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Document Requirements

These requirements are applicable for US Citizens applying for a China Business visa in New York

Applicants must refer to the "Important Tips for online COVA visa form filling", to ensure the COVA forms are true, accurate, and complete. Once the COVA form is submitted, no information can be changed. If any adjustment needs to be made, the whole COVA form must be filled out again.
After completing the COVA forms as required, please make sure to print the full set of COVA forms (8-9 pages) and sign on the Confirmation Page and the 8th page. If the COVA forms are not prepared as guided, the application will not be accepted.
Please note: Travel Document Systems will make the appointment at the Embassy/Consulate for you once we receive all your documents, you do NOT need to go to the Embassy/Consulate. Appointments for submission of application are currently 2-3 weeks from current date.

Please send TDS your current valid and signed passport, plus one photocopy of the vital information page. It must not expire within 6 months and must have at least one blank visa page. Foreign Embassies cannot issue a visa on a page not labeled as a Visa page. Amendment and Endorsement pages in the back of the passport cannot be used for issuance of a visa.
A visa cannot be stamped on a page even if only one Small Stamp is on the visa page. If you do not have any blank visa pages in your passport, TDS can assist you in applying for additional pages. If your passport expires within 6 months, you must renew your passport and then we will secure your visa with the new passport.

If your passport expires between 6-12 months at date of submission for your visa you are only eligible to apply for a single or double entry visa, you are not eligible for the 1-2 or 10 year multiple entry visa.
Please complete and sign the Acknowledgment Statement required by the Chinese Consulate.

The Chinese Embassy would like for you to consider applying for a Passport Renewal before applying for your visa.

 

Please send 1 recent professional passport-type photograph.
No eyeglasses or jewelry are to be worn.
New Chinese Consulate Passport Photo Guidelines Effective 05/12/2017 - Click Here

Common Problems to Avoid:

No smiling, photos should have a neutral expression
No jewelry of any kind
No eyeglasses
No light colored shirt, please wear a dark color
Hair not pulled back away from the face
No background light or shadows 



 

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A business letter of responsibility (sample) is required, to be typewritten on your company letterhead and addressed to:

Consulate General of China, Visa Section, New York, NY
The letter must explain all of the following:
Nature of business to be performed
Name and address of reference to be visited
Your job title and description
This letter should request Multiple Entries visa if required
Guarantee of return transportation and sufficient funds for the visit
The letter should be signed by an officer of the company other than the applicant.

The Chinese Embassy requires that one of the following two items be submitted in addition to the Business Letter of Responsibility (Above) from your company in the United States.

A letter from the company which you are conducting business with in China. Must be signed by the management in charge of the area that the applicant intends to be in contact with informing:

Personal information of the invitee: Name, Gender and Date of Birth.
Job position and job description of the contact person in China.
Assignment description and information about the end purpose of the intended activities in China (sales, purchases, coordination, auditing, etc)
Date(s) and place(s) of the meetings and information on periodicity, average length and assignment description of future trips if any.
Financial responsibility for the trip, if applicable.
This letter of invitation should be written on company letterhead and must have company seal. (A/K/A "Chop")
Name and Title of the visa applicant must be included.
Provide a detailed description of the business which will be preformed in China including a detailed timeline.
Signature of the inviting contact in China and company seal. (A/K/A "Chop")


or a

OR an invitation known as a "Visa Notification Form" from the PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs or from China Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Commission or from any authorized government entity. This invitation should be arranged by your host in China and may be emailed or faxed to you.


New Chinese Consulate Visa Requirement Effective February 3rd, 2023.

Proof of residential address in the United States; clear copy of applicant drivers license or state issued photo ID. Address on the Drivers License must match the address on the visa application form.

A clear enlarged photocopy or scanned copy of your driver's license or ID is recommended by the Chinese Embassy to apply for a visa.

 
Any applicant that works for and or is affiliated with an media organization will be required to appear in person at the Chinese consulate to be finger printed as part of the visa application process.
 
