When spending more than 72 hours in China, American citizens are required to get a visa. Unlike countries like Egypt and Indonesia, you will need to get this visa ahead of time. This article will detail how to get a Chinese Visa for US citizens, specifically at the Los Angeles consulate, but the process is similar to that of other consulates in the United States.
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What Kind of Visas for China are There?
As a United States citizen, in order to go to mainland China as a tourist, you MUST have a visa. It can be quite a time consuming process to get a Chinese Visa, but it is not difficult to do on your own, if you are willing to spend the time. There are multiple types of visas that you can get. Most people get a tourist or and L-Visa. This is the most common one to get and it is good for a single entry to China.
Alternatively you can get:
- A double entry
- Multiple Entry for 6 months
- Multiple Entry for 12 months
- 10 year visa
If possible, I would recommend getting a multiple entry visa that is valid for 10 years. This is also a tourist visa and can be a little bit harder to get. I just wrote that I wanted a 10-year visa on my application and that is the one they gave me.
All the visas cost the same for US citizens ($140), so you may as well get the max you can for your money. You never know when you might go back! If you want express service, add $25.
When Should I Get My Visa?
Visitors should start working on the process to get a Chinese Visa as soon as they have all flights and hotels booked. The process can take a little bit of time, and you do not want to be stuck without one. Normal processing time is about a four-day turnaround. For example, if you go on Monday, your visa should be ready by Thursday. The extra $25 makes it a three-day turnaround time. There is also an option to have it expedited 1 or 2 days, but you need to have a reason for that.
Using a Visa Company
If you do not want to deal with the hassle of going to a consulate and through this process to get a China visa, then I recommend buying one through iVisa. While this is a more expensive way to get your visit, it will be one less thing you have to worry about. If you are close to a Chinese consulate and don’t mind spending a few hours, it is well worth it to get it yourself. I found it to be a quite easy process.
If you are visiting China through a tour group, they may also help you get a Chinese Visa.
Find a Consulate
The United States has 5 consulates throughout the United States. You must go to one of these if you want to get a Chinese Visa on your own, which is usually the cheapest way possible if you live nearby. These are located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, and New York. You can also get a visa at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC.
What to Take With You
- Your passport (must be valid for at least 6 months of travel date)
- A passport photo for the visa
- Visa Application
- Copy of the picture page of your passport
- An invitation letter or proof of roundtrip airfare/hotel reservations (this is not always required anymore, but I would have it just in case).
The visa application form can be found online and then printed out to bring with you. Make sure you have all the necessary items or you will not be able to get a visa.
Visa Application Process
Once you arrive at the Chinese consulate or embassy near you, the process to get a Chinese Visa requires a lot of waiting. I suggest that you get there as early as possible to their opening time to ensure you can get into the office to get the paperwork done. If you arrive too late, you may have to come back another day. Plan to spend a couple of hours there.
At the Los Angeles consulate, you will be given a number. Once your number is called, you give all of your items to the worker, and they will give you a receipt to come back and pick up your passport with a visa in it.
How to Pay for My Chinese Visa
You can pay for the visa with credit card or cash. I suggest a credit card so you can get some points for the purchase!
Picking Up Your Chinese Visa
The process to pick up your China visa is a lot quicker and easier. When you go pick up your visa, there is a separate line to stand in. There is no need to grab a number. Once you get to the window, hand the worker your receipt. After that, pay for the visa(s). They will then hand you your passports with a visa!
Other Helpful Sites to Get A Chinese Visa
What to Do in China
Not sure where to go or what to do in China? You will want to spend at least a week in Beijing and some time in Shanghai. Chengdu is where all the pandas live, so you may want to visit there. Note that to visit Hong Kong or Macau, you do not need to get a Chinese visa to visit!
1 thought on “How to Get a Chinese Visa: The Best Guide for a US Citizen”
Very helpful tips on how to obtain a Chinese visa for first timers. I too find it very difficult and therefore hired an agent for it. I wish, I have read your post earlier.