code of your residential address.
1.20: Must input a daytime phone. Doesn’t have to be a home phone.
1.21: Optional.
1.22: Check the appropriate box that signifies your current marital status.
1.23: You must list at least one family member in this section. This family member does not have to live with you.
If you are married, you must include your spouse.
1.24: Must be completed.
1.25: Input “USA”.
2.1: ONLY check the box that states “Tourism.”
2.2: If your passport is valid for at least one year after your date of departure from the U.S., check the box that
states “Multiple entries valid for 12 months from application.” Otherwise, check the “Multiple entries valid for
6 months from application” box. Although the number of entries you receive is at the Chinese Consulate
discretion, you must obtain at least “Two entries valid for 3 to 6 months from application” if your tour goes to
Hong Kong.
2.3: Please check “No.”
2.4: Input the day after your tour departure date. Example, if your tour departs on Jan. 1st, input Jan. 2nd.
2.5: Input the amount of days for your tour. You can find the amount of days listed on your invoice under
“DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES”.
2.6: LEAVE THIS SECTION BLANK. China Focus will fill this section out for you. If you are applying for your
own visa, please call for detail on how to fill out.
2.7: Please indicate who is paying for your China trip (yourself, parent/legal guardian, ect.).
2.8: PLEASE TYPE “N/A” IN THIS SECTION!
2.9-2.10: You must answer Yes/No to these questions. If Yes, use this format to list information:
YES, month and year, country/provinces, purpose
examples: Yes, Dec 2007, Beijing, Shanghai, tourism OR Yes, June 2011, Mexico, vacation
3.1-3.5: All questions must be answered.
3.6: Only answer if you selected “Yes” to any questions between 3.1-3.5.
3.7: PLEASE TYPE “N/A” IN THIS SECTION!
3.8: Only answer if you have children that share the same passport as yourself.
4.3: Each applicant must sign and date the form. Parents/legal guardians can sign for minors.
5.1-5.2: Please skip this section unless you are completing the form for an elderly person or minor that is not
capable of reading or writing yet.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If your passport is expired or due to expire, send it in for a renewal immediately because the
normal process takes between 4-6 weeks. If your tour is departing in less than 6 weeks, you must expedite the renewal. If
you do not have at least two full blank visa pages left, you must add pages immediately as the process can take up to 6
weeks. Old U.S. passports need a full blank page between pgs. 7-21. New U.S. passports need it between pgs. 8-24.
Keep in mind you still need time to obtain a visa to China, which takes 4 business days (if everything’s in order).
EXAMPLE OF PASSPORT SIZE PHOTO (color or black & white):
Your head does not have to be the exact measurement as you see in the sample. Just be sure your head doesn’t take up the
entire 2” x 2” space. Your neck and part of your shoulders should be in the picture as well. Please do not trim your
photo to fit the box on the visa form. The photo must measure 2” x 2” as shown in actual size below.
PLEASE SEND THE THREE ITEMS (PER PERSON) PLUS A COPY OF THIS NOTICE WITH YOUR FINAL
PAYMENT DIRECTLY TO OUR OFFICE AND NOT TO THE CHINESE CONSULATE! THE CONSULATE
DOES NOT ACCEPT APPLICATIONS THROUGH THE MAIL. THEY MUST BE APPLIED FOR IN PERSON.
If your passport(s) and documents cannot be sent with your final payment, please send them at your earliest convenience
but no later than 14 days prior to your departure date. It’s best to send your passports in a traceable delivery method such
as FedEx or UPS. However, do not use their ground services. Please use their 2-day service. If you only have access to
the post office, send it by USPS Express Mail. NEVER use regular, certified or registered mail. Passports have been lost
by using one of those methods. China Focus is NOT responsible for any passports lost during transit. Keep in mind that
once your visa has been obtained, the fee is non-refundable.
Please indicate how you would like to receive your passport(s) back about 14 days prior to your departure date:
OPTION 1: Please send my passport back by 2-day FedEx along with my final package approximately 14 days
prior to my departure date. I understand the package will require an adult signature if it’s sent to my residential
address. If I won’t be home or prefer for you to deliver it to an alternate address, I will provide the information
in the space provided below along with a daytime phone number and email address.