Traveldocs can assist you with the collection of your issued visa, when the applicant appears in person they will be given a collection ticket noting the day the visa would be issued and made available for collection. You can send the collection ticket to us so we can go in person to collect and return your issued visa and passport.
 
If you would like Traveldocs to assist you please contact 877 874 5104 to discuss this option, otherwise you will have to return to the consulate yourself on the date assigned to your application to collect your issued visa and passport.
 
We recommend that you contact the consulate directly to obtain the most current forms and requirements before making your personal, the information below is for reference purposes only all information is subject to change without notice.

Applicant's MUST submit a copy of their last visa to China and a copy of their entry stamp to China, if visa is still valid you must submit the old passport with the old visa in it, or if not available then you MUST write a letter of explanation.

 

Photocopy of previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas (applicable to foreign citizens, those who were Chinese citizens and have obtained foreign citizenship).
If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you should provide your previous Chinese passport held and a photocopy of its data page.
If you have obtained Chinese visas before and want to apply for a Chinese visa with a renewed foreign passport that does not contain any Chinese visa you should present a photocopy of the previous passport's data page and the photo page if it is separate, as well as the previous Chinese visa page. If your name on the current passport differs from that on the previous one, you must provide an official document of the name change.

 

 

Complete and sign one Affidavit Letter giving the exact dates and purpose(s) of every trip made to Turkey, Kazakhstan or Pakistan after January 1st 2015. Dates MUST match all entry and exit stamps in the traveler's passport and all trips mentioned on the visa application form.

Please include a signed Letter of Explanation explaining the purpose of the journey to Turkey, Kazakhstan or Pakistan.

Please complete a copy of the Location Form.


Your passport must be signed to apply for a Chinese Visa, please be sure to sign the signature section on your passport before sending to Travel Document Systems.

Please Send One Completed and Signed Online Application Form along with the other necessary documents above to Travel Document Systems.

Application form MUST NOT be printed double sided your application will be rejected if it is not printed single sided.

The Completed Chinese Online Application Form (COVA) will be in pdf format, which will require Acrobat Reader to view.

Questions marked with a (*) are MANDATORY, if some of these questions do not apply to you , please tick "NOT APPLICABLE" to proceed.

Please be sure that all information is complete and accurate before you click the "Submit" button. Once the application is submitted you cannot make any changes. You can click the Save button which will save your application for 30 days, to return to your application click the "Retrieve an Application" button, you will need the application ID number and your Passport/Travel Document Number.

Travel Documents will make the appointment at the Embassy/Consulate once we have received all your documents, you do NOT need to go to the Embassy/Consulate.

Note: All applicants must sign the application form even if the form is completed by another person, except that a parent or legal guardian may sign on behalf of an applicant under the age of 18.

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The validity of a Chinese visa is usually valid for 10 years from date of issue, for a length of stay not to exceed 60 days. The Chinese Embassy is not required to issue a 10 year visa, some applicants will receive visas with a lesser validity at the Chinese Government's discretion.

Short term Study or Internship applicants receive a Business "F" visa.   Long term Study or Internship applicants (Over 180 days) receive a Study "X" visa.


 

Shipping Instructions

Please forward a printed copy of your order confirmation for a China Business visa for US Citizens and all required documents to:

Travel Document Systems, Inc.
100 Park Avenue
Suite 1646
New York, NY 10017

Local Phone Number: 212-647-1122

Urgent applications for a China Business visa should be shipped to TDS using only the FedEx Company.

Please use FedEx Priority Overnight. Do NOT ship "First Overnight." This will delay the delivery of your package.

Once your order is complete, your Passport with the visa sticker/stamp will be returned to you via FedEx Overnight.

FedEx Return ShippingFedEx Logo
Continental USA Only Price
Next Business Day - up to 3 passports $36.00
Next Business Day - 4 or more passports $39.00
Saturday Delivery $41.00
Alaska, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, USVI Price
Next Day Letter (No Saturday Delivery) $39.00
International Price
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