Visit the China's embassy and consulate websites to familiarize yourself with current visa requirements and processes. These are subject to change, and potential travelers should try and keep up-to-date with current information. As at 2010, U.S citizens may apply for a single entry, double entry or multi-entry tourist visa valid for 12 months. If you apply for a multi-entry tourist visa for 12 months, your passport must be valid for at least 18 months.
Download the forms you need from China's embassy and consulate websites. You will require a Form Q7, Visa Application Form of the People's Republic of China and a Form Q2, Physical Examination for Foreigner.
Complete Form Q7 fully. It requires basic biographical information, contact details and the purpose of your visit.
Obtain a color passport-style photograph of yourself to attach to your Form Q7.
Get your doctor to complete Form Q2 and ensure that it bears his official office stamp. According to the embassy website, if you will be in China for less than a year, it is not necessary to have a doctor complete Form Q2, and you can complete it yourself. However, this requirement appears to be open to some interpretation by embassy and consulate staff, and some will only accept doctor-certified forms. To avoid possible delays, it is best to get your doctor to complete it.
Check that your passport is valid. You need a passport with at least two blank visa pages, which is valid for at least six months beyond the date of application, and for 18 months, if you plan on getting a 12-month, multi-entry visa.
Visit your nearest China embassy or consulate to submit your application. Visa applications must be made in-person, by the applicant or a representative of the applicant. You may not e-mail or mail applications. A visa application takes approximately three hours to process. As of 2010, visa costs are dependent upon the processing time. A "rush" application taking one day costs $170. An "express" application taking two to three days costs $160 and a "standard" application taking four days costs $140.
The People's Republic of China has an embassy in Washington DC and five consulates in New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Chinese Embassy, Washington DC
2201 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington D.C. 20007
202-338-6688
www.china-embassy.org
Chinese Consulate-General, New York, NY
520 12th Avenue
New York, NY 10036
212-244-9392
nyconsulate.prchina.org
Chinese Consulate-General, Chicago, IL
1 East Erie Street, Suite 500
Chicago, IL 60611
312-573-3070
chinaconsulatechicago.org
Chinese Consulate-General, Houston, TX
3417 Montrose Boulevard
Houston, TX 77006
713-520-1462
houston.china-consulate.org
Chinese Consulate-General, Los Angeles, CA
500 Shatto Place, Third Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90020
213-807-8006
losangeles.china-consulate.org
Chinese Consulate-General, San Francisco, CA
1450 Laguna Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
415-674-2900
chinaconsulatesf.org
