China visa

[Hawaiidan]

if your taking a cruise that ends up in China, and have 3 or so ports in China do you or O get the visa?

 

In looking locally, using a visa service here in the LA area, there is like a $150 service charge for a visa that costs about $140....

 

And suggestions ideas....

[Mura]

We haven't done China with Oceania although we did in 2008 with Viking. In that case we used a service. Best to check to see what O charges for the visa and compare which is best for you. Certainly, using O is simplest!

 

Mura

[rallydave]

You have to get your Chinese Visa yourself either thru a broker or directly with the Chinese Consulate. You can't get it on board and have to get it in advance. We got our a few years ago and took us 2 trips to the Consulate but, only had to pay the Chinese fees.

 

With you in LA, gotta believe there is a Consulate there and you fill out the forms at home, bring in payment as they request, seem to remember it was a US Postal Order, one fo each person and bring them both in and about a week later go back and pick them up. Pretty sure if you go thru the ships broker rather than going direct to the broker, the price will be higher.

 

Don't remember that filling out the forms was too difficult, you've just got to take your time and follow the directions exactly and you're good to go.

[Hawaiidan]

there is a Chinese council in LA just over an hour drive... for $150 pp fee I think I can manage it

 

Thank you all...makes things clear

[Paulchili]

there is a Chinese council in LA just over an hour drive... for $150 pp fee I think I can manage it

 

Thank you all...makes things clear

 

It's been a few years so things might have changed but at the time it was very easy to do it ourselves here in San Francisco.

Give yourself some time as they tend to be very busy and the process, while simple, is not fast.

[Rickey 88]

there is a Chinese council in LA just over an hour drive... for $150 pp fee I think I can manage it

 

Thank you all...makes things clear

 

Unless things have improved, you may want to plan on TWO trips to the consulate. We left our applications there and had to return on a second day to pick up the completed visas.....

[RetiredFL]

When we got ours in SF we took the passport and forms in in the morning, went shopping and had lunch and they were ready that afternoon. If you get there when they open it will probably work.

You can fill out and print all the forms on line which helps. Be sure to answer the questions completely, the clerks are fastidious as only the Chinese can be.

[corpkid]

Just got back from a cruise that started in Beijing and ended in Hong Kong (with various entries into China throughout).

 

We used VisaHQ.com and just mailed out the forms, photo and passport to the agency in Dallas (there's no Chinese Consulate in Florida where we live). VERY easy to do and got them back in about 5 days. All in with overnight shipping it was about $180 per visa. Certainly get the 10 year multiple entry option as it doesn't cost any more. Oceania will just give you a link to a similar service and take $100+ for the "convenience" though there is none. :rolleyes: One thing we were told is to make sure EVERY field is filled out completely - even if it doesn't apply just put an "N/A" to indicate that you really meant to leave that field blank. It's really not that difficult and they have great support if you have any questions.

 

We've used VisaHQ for our Brazilian Visas as well - never a problem and very professional and helpful.

Edited April 10, 2016 by corpkid

[Flatbush Flyer]

When we got ours in SF we took the passport and forms in in the morning, went shopping and had lunch and they were ready that afternoon. If you get there when they open it will probably work.

You can fill out and print all the forms on line which helps. Be sure to answer the questions completely, the clerks are fastidious as only the Chinese can be.

 

 

Worth mentioning: if you're trying to get the same day service on a visa at the SF Chinese Consulate, be there when they open in the AM.

[Hawaiidan]

Cant see spending $300 on somthing I can do..... Heck I can grab a hotel, go out to dinner and spend the night and still be good.

 

Thanks for the 10 year visa

 

 

Did you need passport size photos???

 

Dan

[corpkid]

Yes - you do need to send in photos.

[RetiredFL]

When you fill out forms on line it will tell what you need and how payment is to be made. (Pay attention to accepted forms of payment)

 

If you have or can get extra passport photos be sure and take them with you.

Especially in Asia you will never know in advance if you will need one.

 

When we were going to Halong Bay and wanted to go overnight to Hanoi the government all of a sudden demanded we get a Vietnam visa and we needed a photo for it. The ship tried to convince them to accept the digital photos they took upon boarding but they said no. So many of us spent time in Saigon finding a place for photos. Not the ship's fault just "the authorities"

 

So now we travel with extra photos!!

[grmmybtty]

We live in Los Angeles also and will be going to the Chinese Consulate (its on Shatto St. near Wilshire and Vermont) to get our Chinese Visas. You can download the form online and fill it out. You will need passport size pictures. Since it is a 10 year visa, we will be renewing our US passport first and then get the Chinese visa. We did this several years and it was easy - drop off the application with our passport and return a week later to pick everything up.