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China Tourist Visa – How to Apply for a Tourist Visa to China

A China tourist visa is required of all U.S. citizens who would like to do tourism on the mainland. While the Chinese consular services offers several differnt types of visas, this article will provide information on how to apply for a China tourist visa.

The Chinese embassy and consulates no longer accept visa applications by mail. You can submit the application yourself or get someone you know to do it for you. This can be a friend, relative, travel agent or visa expediter.

China visas have validities of 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. You can ask for a single, double or multiple entry visa. You will have to obtain a special travel permit to get into a non-open city. This can be obtained at the local public security bureau in China.

The China Tourist Visa

A China tourist visa, also known as an L visa, is usually valid for 30 days from the day of entry. When you arrive your travel documents will be looked at by an inspection agent. If everything is correct, they will be stamped with an entry seal. Request for an extention can be made while in China at the local public security bureau.

A tourist visa limits your activity while in China to tourism and visits with family or friends. You need to request a Foreign Travel Permit at the local public security office if you would like to enter a restricted area.

Chinese Visa Requirements

The following items are required in order to obtain a tourist visa to China.

Declaration Form

All travelers who apply for a China visa are required to also complete the Declaration Form. The form includes space for name, nationality, passport number and a list of countries or U.S. states you have been to during the two weeks prior to submitting the form.

Your Current US Passport

You have to send in your valid U.S. passport together with the tourist visa application. Your passport must have 6 months validity beyond the date you plan to arrive in China. Also, you should make sure you have at least one blank visa page in your passport.

One Recent Photograph

The photo has to be 2×2 inches in size. To avoid problems you should get your photograph at a place that has experience with this type of photo. The photo will only be accepted by the consulate if it is high resolution, clear, and provides proper contrast with white background.

Completed Chinese Visa Application

The China visa application has seven sections. The first section is for personal information such as name, sex, nationality, date of birth, passport number, occupation, etc. The second section is where you provide information about your trip to China. This includes the purpose of your trip, intended number of entries, date of entry and length of stay.

Questions about your health and prior travel are found in Section 3. You need to include information about previous trips to China. Section 4 is reserved for contact information including home address, work or school address, address of your contact in China, phone numbers and email.

Additional declarations about your travel plans are made in the fifth section. If someone other than the applicant completed the form, the sixth section is used to provide information about that person. You sign the application in seventh section.

How to Get Your China Tourist Visa Quickly

Regular processing of your visa to China can take 4 business days or more. If you are in a rush to get your visa, you can request express or same day rush service. Express processing takes 2 to 3 business days. It only takes one business day for rush processing. There are additional fees for expedited service.

If you are unable to travel to the nearest Chinese embassy or consulate general and do not have a friend or relative who can do it for you, then you will need to contract a private visa expediter. An expediter can submit your visa application and documents to the consulate for you. This allows you to get your China visa expedited as quickly as the same day.

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