Chinese Visa Application Check List
This check list is compiled to help reducing trouble for both you and our agency -- it is not an exclusive list, nor it can be. Please go over it carefully.
Note: all documents except for Order Confirmation are one set per applicant: even if a document is shared among applicants within one order, you still need to include one set for each applicant.
This check list is for visa application only. For authentications, please refer to this page (Chinese version).
I. Basic documents
All applicants should check against this part.
| Document | For Consulate | For YWPW | For Yourself | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YWPW online order confirmation | copy | copy | Keep your order ID for reference, this page contains useful information related to your application. | |
| Passport | Original | copy | For your document safety, copy all pages except for blank pages. | |
| Copy of passport | copy | The consulate needs to keep a copy of the photo page of your passport. | ||
| One 2x2 color photo | Original | Affix onto Visa Application Form. See visa photo requirement. | ||
| Driver's license copy (Chinese Embassy in Washington DC only) | copy | Required since December, 2018. | ||
| Visa Application Form | Original |
Must be typed, in UPPER case.
ONLY Chinese name, signature and date may be handwritten. No numbered fields (e.g. 1.11, 3.7) may be left blank -- use N/A or NONE. See "Form Download" page for details. You do not need to specify the visa type -- the consulate will decide. |
||
| Supplemental form (Houston Consulate) | Original or copy | Required since June 7, 2018. | ||
| Employer letter (Chinese Embassy in Washington DC only) | Original or copy | Required since March, 2019. | ||
| Last Chinese visa and old US passport photo page (Chinese Embassy in Washington DC only) | copy | Required since March, 2019. | ||
| (for tourist, family visit, or business visa) Air/hotel reservations or invitation letter | copy | copy |
Required since 2012/08/01. Please visit
http://visa.ywpw.com/news/20120724.html for details (Chinese version).
If you do not travel by air, please contact us. |
|
| Payment (if not paid online) | Original | Payable to "YWPW Services". Payment must be received before we process your application. |
Please also check the following if you
- Apply for a business, student, work, transit visa,
- Hold a non-US passport
- Born in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan
- Children of Chinese origin
2. Work (Z) visa
Spouse, family members please see the web page on work visa.
| Document | For Consulate | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Work Permit | original and copy | PDF version of the Work Permit works fine in most cases, even though originally is needed per official requirements. |
| Invitation letter from your employer | copy | This is optional, but is required if listed explicitly on work permit. |
3. Study (X1/X2) visa
| Document | For Consulate | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| JW201 or JW202 | copy | The official form issued by an authorized Chinese unit. Needed ONLY if your duration of study is 180 days or more. |
| Acceptance letter | copy | Issued by your Chinese school. |
4. Non-US citizens
Non-US citizens can apply for a single, double or multiple entry visa, with a 30 or 60 day duration of stay in China. A visa with upto 90 days stay (multiple entry) or 180 day (single entry) may also be issued.
People who are on a temporary visa (e.g. tourist visa) must go back to home country to apply. Canadians on TN visa, or applicants who hold a US student (F-1, F-2) visa (I-20) can apply in US.
| Document | For Consulate | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Green card | original AND copy | These show your legal status in US. You will need to provide this even if you applied for a Chinese visa before.
Provide green card OR (other documents). We suggest that you provide a notarized copy instead of the original. |
| US immigration document: H1B approval notice, I-20, valid visa, etc. |
original AND copy |
5. Applicants born in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan
This also applies to people born outside of China but obtained Chinese ID document (e.g. travel certificate).
Please visit the Chinese version of our web site to find out more details.
| Document | For Consulate | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| (first time applicant) Old Chinese passport, travel certificate |
copy AND original | Copy only pages with your name, photo, and extension.
Contact us if you could not find a copy of your old Chinese passport. |
| Old Chinese visa and old passport copy | copy | Needed only if your old Chinese visa is not on your current passport.
Note: do NOT send original old passport. |
| Name in Chinese | Write down your name in Chinese characters on page 1 of Visa Application Form (section 1.3).
Contact us if you do not have/know your Chinese name or do not know how to write it in Chinese characters. |
6. Children of Chinese origin but born outside of China
If your child has an old Chinese visa on his/her current US passport, you do not need extra document.
If the children are applying for 2-year multiple entry visa, please submit the same documents as if the children are applying for Chinese visa the first time.
Please visit the Chinese version of our web site to find out more details.
| Document | For Consulate | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| (first time applicant) Birth certificate |
copy | If you send original, the consulate will not return it. |
| (first time applicant) passports, green cards of parents |
copy | For passport, copy pages with name, photo, extension.
Passports from both parents are needed. If one does not have a US passport, please provide green card or other immigration document (like I-20, H1B etc). |
| Old Chinese visa and old passport copy | copy | needed only if the old Chinese visa is not on current passport.
Note: do NOT send original old passport. |
7. Passport safety tip
| Contact information | Leave an email address on passport, NOT home address. If your passport ends up in the wrong hands, your home address plus information on passport may harm you. |
|---|---|
| copy | Always keep a copy of your passport. If you ever need to replace a lost passport, a copy at hand will speed up the process considerably and save you ~$150 document search fee. |
8. List of common errors
| Error | Remarks |
|---|---|
| No signature | Sounds obvious, but still we have seen many. For child's visa application, please see the form download page for detailed instructions on signature. |
| Missing Chinese name | Required if you were born in China or had a Chinese ID before, e.g. travel certificate. |
| Contact information of person who invites you | Required for all but tourist/transit visa. For family visit, write contact information in Chinese if possible. |
| Apply too early | The best time to apply is 4-10 weeks before departure. |
| No visa pages left | Pages 22-24 are not visa pages! US Department of State does not want visa to be put on these pages. |
| Passport is about to expire | You must have 6-months of vadility left on your passport in order to apply for a visa. |
| No copies of supplemental documents | Always submit a copy if a copy is needed, otherwise we will have to make a copy for you! Thank you. |
| Not enough sets of copies | When several children are applying, only one set of supplemental documents are provided. Please note that the applications are reviewed/processed separately, and each applicant needs one set of supplimental documents. |
| Do not keep a copy of passport | Your passport is an important document, always have a copy somewhere. In case it is lost, US passport agency charges $180 extra if you do not have information of your old passport. |
| No passport | Yes, some people do not send in their passports! We know that you value your passport, but the consulate needs to affix visa onto your passport! |
| No payment | This often happens when user select pay online but forgot to pay. |
| Hand filled form | The visa application form V2013 must be typed in CAPITAL letters -- hand filled forms are not accepted. |
| Leave many field blank | All fields in sections 1-5 must be filled, put N/A or NONE if the field is not applicable. |
