I went to the China consulate forum in NYC and it's pretty informative as exactly how you can go about getting a visa.

http://www.nyconsulate.prchina.o ... China/t42204.htm#10


but this is the "real" issue.  having to pick up in person.

http://www.nyconsulate.prchina.o ... orChina/t114292.htm



Here are the list of fees for US citizens who are lucky enough to live in the NYC area and can pick up in person.


Pickup, Fees and

Payments



　　　  1. Pickup

　　　  Applicant will be given a pickup form. Applicant or someone else entrusted can pickup the visa by submitting the pickup form.Please keep the pickup form in a safe place.

　　   Chinese visas can generally be picked up on the fourth working day from the submitting date. For example, if you submitted on Friday, you may pick up your visa next Thursday (if not a holiday).

　　   If an application really has emergency , he may ask for expedited service. Consuls will make the decision depending on the quantity of applications of that day. Since it taks some time to process visas, same day rush visas are generally picked up about 2:15pm. Applicants must enter into the Application Hall before 2:30pm when it is closed.

　　　 notice: we don't give a promise that any applicant can get same day or next day pickup service .　

　　　 Applicants should pay extra $30 dollars per visa for same day pickup, or$20 per visa for the next or third working day pickup service, in addition to regular visa fee.



　　    2. Regular Visa Fees (Dollars)

  1) Visas for U.S. Citizens



Entries Permitted
       

Valid From the date of application  (Enter Before)
       

4-day Regular Pickup - lowest price
       

Same Day Pickup - highest price
       

Next or Third Day Pickup - medium price

Single Entry
       

3 months
       

$130
       

$160
       

$150

Two Entries
       

6 months
       

$130
       

$160
       

$150

Multiple Entry for 6 Months
       

6 months
       

$130
       

$160
       

$150

Multiple Entry for 12 Months
       

12 months
       

$130
       

$160
       

$150

[ Last edited by  marksebring at 9-2-2010 01:02 ]

you can use OasisChinaVisa.com to get your visa via mail.  Two extra fees on top of the hefty fee - a service processing fee and a shipping fee.  If you get a multiple entry visa and need the passport back ASAP, the cost could run as high as an extra $130 - $100 for the rush processing fee and $29.99 for the overnight shipping.

I would say that if you're out of time and want to go to HK anyway, just get it done in HK.

During the summer, you can spend half the day waiting in line to submit your application at the San Francisco consulate.

I like to add since we are so close to CNY, Feb 14/15, most Chinese Embassys are closed for a few days for CNY around this time period. They also close during other Chinese holidays in early May and one in Oct.

[ Last edited by  Weelock at 9-2-2010 01:54 ]

I'm not out of time, but believe the price is the same if you are willing to wait 4 days, also same service is available in Manila, so now I plan to visit SZ on my return
from the Philippines since the cost of a hotel is expensive in HK.

Also in HK, they dont have one year visas with multiple entries. You need to get that in your home country before you go to China. Hk only has 6 month multiple entry visas and it's the same price as the one year in your home country. but if you are already in HK, you got no choice so it's a good idea if you really want to enter china and stay for a long time, get the visa done inyoru home country as opposed to in HK

VG, they won't give you a year visa first off - 6 months is the max.  When that has expired they will give you a year visa no problem.  This is what they told me and it turned out to be true.  They reject first time applications for 12 month visas automatically for some reason.

China Travel on Hennesey Road by the MTR station in Wan Chai do urgent China Visa's I think.

Also if going to SZ you can buy a visa at immigration on the other side of the train station.  250 bucks if memory serves me right.

In Canada, in every "china town" there is at least one place that will do the visa application and send it off to Ottawa to get the visas processed.  Pretty much any chinese travel agency will know where to send you.  I suspect the same thing happens in the US.   The rule says you have to pick it up in person, but that can include your "assigned agent".

Very often the first visa you get will be a single use / single trip visa.  I had to go through a couple of versions before I got a 1 year unlimited (which my agent up here had never seen a non-chinese get).  Basically, they want you to give them where you are going to for the first trip, your travel dates and all that, and they want to see you go in on time, leave on time, and not rock the boat in the middle.  If you keep clean and don't have issues, they will issue you a better visa the next time out.

I would also suggest that you don't book into a known mongering hotel on your first trip, that might tip them off!

how long can i stay at china with the visa.

1. At least for the San Francisco location, they do state nor do they require YOU to drop off or pick up your visa. Anybody can do that for you if you cannot do it in person yourself.

2. The visa ap doesn't ask for the hotel where you're staying. It only asks which cities you're visiting in a time sequence.

From the FAQ:

Q: Information on your web site indicates a Chinese visa normally permits the holder to stay in China for 30 days. What if I have to stay in China for over 30 days?

A: If you do need to stay in China for over 30 days, please specify that in your application form. But it is up to the consul to decide how many days you may have. And once you are in China, you may go to the local public security bureau for visa extension.

Q: What is the validity of a Chinese visa? What is its connection with my duration of stay in China?

A: A Chinese visa is usually valid for 3 months with 30 days of duration of stay. It means that you may enter China on any day within 3 months and continue to stay for another 30 days.

FYI - if you go to the Visa office they do not take credit cards - cash only. Learnt the hard way - stood in line for almost 2 hrs and had to come back again next day

also, get there on time.  I once went to the San Francisco office and got there at exactly 3:30pm.  Closed, sorry, no exceptions.  WTF?  Wasted a 90 mile round trip.  Actually it cost me more than that, I wound up going to a nearby apartment to get laid because I didn't want to waste the long drive.

NYC takes both for one more month.

We accept cash, money order, company check, Master or Visa Card only. Other payments are not accepted. Money order or company check should be made payable to "Chinese Consulate General in New York".

As of March 1, 2010, the Passport and Visa Office will no longer accept cash payment. We will only accept Master Card, Visa Card, Debit Card, and Money Order, Cashier's Check or Official Check (no Personal Check) payable to Chinese Consulate.




For SF, they won't take cash now:

As of November 1st, 2009, the Visa Office will no longer accept cash payment. We will only accept Master Card, Visa Card , and Money Order, Cashier's Check or Official Check payable to Chinese Consulate.

[ Last edited by  random1 at 8-2-2010 22:20 ]

do every country have different visa my say (diration of each stay 060 days after entry)

Is this a serious question?  Of course different countries have different visas.  Rules governing visas are directly related to the state of relations between any 2 countries.  The duration of stay your visa allows is a reflection of that, as well as a possible indication of the type of visa granted to you.

random1 can you check your passport does it say 30 or 60 day coz i have a U S passport too.

now that's making use of precious time......would this place be an AAMP for $120 per pop

if i want to stay at SZ for half a year can i go to hong kong every 29 and came back to SZ .
will the custom give a hard time .

this is what the bar girls and working girls do in HK.  customs will tolerate it for a couple of times then they will start to stamp you back in for less time until you get day visas.

if you want to stay for 6 months, best to be upfront and get a 6 month stay visa.