It isn't possible to have dual citizenship between the United States and China. Since China will not recognize dual citizenship between the U.S. and itself, the U.S. reciprocates by not recognizing it either. While this may change in the future if relations between the two nations improve, but for now any U.S. citizen must travel to China on a visa. This holds true for a number of other nationalities as well, in large part because the current political climate in China makes it difficult for them to acknowledge dual citizenship with other nations.
If a traveler holds a dual citizenship between two different countries and is looking to travel to China, there may also be the question of which passport to use. The short answer is to use whichever country has the fewest restrictions attached. Traveling on an American passport to China, for example, is relatively easy and simply requires obtaining a visa through a consulate. Also, the itinerary of the trip should be taken into consideration, especially with regard to potential layovers. Americans traveling to China often pass through Japan, which does not require a preobtained visa for Americans.
A number of different visas can be used to travel to China, depending on the purpose of the trip. The accompanying paperwork is determined by the type of visa being sought. A business, or work, visa requires a letter of employment from the China-based employer. Tourist visas, on the other hand, generally require far less paperwork and can often be obtained simply by filling out a form. Different visas carry different fees, and the various options also make a difference in cost. A multiple-entry visa costs more than a single-entry visa of the same type. Renewal dates vary for the visas as well. Most work visas are good for 1 year, while tourist visas may expire in as little as a month.
The visa should be obtained as close to the travel dates as possible. Travelers must specify a desired date of entry when they fill out the forms at the nearest Chinese consulate, but there are limits on how far in advance this can be done. To help speed the process, prospective travelers should obtain a list of required documents from the consulate before attempting to get a visa. For example, pictures are almost certainly required, but these are the same as passport pictures and obtainable from various locations. Once the paperwork is filed, the officials at the consulate will give travelers an estimation of how long it will take to process the visa. Having all the paperwork in order will shorten this, and turnaround can be as fast as 24 hours.
As recently as 2004, it was possible to obtain a temporary entrance visa at Chinese airports. This is no longer the case, and travelers are advised to have their paperwork in order before attempting to enter China. It is also advisable to carry the phone number of a local contact--and the nearest consulate. Customs are generally cleared before luggage retrieval, so be sure your contact information is in your carry-on luggage. Most visas also have both a set number of exits and entries permitted, as well as an expiration date. These can be modified once a traveler is in China at various locations, but again, seeking the advice and help of a local contact is also advisable for this.
