Family Visit Visa

Passport

You must provide your actual signed passport, including one copy of the personal information page of your passport. Your passport must:

• Be valid for six months beyond the length of your requested visa (for example, if you are requesting a 12 month visa your passport must be valid for 18 months )

• Have at least one blank visa page (amendments and endorsement pages cannot be used to fulfill this requirement)

• Not be frayed, torn, separating, or altered in any other way

If your passport does not meet these requirements, please contact China Visa Service Center at 1-800-799-6560 for further details.

Photograph(s)

The Chinese Consulate requires a photograph that meets very strict requirements. We strongly recommend that you submit your photograph electronically to China Visa Service Center so we can ensure it meets the stringent characteristics mandated by the Chinese Consulate. Follow https://www.mychinavisa.com/photo-service to upload your photo.

All electronic photo submissions must be taken within the last six months against an all-white background. It must show a full frontal view of your head, face centered in the middle, the tops of your shoulders, and display a neutral (non-smiling) expression with eyes open, mouth closed, and ears visible. No background light or shadows are permitted. You may not wear eyeglasses, jewelry, or headwear except for religious purposes. Do not wear a white shirt. 

Should you elect to submit an actual photograph then it must meet all of the above criteria and:

• Be exactly 48 mm tall by 33 mm wide 
• Be printed on high-quality photo paper
• Not be affixed to your application, with no evidence of adhesive tape or staples

Note that most passport photo vendors produce photos that are 2 inches by 2 inches and are not acceptable. China Visa Service Center cannot submit applications with incorrectly formatted photographs.

Letter of Invitation

You must provide a letter of invitation from the individual you are visiting. The invitation must:

• Include your name, gender, and date of birth
• Provide host's full name, contact information, telephone number, address, and signature
• Include information regarding the relationship between you and your host
• Detail the purpose of your trip
• Specify your arrival and departure dates
• Include the full address of the intended residence
• Specify who is financially responsible for the trip

China Visa Service Center Order Form

Provide the China Visa Service Center Order Form included in this kit.

Visa Application Form

One fully completed and signed visa application form.  The application must:

• Be completed online
• Include answers for all required fields
• List the name of the traveler exactly as it is written in the passport
• Be printed single-sided
• Be dated and signed in blue or black ink
• Be enclosed with all other documents in your visa application kit
• Have your signature on the declaration confirmation page, as well as in section 9.1A

China Visa Service Center provides a guide to assist you in completing the application. To access the guide follow this link: https://www.mychinavisa.com/forms?formname=China Application Guide.pdf or type the address into your browser.

Travel Record

You must provide a copy of the travel record form. The form must:

• Include all countries that you have visited in the last 14 days
• Include entry/exit dates of each travel
• Indicate the passport page number that includes the travel stamp

Click here to download and complete the form.

Proof of State Residency

You must provide a proof of your current address of residency. The document must either be a copy of the front and back of your driver's license or government ID, or a utility bill. The document must:

• Display your name as it appears on your passport
• Display the current residence address as provided on your visa application

Please note, if you must submit a utility bill the consulate requires electric, gas, or a water bill; phone and cable bills are not accepted.

Former PRC Nationals or Individuals Born in Chinese Territories

If you are a former PRC passport holder or were born in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Macau:

• You must write your name in Chinese characters for question 1.6H on the visa application form
• You must present copies of any previously issued China visas in your current or expired passport, as well as the expired passport
• If you have never been issued a China visa you must submit your original passport and birth certificate showing your name in Chinese characters
• If you are a minor who was adopted from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Macau you must also include your original adoption papers and a copy of them as well
• If applicable, include a copy of your naturalization papers and U.S. birth certificate.
• The Chinese Consulate may request an additional form for first time visa applicants
  

Applicants Under the Age of 18

All minors under the age of 18 traveling to China must:

• Provide a copy of their birth certificate
• Provide a copy of the parents' marriage certificate
• Provide a copy of both parents' driver's licenses or state IDs (if the minor does not have a state ID)
• Provide a copy of both parents' passports
• Provide a copy of the parents' proof of U.S. residency status (if not U.S. citizens)
• Provide a notarized letter of consent from both parents (if the parents are not accompanying the minor on the trip) that states the child has permission to travel. To access a sample consent letter follow this link: https://www.mychinavisa.com/forms?formname=ParentalConsent.pdf or type the address into your browser
• On page 7 of the application, one parent must complete and sign sections 9.1A and 9.2E. Above the signature at section 9.1A the parents must write the minor's name as it appears on the passport

Travel to Hong Kong or Macau

Visiting Hong Kong or Macau is considered leaving China. You must obtain a multiple entry visa if you leave Mainland China to visit Hong Kong and Macau with the intention to re-enter the mainland before finally departing from China.

Multiple Entry Visa Applicants

If you are applying for a multiple entry visa, you must provide copies of previous China visas in your current or old passport and a copy of the personal information page of the passport/s containing the previous visas.

Proof of Kinship

You must provide proof of kinship to the spouse or family member you are visiting in China. You must include an original and a copy of one of the following:

• Marriage certificate
• Birth certificate
• Notarized certification of kinship

Additional Documents

You must provide a copy of the Chinese national ID of the family member you intend to visit.

Urgent Applications

If you have an urgent visa application that carries a tight deadline, China Visa Service Center can help you to save valuable time and avoid expensive delays. A China Visa Service Center expert will review all of your documents to certify your application is accurate, complete and ready for submission. We will contact you personally to quickly handle any mistakes ensuring your application is submitted correctly. Visit https://www.mychinavisa.com/visa-pre-check-service to learn more about this service.

Personal Appearance May Be Required

The Consulate of China may request that applicants come in person to the consulate for an interview and/or fingerprinting. This is a random process, and if the Chinese consulate selects you for finger printing China Visa Service Center will notify you of the request and we will return your passport and application documents so you can present them in person to the New York Consulate. Once you've submitted your documents to the consulate China Visa Service Center can assist with picking up and returning the completed visa to you.

Certain situations like working for a Non-Profit Organization, having dual citizenship, or working for media related companies will increase your chances of being selected for an in person appearance to the consulate. All applicants who are required to appear in person at the consulate must take an additional photo with them to the interview and/or fingerprinting. The photo must meet the photograph requirements listed below and must be the same photo as the one attached with the visa application form. 

Previous Visits to Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan

Travelers who have visited Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan in the past must provide a signed copy of an affidavit giving the exact dates and purpose(s) of every trip made to any of these destinations.  Dates must match all entry/exit stamps in the traveler's passport and all trips mentioned on the visa application form. The affidavit is found here.

Applicants with a Valid or Expired Chinese Visa

If you have a valid/expired visa to China, you must provide the following documents:

• A signed Personal Statement explaining why you are applying for a new visa. The Personal Statement can be found here
• Original previous passports that have the valid/expired visa. Note that valid visas will be cancelled once a new visa is issued in the new passport
• Copy of all valid/expired visa(s) to China

If the applicant has been issued a 10-year visa and is no longer in possession of the previous passport(s), the applicant must commit in the Personal Statement to not use that visa (if recovered) and to return it to the Chinese Consulate in New York for cancellation.

Applicants with Criminal Record

Travelers with a past criminal record are required to make a personal appearance to submit an application. This includes DUI, DWI, and similar offences.

Applicants With A Valid 10-Year Chinese Visa

If you hold a valid 10-year visa to China, you must provide a signed copy of the 10-Year Visa Declaration form. The form can be found here.
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