Chinese Visa - How to Obtain?

[turtile]

I'm heading to China and I still need a tourist Visa. However, I can't seem to get a hold of my local embassy. The website seems to be worded strangely so I'm not sure what I need exactly. It says I need reservations etc. but a lot of those are up in the air since we are traveling to the middle of nowhere.

Has anyone gotten a Chinese Tourist Visa in the US and what did you need?

 

[Ns1]

this link will help

 

[SSSnail]

Just pay one of those agencies to do it for you, believe me when I say it's well worth your time.

 

[Stopsignhank]

http://cibtvisas.com/ is who we use at work. It may cost more, but they have never failed us. Even when we needed a visa in a hurry.

 

[Ns1]

http://cibtvisas.com/ is who we use at work. It may cost more, but they have never failed us. Even when we needed a visa in a hurry.

+1

 

[Anubis]

http://cibtvisas.com/ is who we use at work. It may cost more, but they have never failed us. Even when we needed a visa in a hurry.

came to post this

i have one through work, its good for 10 years

 

[turtile]

http://cibtvisas.com/ is who we use at work. It may cost more, but they have never failed us. Even when we needed a visa in a hurry.

Just viewing their website helped a lot! It says "or" between all the documents instead of just a bulleted list.

How much did they end up charging any of you for the work to obtain the Visa?

Thanks for all of your help!

 

[Ns1]

Just viewing their website helped a lot! It says "or" between all the documents instead of just a bulleted list.

How much did they end up charging any of you for the work to obtain the Visa?

Thanks for all of your help!

2012 pricing

CIBT Service Fees:
The following prices are for CIBT’s professional services per visa or passport request. Service fees are charged
per item. Final cost is determined by the number of business days allowed for processing and the services
required to complete your order. Additional charges will apply for same day processing. Please go to
http://cibtvisas.com/service-fees.php to see fees that may apply to your process.
l Standard Service (8 or more days) $99.00

Consular Fees:
In addition to CIBT's service fees, consular processing fees are included in the cost of your visa application.
CIBT submits payment for your application to the appropriate consulate on your behalf.A 4.9% processing fee
is assessed on consular fees when they are paid by CIBT. The fees for consular processing services are as
follows:
l Multiple Entries, Valid for 5 Years (10 Business Days) $256.00

 

[SSSnail]

You can also tack on expedited service fees if you need your Visa in say, 2 business days.

Don't remember how much I paid, been a while, but with all the damn fees it was close to $400 (expense, of course).

 

[turtile]

2012 pricing

CIBT Service Fees:
The following prices are for CIBT’s professional services per visa or passport request. Service fees are charged
per item. Final cost is determined by the number of business days allowed for processing and the services
required to complete your order. Additional charges will apply for same day processing. Please go to
http://cibtvisas.com/service-fees.php to see fees that may apply to your process.
l Standard Service (8 or more days) $99.00

Consular Fees:
In addition to CIBT's service fees, consular processing fees are included in the cost of your visa application.
CIBT submits payment for your application to the appropriate consulate on your behalf.A 4.9% processing fee
is assessed on consular fees when they are paid by CIBT. The fees for consular processing services are as
follows:
l Multiple Entries, Valid for 5 Years (10 Business Days) $256.00

The standard fee doesn't include everything...

I wouldn't ask for help if I had a clear idea from the information available to me.

 

[Imp]

Do you need one for Hong Kong? I heard no... which would mean that if I went to Asia, I'd skip the mainland.

 

[turtile]

You can also tack on expedited service fees if you need your Visa in say, 2 business days.

Don't remember how much I paid, been a while, but with all the damn fees it was close to $400 (expense, of course).

In that case, I will try it on my own first since I have time and use the service if that fails. The visa fee is $140 by itself.

 

[Ns1]

The standard fee doesn't include everything...

I wouldn't ask for help if I had a clear idea from the information available to me.

that's from the application packet to me, which I filled out and sent back to CIBT. I presumed that's what they charged my company.

 

[Anubis]

Do you need one for Hong Kong? I heard no... which would mean that if I went to Asia, I'd skip the mainland.

i was in china in the fall and went to HK we did not need a separate Vias, all you need is a US passport and you are good, unless you plan on staying for 3 months

http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/mobile/acs_hkvisa.html

U.S. Citizens visiting Hong Kong for not more than three months/90 days are not required to obtain visas

 

[Anubis]

Just viewing their website helped a lot! It says "or" between all the documents instead of just a bulleted list.

How much did they end up charging any of you for the work to obtain the Visa?

Thanks for all of your help!

pretty sure it was 300$ ish, but im pretty sure we get a discount cause we send a ton of people
its in an expense report someplace i could look it up if really needed

 

[turtile]

Thanks, hopefully a tourist visa is less work than a business visa!

 

[Anubis]

I looked it up

was 352.50 for me through work

 

[cyclistca]

I'm Canadian but I expect the situation is the same. I got my visa through a service. Apparently getting one in person is a slow painful process with all kinds of hoops to jump through. Well worth the price I paid.

 

[Svnla]

When I visited several ASEAN nations, I used a travel agency which I know the owner well and they did the visa thing for me.

I love the way Australia did the visa thing (if you are a US citizen). You apply online, pay about $20 AUD online, and the visa would be granted via electronic form with your US passport. So easy and fast.

 

[Michael]

Agency. When I need to renew my China visa, I try and do it when I am visiting Hong Kong. They can turn it the next day there.

Michael