How to: China Travel Visa, Tourist (L) Visa Application (Shanghai)

Welcome to Travel+Experiment! 

On my first time traveling to China, I experienced going to Shanghai during the winter time. Please ensure that proper winter gears are with you due to severe cold weather. I was ill equipped to handle the cold weather especially around my head, ear and nose. The frigid temperature caused my ears to be frozen. I would highly recommend wearing baklava when it is appropriate around the city. Expenditure can be minimized by bringing you handy snacks and water.

Steps in obtaining proper clearance for visa requirement as a tourist can be attainable in short amount of time if you are financially capable as it needs security deposit in your bank account and proof of employment. Going to the country must be planned and don’t forget to do research about the country’s rich culture, weather and beautiful tourist destinations.

Below are the things I have learned when I was applying and have jotted for notes. Hope this information helps. 

The tourist (L) and transit (G) visas are the only ones that you can apply for without assistance from a business, government or academic institution. L Visa - Foreigners who intend to go to China as a tourist.

Most visitors to China such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenyang, Dalian, Xian, Guilin, Kunming and Hangzhou will only require a tourist L which will allow them to travel freely in most parts of China as tourists. If your situation is not described by one of the other visa types, then this should be the one you need. 

For visit to Hong Kong SAR or Macao SAR, citizens from some countries/territories are exempted from visas for short term visit. Otherwise an entry visa must be obtained as required by the Government of HKSAR or Macao SAR. Visa applications must be made separately if the traveler wishes visit both HKSAR/Macao SAR and mainland China.

Application Procedure (as cited in China Embassy, 2015)

You can come to the Chinese Embassies, Consulates and other Chinese diplomatic missions to submit application in person; if you can't come personally, you can entrust someone else, a travel agency or a visa agency to act on your behalf. No appointment is required. Applications by mailing are not acceptable and will be refused at most of Chinese embassies or consulates.

• Original signed passport with at least six months of remaining validity and blank visa pages, and a copy of the passport's data page and the photo page if it is separate.
• Visa Application Form and Photo

Source Link:  http://www.china-embassy.org/chn/lszj/bgxz/P020130830121570742708.pdf 

• One truly completed Visa Application Form. Please fill in every column of the application form, using "N/A" if not applicable. If the application form is not filled out truly, completely and legibly, this can cause a delay in processing or refusal of the application. One completed Visa Application Form with a recently-taken color passport photo (bare-head, full face) against a light background attached on the application form. 
• Proof of legal stay or residence status (applicable to non-U.S. citizens). You must provide the original and photocopy of your valid certificates or visa of stay, residence, employment or student status, or other valid certificates of legal staying provided by the relevant authorities of the country where you are currently staying.
• Photocopy of previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas (applicable to foreign citizens who Chinese citizens and have obtained foreign citizenship). If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you should provide your previous Chinese passport held and a photocopy of its data page. If you have obtained Chinese visas before and want to apply for a Chinese visa with a renewed foreign passport that does not contain any Chinese visa, you should present the photocopy of the previous passport's data page and the photo page if it is separate, as well as the previous Chinese visa page. (If your name on the current passport differs from that on the previous one, you must provide an official document of name change.)
• Documents showing the itinerary including round trip air ticket booking record and proof of hotel reservation, etc. or Invitation letter issued by a relevant entity or individual in China, with following information

1.     Information on the applicant (full name, gender, date of birth, etc.) 

2.     Information on the planned visit (arrival and departure dates, place(s) of visit, etc.) 

3.     You need to have a print out of the hotel/s where you are going to stay for a few days while in China. This will serve as a proof that you'll be there as a tourist and that you'll not be overstaying.

4.     Information on the inviting entity or individual (name, contact number, address, official stamp, signature of the legal representative of the entity or the inviting individual). 