OPTION 2: Please process my visa upon receipt of this notice and send it back to me once the visa has been
obtained 4 business days later. I understand by selecting this option there is a $20 early-processing fee for
facilitating my passport earlier. I will include a $20 check with this notice.
Exact date you need your passport by:_________________. (So we can determine if expedited services are necessary).
FOR SFO DEPARTURES ONLY:
OPTION 3: I prefer to have China Focus’ representative hand deliver the passport to me on my day of departure.
I understand the representative will meet me at the Air China check-in counter at SFO airport.
OPTION 4: Please call me at (______) ______ - ________ when my passport is ready to be picked up along with
my final package. I understand I will not be contacted until about 14 days prior to my departure date.
Please use the space provided below to indicate any special instructions, alternate mailing addresses or email
address if you would like to receive a tracking number directly from FedEx once the package leaves our office:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
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LIST OF CHINESE CONSULATES LOCATED IN THE U.S.
List of All Chinese
Consulates & Embassy
Located in the U.S.
San Francisco Office
1450 Laguna Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
Los Angeles Office
500 Shatto Place, 3rd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90020
New York Office
520 12th Avenue
New York, NY 10036
Chicago Office
1 East Erie Street, Suite 500
Chicago, IL 60611
Houston Office
3417 Montrose Blvd.
Houston, TX 77006
Chinese Embassy
2201 Wisconsin Ave, NW #110
Washington, DC 20007
Resident of These States
Must Apply at the
Corresponding Office
Contact
Numbers
Office
Hours
AK, CA (Northern), OR,
NV, WA
Tel: (415) 852-5900*
Tel: (415) 852-5941
Fax: (415) 852-5940
Monday-Friday
9:00am-2:30pm
Tel: (213) 201-1765
Fax: (213) 807-8091
Monday-Friday
9:00am-2:00pm
Tel: (212) 244-9392
Tel: (212) 244-9456
Fax: (212) 465-1708
Monday-Friday
9:00am-2:30pm
Tel: (312) 453-0210
Fax: (312) 453-0211
Monday-Friday
9:00am-12:00pm
1:00pm-2:30pm
Tel: (713) 520-1462
Tel: (713) 521-7459*
Fax: (713) 521-3064
Monday-Friday
9:00am-11:30am
1:30pm-3:00pm
DC, DE, ID, KY, MD, MT, Tel: (202) 338-6688*
NC, ND, NE, SC, SD, TN, Tel: (202) 337-1956
UT, VA, WV, WY
Fax: (202) 588-9760
Monday-Friday
9:30am-12:30pm
1:30pm-3:00pm
AZ, CA (Southern), HI,
NM, Pacific Islands
CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ,
NY, OH, PA, RI, VT
CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI,
MN, MO, WI
AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS,
OK, TX, Puerto Rico (USA)
NOTE: Phone numbers with an asterisk (*) denotes it is an automated service.
If you live near a Chinese Consulate/Embassy and decide to obtain your own visa, please follow the China
Visa Application Procedures page very carefully. Also, instead of mailing the three items to our office, you
must drop them off in person (one person may represent your entire party) at the corresponding consulate
listed for your state during their normal business hours.
Effective as of May 1, 2003, all consulates no longer accept visa applications by postal mail due to security
purposes. And as of May 1, 2008, you are required to apply at the appropriate consulate listed for your state
(refer to above chart). For example, if you live in Florida, you must apply at the Houston office. But if you
send your documents to us, we can apply for your visa regardless of where you reside in the U.S.
If you are a non-U.S. resident/citizen, you must apply in your own country (i.e. Canada or Mexico). It is not
necessary to make an appointment or for each applicant to be present; therefore, one person can apply for the
entire party. You will be given a receipt which indicates when the passport(s) is ready for pick up (normally
within 4 business days).
You are not required to pay the visa fee until your second trip to pick up the passport(s). Be sure to verify that
the visa is issued in the correct name and number of entries before you leave the consulate. There have been
instances where customers had to pay for a new visa even though it was the consulate’s mistake. If you decide
to obtain your own visa after you have been billed the service fee, you must notify our office in writing in
order for us to adjust your invoice.
For questions, don’t hesitate to call us toll free at 1.800.868.7244, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm Pacific Time.
Or send us an email at: [email protected]. We look forward to serving you!
Send Passports To: China Focus Travel, 870 Market Street, Suite 1215, San Francisco, CA 94102-2907.