1. Q: Where is your office?
A: Our office is at the cross of Geary Blvd. and Laguna Street in San Francisco(Map). The mailing address is: 1450 Laguna Street, San Francisco, CA94115
2. Q: What are your office hours?
A: The visa office is open 9am-12pm, 1pm--3pm, Monday through Friday, except on holidays.
1. Q: I have submitted my application for Chinese visa and get the visa approved. But I now decide to cancel the trip to China. Do I still need to pay for the unused visa?
A: Yes, you need to pay once your visa is approved. No refund is possible even if the visa is not used.
2. Q: Is there a list of travel agencies or visa service companies certified by the Chinese Consulate General to handle visa applications?
A: NO. You can submit your application through any travel agency or visa service company you trust. However, no visa application can be dropped off by courier service.
3. Q: Is appointment required for visa application?
A: NO.
4. Q: Where can I find the information on travel agencies or visa service companies who can help me in applying my Chinese visa?
A: The Chinese Consulate General suggests that you could search the yellow page online at http://yp.yahoo.com/ for the information on travel agencies or visa service companies operating in San Francisco. Or you may use any popular search engines to search for companies providing service in this area.
5. Q: We have a group of people to travel together. Can we just ask one of them to submit the visa applications for the whole group?
A: Yes. However, make sure that each applicant fills out and signs the application form by himself/herself.
6. Q: Is a written authorization required of a friend, relative, travel agency or visa service company for them to submit visa application for the applicant?
A: NO. No written authorization is required. However, the application form must be filled out and signed by the applicant himself/herself...
1. Q: To apply for a Chinese visa, do I need to drop off my application in person?
A: No, you don't. Instead, you may ask your family or a travel agency to do that for you.
2. Q: Do I have to make an appointment before I come?
A: No.
3. Q: Information on your web site indicates a Chinese visa normally permits the holder to stay in China for 30 days. What if I have to stay in China for over 30 days?
A: If you do need to stay in China for over 30 days, please specify that in your application form. But it is up to the consul to decide how many days you may have. And once you are in China, you may go to the local public security bureau for visa extension.
4. Q: What is the validity of a Chinese visa? What is its connection with my duration of stay in China?
A: A Chinese visa is usually valid for 3 months with 30 days of duration of stay. It means that you may enter China on any day within 3 months and continue to stay for another 30 days.
5. Q: If I am planning a trip to China, what is your suggestion about the best timing for me to drop off my application for a Chinese visa and book the plane ticket?
A: We suggest you drop off your application 1 month before your departure and book your plane ticket after your visa is approved.
1. Q: My passport has expired several days ago, what should I do with it?
A: You are supposed to come to this office to apply for a new passport.
2. Q: Do I have to come in person if I want to apply for a new passport?
A: Yes, for the consul needs to have an interview with you.
3. Q: Do I have to make an appointment before I come?
A: No.
4. Q: I have lost my passport long time ago; can I use my American Re-entry Permit to go back to China?
A: It depends. If your American Re-entry Permit specifies your country as "China", you need to apply for a new Chinese passport before you go back to China. Otherwise you may use your Re-entry Permit to apply for a Chinese visa.
5. Q: Both my wife and I are Chinese and we have a son born in America. The first time he went to China, your office issued him a Chinese travel permit. Why is it that the second time you insisting on issuing him a Chinese visa?
A: According to the relevant regulations, if a child is born in America and his/her parents are Chinese, but none of its parents holds a U.S. Green Card, this child is a Chinese and should apply for a Chinese travel permit. Otherwise, if one of its parents holds an U.S. Green Card, he is regarded as an American and should apply for a Chinese visa.
6. Q: What if I lost my passport?
A: Passport is a very important document that verifies your identity and nationality when you travel or live abroad. So, you are advised to have it well kept all the time. But, once you lost it, you are advised to notify this office as soon as possible. To apply for a new one, please read the information in Chinese Version carefully.
1. Q: My father is incapable of the long journey to your office, but he really needs a Certificate of Survival, how can we do that?
A: You can have the application form notarized by a local notary public and then mail it to this office. Before you do that, please read Mail Service carefully.
2. Q: Do I have to make an appointment before I come?
A: No.
3. Q: I'm a Chinese citizen and want to have my cousin take care of my property in mainland of China. How can I do that?
A: You can either come to this office in person and do a Power of Attorney or have your Power of Attorney legalized by the Secretary of State and then have it authenticated by this office. For detailed information, please refer to Notarization and Authentication in Chinese Version.
1. Q: What is mail service fee? Does it include the postage for the return envelope?
A: If you mail your application here, we'll charge $5.00 for each package which doesn't include the postage for the return envelope.
2. Q: I have 4 business documents need to be authenticated and want to mail them in one envelope to your office, do I have to enclose $5.00 for each application?
A: No. We charge $5.00 for each package. For example, authentication fee is $40.00, 4 applications will be $160.00, plus $5.00 for the mail service fee, and totally you need to enclose $165.00.
3. Q: A week ago I mailed my application to your office for a Chinese visa, but the whole package was returned without the visa. Why is that?
A: Sorry, we do not accept mail-in visa applications. Please come in person or use any visa service to help submit your visa application. All mail-in visa application shall be returned immediately without processing.
4. Q: Can I use a certified mail to send my application to your office?
A: Yes, sure. The only thing we suggest is about the return envelope which should be Express Mail, Priority Mail, FedEx Mail, DHL Mail, UPS Mail or Airborne Mail.
5. Q: My passport has expired recently. Can I mail it to you for replacement?
A: No. You are supposed to come here in person, for the consul needs to have an interview with you.
6. Q: I am wondering about the status of my application, can I call you and check it out?
A: Yes, only if it has been 15 days since you mailed out your application.