5.     You need also to have a print out of your plane tickets. This will serve as a proof also that you'll be coming back as scheduled and that your purpose will be a plain visit of the country as a plain tourist only    

• Please submit your application to Chinese Embassy/ Consulate General based on your State of residence (You may visit the Visa Office that serves your state). You may submit your application in person, or use an agent (Power of Attorney not necessary). Please note that you may be required to come to the Visa Office in person to have an interview as deemed necessary by a consular officer.
• Please note that you need to be early to visit the Chinese Embassy especially in Makati Philippines office. This is to avoid long lines and to process and finish the visa application as early as possible.
• Appointment is NOT required for submission or collection of your visa. Walk-in service is available during office hours.
• Please note that NO mail-in/online/fax applications are accepted.
• Please note that the embassy requires you to have a minimum deposit of 50,000 pesos in your bank account to guarantee that you can support on your own when you get to the China mainland. You may ask the certificate of deposit document with the amount to your own branch bank.
• You or your agent will be able to pick up your passport with visa on the date printed on your Pick-up slip, unless otherwise notified by the Visa Office.  Mail-back visa service is NOT provided.
• You must pay the visa fee once your application is processed and approved.
• If the applicant is a child born in the U. S. to a Chinese parent, the visa requirements are different.

Child born in the U. S. to a Chinese Parent

According to the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China, any person born abroad whose parents are both Chinese nationals and one of whose parents is a Chinese national shall have Chinese nationality. The child will be eligible for a Chinese Travel Document.

The Law also provides that a person whose parents are both Chinese nationals and have both settled abroad (obtained U.S Green Card), or one of whose parents is a Chinese national and has settled abroad (obtained U.S Green Card), and who has acquired foreign nationality at birth shall not have Chinese nationality. The child will be eligible for a Chinese visa. 

Below are the documents required for visa applications:

·         Passport

·         Visa Application Form and Photo

http://www.china-embassy.org/chn/lszj/bgxz/P020130830121570742708.pdf  

One completed Visa Application Form with a recently-taken color passport photo (bare-head, full face) against a light background attached. The form need to be signed by one of the parents.

• Child's Birth Certificate. Original unabridged birth certificate of the child and a copy of the certificate.
• Identity Certification of Parents. Original and a copy of both parents' passports and proof of parents' immigration status in the U.S. (i.e. Green Card).
• Supporting documents pertaining to the visit to China, ex. Invitation letter. (Click to check documents required for each visa category)
• Other documents as required by the consular officer
• If the child never gets a Chinese visa after birth, all documents listed above from 1 to 6 are required. If the child has previously been issued a Chinese visa, document #3 &#4 can be waived, but a copy of the previous Chinese visa is required.

NOTE:

• Normally the child is not required to come to the Visa Office in person and the application can be submitted by the parent(s) or an agent. Please submit the application to Chinese Embassy/Consulate General based on the child's State of residence (Click to check where to submit your application)
• Parents of the child should guarantee that all information provided in the application is true and correct. Any false, misleading or incomplete information may result in denial of the visa or refusal of entry into China.
• An applicant may be required to submit an original invitation, provide other supporting documents, or schedule an interview with the consular officer.
• The consular officer will make decisions on whether or not to grant a visa and allowed validity, duration of stay and number of entries based on individual application.

Fees, Processing Time & Payments

Processing Time

Regular service: 4 business days

Express service: 2-3 business days

Rush service: 1 business day. Available only in extreme emergencies and subject to approval by the consular officer.

Note:

• The above processing time is average and for reference only. Some applications may require longer processing time that a pick-up date cannot be confirmed until notified by the Visa Office
• Processing time for visa to HKSAR or Macao SAR visa does not apply

Fees:

• Regular Service

Number of Entry	U.S. Citizen	Non-U.S. Citizen*
Single Entry	$140	$30
Double Entries	$140	$45
Multiple Entries for 6 Months	$140	$60
Multiple Entries for 12 Months or more	$140	$90

*Visa fee for certain non-U.S. citizens may vary from the list above based on reciprocal agreements. Please check with a Visa Office for special fees.

·         Express service:  an additional fee of $20 per visa

·         Rush service: an additional fee of $30 per visa

Methods of Payment

·         You must pay your visa fee upon collection of your visa. (Some HKSAR or Macao SAR visa applicants need to pay a Communication fee prior to submission.)

