How to Apply for a Tourist Visa

Where to Get China Visas?
The Chinese visa authorities overseas include Chinese embassies, consulates, visa offices, and the consular department of the office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. If a foreigner intends to enter into, exit from or transit through the Chinese territory, he shall apply to the above-mentioned Chinese visa authorities for a Chinese visa. For further information, please consult the nearest Chinese visa authorities. Visas for individual travel in china are easy to get.

Get China Visas in Hong Kong - China visas are readily available in Hong Kong. Several agents issue the visa and most do it in as little as 24 hours, and one place issues it same day, if you're prepared to wait a few days, the cost of the visa is reduced. There are a number of agents in HK who are responsible for issuing China visas. Generally they offer a choice of visa by itself, or a package deal including visa fee and the cost of transport to China.

Visa applications require two passport-size photos, your application must be written in English, and you're advised to have one entire blank page in your passport for the visas. You will generally be issued either a two-week or a one-month visa but even that varies; on one occasion threee o us applied for a visa at the same agent on the same day and paid the same price; one of us was given a 35-day visa, I got 33-day visa and the other got 31-days. The cost of visas and type of packaged-deals you get in HK change quite frequently, so use this information as a guide only.

How to Apply for?
Visa Application Form - Apart from personal details, the visa application form also asks you to specify your religion and politic party, and occupation and previous occupation, whether you have been in China before and the names of relatives and friend in China. It asks you to specify what languages you know and the purpose of your journey to china. For religion and political party, say 'none'. For occupation the safest job is 'student' – don't tell them you're a journalist, priest, government worker or something similarly naughty. Don't list relatives and friends in China. If you speak Chinese don't say so. Tell them you're going to China for 'sightseeing'. It also asks you to specify your itinerary of travel and your means of transport, but you can deviate from this as much as you want; just list a few major places that are officially open to foreigner. You don't have to leave from the place you specifying on your visa application form. List your means of transport as train and plane.

Visa Application Procedure
The Visa Section of the Chinese Embassy in the United States handles visa, passport, notarization and authentication applications. You are advised to read the relevant instructions for application before submission.

Step 1
Pick up a number before you sit down and wait until your number called.

Step 2
When your number called, you can approach the first available window, either window1 or window2 to present application or make inquires.

Step 3
Pay fees during office hours of the date for pick up. Line up before window 3 and pay the fees(needless to pick up a number).

Step 4
Pick up at window 4. Check your visa, passport and document before you leave.