Embassy of China in USA
  Requirements for Chinese Visa Application
  Detail Procedure for Chinese Visa Application
  (How to Apply - Processing Time - Visa Fees - Visa Pick-up, etc)
  For Children Born in USA with Chinese Descent Going to China

 How to Apply
Submit Your Application
1. You may submit the application to the Visa Office of the Embassy or Consulate-General which holds consular jurisdiction over the state where you reside.
2. If you cannot come in person, you may entrust someone else or a travel/visa agent to drop off your application at the visa office of the Embassy or Consulate-General which holds consular jurisdiction over the state where you reside.
3. No appointment is required.
4. Mailed applications are not acceptable and will be returned.

 Processing Time
1. The regular processing time is 4 working days (e.g. submission on Monday, pick up on Thursday).
2. Express service: 2-3 working days processing, $20 will be charged per visa.
3. Same day rush service: additional fee of $30 for 1 working day processing (applications presented before 12:00am may be picked up between 2:30pm-3:00pm on the same day).

 Visa Fees
1. Please pay by Visa, MasterCard, Money Order, Cashier's Check or Company Check. Cash or Personal checks are not acceptable.
2. Please make the company check, cashier's check or money order payable to Chinese Embassy.

Entry & Validity of Visa	American Citizens	Citizens of Other Countries
Single Entry for 3 Months	USD 140	USD 30
Double Entry for 6 Months	USD 140	USD 45
Multiple Entries for 6 Months	USD 140	USD 60
Multiple Entries for 1 Year or 2 Year	USD 140	USD 90
Group Visa	USD 120	N/A

* Visa fees for some countries may differ from that listed above due to reciprocity, and will be charged accordingly by Chinese Embassy.

  Visa Pick-up
1. On or after the pick-up date specified in the receipt, applicants can pay and pick up their visas themselves or by entrusted persons, travel agencies with the receipt. Please check your visa information carefully in the embassy, and contact the visa officer if there were any problem.
2. As of February 1st, 2010, the Visa Office of the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC will no longer provide mail back service. If anyone asks for mail back service, please contact travel agencies.

 How to Identify if an Issued Chinese Visa is still Valid?
Please check carefully if the validity, number of entries and duration of stay on the obtained visa could still meet the need for the trip.

1. Validity (enter before) of a visa is the length of period that the visa is good for, namely from the issuing date to the deadline of entering China for the bearer of the visa. Given the number of entries are sufficient, the bearer is able to enter China at anytime before 12:00am on the expiring date.

A visa becomes void once its period of validity expires regardless of whether its entries are used up or not. The visa holder should apply for a new visa if he or she intends to visit China again. 

2. Entries is the number permitted to enter China during the validity of a visa. A visa becomes invalid if there is no more valid number of entries left. To use such a visa will lead to decline of entry. 

3. Duration of each stay refers to the longest period of time the bearer of a visa is permitted to stay in China from the date of entry into China on each visit. 

Under Chinese law, a foreign national who overstays his or her visa in China is subject to fine and other penalties. If it's necessary to stay in China longer than the duration of stay on the visa, approval must be obtained from a local public security authority above county level 30 days before the duration of stay is running out. The bearer is permitted to stay in China once the application is approved.