·         Acceptable methods of payment are:  credit card (Visa or MasterCard only), money order, cashier's check or company check

·         Please make your check or money order payable to "Chinese Embassy" (for applications submitted to the Embassy), or to "Chinese Consulate in XXX"(for applications submitted to the      Consulate General in XXX city)

·         Please make sure you have the exact and correct amount written on your check/money order. No erroneous check will be accepted

·         Cash, personal check or online payment is NOT accepted. NO credit card other than a Visa or MasterCard is accepted

NOTE:

• In accordance with a 2014 China-U.S.  visa arrangement, U.S. citizens may be eligible for  10-year multiple entry visa. The remaining validity of the U.S. passport must be over 12 months
• The applicant should guarantee that all information provided in the application is true and correct. Any false, misleading or incomplete information may result in denial of the visa or refusal of entry into China
• The Visa Notification Letter and the official media letter may be in the form of fax, photocopy or computer printout. An applicant may be required to submit an original invitation, provide other supporting documents, or schedule an interview with the consular officer
• The consular officer will make decisions on whether or not to grant a visa and allowed validity, duration of stay and number of entries based on individual application.

Glossary

What is a Chinese Visa?

A visa is a travel document issued by authorized government agencies to foreign citizens applying to enter, exit from or transit through the host country's territory based on the host country's laws and regulations. In accordance with international law and practice, any sovereign state is entitled to determine whether or not to allow a foreign citizen to enter or exit from its territory, and whether to issue a visa, decline a visa application or to cancel an issued visa in accordance with its national laws.

Visa Types, Validity, Number of Entries and Duration of Stay

Chinese visas fall into four types: diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, service visa and ordinary visa. Ordinary visas are further divided into 12 sub-types or 16 categories. 

Visa Category	Eligible Applicants
C	Foreign crew members of means of international transportation, including aircraft, trains and ships, or motor vehicle drivers engaged in cross-border transport activities, or to the accompanying family members of the crew members of the above-mentioned ships.
D	Foreigners who intend to reside in China permanently.
F	Foreigners who intend to go to China for exchanges, visits, study tours and other non-business activities.
G	Foreigners who intend to transit through China.
J1	Resident foreign journalists of foreign news organizations stationed in China. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days.
J2	Foreign journalists who intend to go to China for short-term news coverage. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days.
L	Foreigners who intend to go to China as a tourist.
M	Foreigners who intend to go to China for commercial and trade activities.
Q1	Foreigners who are family members* of Chinese citizens or of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence and intend to go to China for family reunion, or to those who intend to go to China for the purpose of foster care. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days.
Q2	Foreigners who intend to visit their relatives who are Chinese citizens residing in China or foreigners with permanent residence in China. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days.
R	Foreigners who are high-level talents or whose skills are urgently needed in China.
S1	Foreigners who intend to go to China to visit the foreigners working or studying in China to whom they are spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents-in-law, or to those who intend to go to China for other private affairs. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days.
S2	Foreigners who intend to visit their family members* who are foreigners working or studying in   China, or to those who intend to go to China for other private matters.The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days.
X1	Foreigners who intend to study in China for a period of more than 180 days.
X2	Foreigners who intend to study in China for a period of no more than 180 days.
Z	Foreigners who intend to work in China.

* Family members refer to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law. 

Visa Validity ("Enter Before") means that the visa is valid, or can be used for entry into China from the date of issue to the "Enter Before" date indicated on the visa (Beijing Time). If a visa has unused entries, the bearer can enter China before 24:00 (Beijing Time) on the expiration date.

"Entries" refers to the number of times the bearer is permitted to enter China during the validity of a visa. A visa becomes invalid if there are no entries left, or there are entries left but the visa validity expires. If a visa becomes invalid, its bearer must apply for a new visa before entering China. Traveling with an invalid visa to China will result in refusal of entry.

"Duration of Each Stay" refers to the maximum number of days the visa bearer is permitted to stay in China each time, which is calculated from the date of entry into China.

Residence Permit: A holder of category D, J1, Q1, S1, X1 or Z visa must apply for a residence permit at the local public security authorities within 30 days of entry into China unless the Duration of Each Stay on the visa is marked as 30 days. Members of foreign diplomatic or consular missions in China must apply for a residence permit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or local foreign affairs departments within 30 days of entry into China.

 Philippines Contact Address:

Makati Philippines Office Address:

2nd Floor, the World Center,

330 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue,

Makati City, Metro Manila

Visa Office Hours:

09:00 am to 11:00 am Monday to Friday

Contact their office for Inquiries:

Inquiry: 0063-2-8482395 (Work Day 09:00 AM -11:00 AM, 2:00 PM -04:00 PM )

Fax: 063-2-8482386

Happy Travels!

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