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Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid in Completing a Chinese Visa Application Form

Mistakes on China Visa Application Forms, whether serious or minor, can cause your visa to be rejected or delayed. Here we list the top 10 mistakes to avoid when completing a Chinese visa application form.
 

1. Submitting An Outdated Application Form

Generally, all applicants should fill in the application form on the China Online Visa Application System, print it out and sign it. You can also find it on the official website of the Chinese embassy / consulate or Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC). The previous versions of China Visa Application Forms are not accepted any more. 
 

2. Handwriting Your Application Form

A handwritten Chinese visa application form is no longer accepted. You have to fill it online as mentioned above. If you find any mistakes in your form after it is printed, you have to start a new form with personal information based on previously completed applications on the computer and make a new printout. Correction by pen is not allowed. Therefore, it is necessary to check carefully before printing.
 

3. Taking Your Own Passport Photo

A home-made passport photo does not meet the requirements of the Chinese visa consular offices, which may lead to the denial of your China visa. Therefore, it is best to have the photo taken at a professional photoshop.
 

4. Provide Wrong or Indefinite Information

Make sure all the information you provide on the application form is correct and clear. If there is any wrong or indefinite information, your visa might be turned down.
 

5. Forgetting to Sign Your Name and Date

As mentioned above, the form must be completed on a computer except that you should sign your name and date by pen. After printing out your form, remember to sign your name and date. Note that you are supposed to sign the application form by yourself, even if the form is completed by an agent or someone else. For minor children, their parents can sign on their behalf.
 

6. Using Acronyms or Abbreviations in the Employer Name Section

Avoid using acronyms or abbreviations for the company you are working for when filling out Section 3.3B Name of employer. It makes it difficult for the consular officers to figure out who your employer is.
 

7. Using a PO Box Address in the Home Address Section

In Section 5.1 Current residence address, you need to provide a physical street address for your home rather than a PO Box address because it's not required for mailing purposes.
 

8. Selecting a Travel Purpose That Doesn't Match Supporting Documents

Different visa types are available for different travel purposes and each visa type has its own set of supporting application documents. If you tick "(L)Tourism" for purpose in Section 2.1A, then you need to submit your travel itinerary, hotel and flight bookings, or an invitation letter from China, etc. If you tick "(Z)Work" for purpose, you need to provide a work permit issued from China. The documents for a tourist visa won't work in this situation.
 

9. Demanding an Inappropriate Number of Entries and Duration of Stay

For first-time tourist visa applicants, we do not recommend applying for multiple entries and duration of stay longer than 30 days. Otherwise, the visa might be turned down. Applicants who travel abroad often and have a good travel history in China have a better chance of approval for multiple entries and long stay duration. However, this is not an absolute because there are always unexpected outcomes.
 

10. Making Your Travel Itinerary Too Brief

When filling out Section 6.1, your Itinerary in China, please provide detailed addresses of your hotels or apartments. It's not enough to list only hotel names and city names. Also, do not skip any days in the travel itinerary, otherwise the consular officers may doubt what you will do during these days and question your intention for skipping it.

- Last updated on Jul. 08, 2024 by Brenda Lian -
Questions & Answers on Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid in Completing a Chinese Visa Application Form
Asked by JJE from USA | Jul. 07, 2024 17:41Reply
TRAVELING WITH MY DAUGHTER
My daughter is being posted with the State Department and I want to travel over with her to help her get settled. Am I a tourist then book hotels and cancel them after getting the visa or am I a "Relative visiting member of diplomatic missions, consular posts or international organizations for a short visit"? (That is D under Member of diplomatic missions, consular posts and international organizations and their accompanying family members)
Answers (1)
Answered by Emily | Jul. 08, 2024 23:22
00Reply


Sorry I'm not sure about it as your case is special, and it's advised to consult the consular office. But it's much easier to apply for a tourist visa.
Asked by Nancy Soule from USA | Jun. 17, 2024 08:08Reply
Cruise traveler
I will be in Shanghai 4 times over the course of 1 month as a cruise passenger. Do I apply for multiple access? I will not stay, but merely visit tourist destinations on separate single days. As a single traveler from the US, which is appropriate?
Answers (1)
Answered by Keith | Jun. 17, 2024 19:02
00Reply


If you leave for another country from Shanghai, then you are covered by the 24-hour visa-free transit or 144-hour visa-free transit. And if you join a tour organized by a China travel agency to travel around in Shanghai, then you can stay in Shanghai for 15 days in total without visa.
Asked by Stephanie from USA | Jun. 13, 2024 21:00Reply
I made a mistake in the type of the passport I have. How do I correct it after the submission?
I elected "official" instead of "ordinary" passport not knowing exactly what they mean in my online application.
Answers (2)
Answered by Joshua | Jun. 16, 2024 18:52
00Reply


You have submitted to the Embassy? I think you have to contact the consular office to tell the mistake to see if there is any solution and I'm afraid you have to prepare the application again.
Answered by Stephanie | Jun. 19, 2024 10:16
00Reply


Yes, the answer was to re-submit the application.
Asked by lorirogers from UNITED STATES | Jun. 03, 2024 20:20Reply
Do you have person(s) (meaning person(s) using the same passport as yours)? What does this mean?
How can someone have the same passport as yours? I'm getting a work visa (Z) and my husband is traveling with me, but he has his own passport. Do I add him on the Information About Your Intended Trip part?
Answers (1)
Answered by Keith | Jun. 04, 2024 18:41
00Reply


He can apply for a S visa as a spouse of a foreign worker in China. You two can submit the applications and and get your visas at the same time, so as to fly to China together.
Asked by Will McArthur from UNITED KINGDOM | May. 13, 2024 05:06Reply
children not travelling must I still add their details?
Answers (2)
Answered by Lori | May. 13, 2024 23:02
00Reply


Yes. Information about your family members is required.
Answered by WILL | May. 15, 2024 03:52
00Reply


THANK YOU
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