Thread: Soooo, new Chinese visa requirements?

I was fortunate to get a person who lives in Beijing to invite me to visit her. We've never met, but her husband is a pilot and we have been corresponding for quite some time now. I am looking forward to taking them out to dinner on my first visit next month.
There are lots of new rules involved with either way to apply for visa. Request multiple entries for one year. I had planned to buy totally refundable tickets and book a hotel using my Starwood Points. My friend's invitation offer came just in the nick of time. You cannot mail the application--it has to be done in person--self or proxy agent. You need to apply to the consulate that governs your state. Fee is $140 reg process, extras added on a la carte by them and/or agency. Also, agencies usually charge a fee to prepay the Chinese using their account, then bill you for the amount+ small percentage. Then you have mailing fees. We're lucky that I could use our fedex discount (75%) for the outbound and billed my personal account for the return. Even prepaying my return cost an extra $6 handling fee. I understand it takes a few minutes to do.
Check EVERY item you complete on the application 3 times. I did and I missed the year of expiry for my passport. The agency found it A/O and fixed it. Plan on having your passport out of hand for 10 working days unless hand delivered. Runs about $200 or more for standard services/shipping.
I took my own photo in the guest bedroom using a timer and printed out 4 at Walgreen for $.99. Cool!
I sent mine last Monday and expect it to arrive here on the third due to TG holiday.

PS--must have 2 facing pages for visa and PP must be valid for 6 months after expiry date of visa. So if it's going to expire in less than 18 mo from application, don't bother. I have about 13 more blank pages left on my extended page PP, so I might make it another year...