To obtain the correct visa, evaluate your intended trip. If you plan on visiting China for less than two months, then consider obtaining a tourist visa. If you will enroll in a (summer, undergraduate, graduate) school in China, then the student visa is appropriate. Businesses that want to explore various opportunities, such as to establish a manufacturing location or a connection with a supplier, should send employees using a business visa. With a single entry visa, you can enter China only once and remain for three to six months, while a multiple entry visa allows you to travel, such as to neighboring countries like Thailand or Japan, and easily reenter China.
Upon determining the visa that you need, complete the appropriate application. Your application will be returned if it is incomplete or illegible. If you need a student or business visa, then you must obtain an invitation letter from a Chinese agency, school, or company. Regardless of the visa you seek, you will need to provide evidence of a valid passport. If you are a U.S. citizen, then you can apply for a passport book (not passport card) at a Department of State passport agency or a local post office (usps.com/passport). The normal passport processing time is four to six weeks, though you can pay an extra fee to expedite the process. You also need a passport size photo to send with your visa application.
The fee for Americans is $130 (any visas), though fees vary for citizens of other countries. You might need a special visa to travel to Hong Kong or Macau and definitely to go to Tibet. The application is different for former Chinese citizens who now are naturalized U.S. citizens.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C. provides visas for applicants in the United States. Since the Chinese Embassy does not accept visa applications by mail, you or someone that you trust must personally deliver the application. Send your application at least one month before your trip. If you hire a travel agency to assist you with the application, make sure that the company is legitimate.
