US Citizens: Get your China Tourist visa with the TDS Los Angeles Office

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.

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

Please send a copy of your round trip airline tickets, itinerary or e-ticket, Cruise Itinerary or letter of confirmation from a Travel Agency confirming entry and exit from mainland China. The itinerary must show the applicant's name, date of arrival and departure from the country, flight or cruise information.

This is a New Chinese visa requirement effective August 1 2012

Additional documentation required for minors aged under 18.

Applicants under the age of 18 must provide their original birth certificate, plus their parent's original passports if the parents are not applying for visas at the same time as the minor.

If a parent does not have a passport they must provide a copy of a notarized ID and a signed notarized letter of parental consent, if only one parent is applying for a visa then there must be a copy of the parent's passport or a notarized ID, plus a letter of parental consent. 

Minors application must be signed by both parents.

1) Media and Religious ministers or anyone who works for a religious organization for tourist visas must write a letter on the organization's letterhead declaring, their name as it appears in their passport, when they plan to travel to China, where they plan to be while in China, what they will be doing in China and that they will NOT perform any religious activities while visiting China. Letter must be signed.

2) Applicants will only be issued a one month single entry visa, valid for a stay of between 10-20 business days.

If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you will be required to first have an in-person interview, at the consulate. Along with the required documents, you should be prepared to provide your previous Chinese passport and U.S. entry visa or permit. If you no longer possess the previous passport, you will have to discuss your options, with the consulate, during your interview. 

When you have completed the interview, successfully, you can then return your visa pick-up slip to us. We will pick-up your visa and return it to you based on your expedite or regular processing request.

*A photocopy of previous Chinese passports and U.S. entry stamps, or permits, are not acceptable.

If you have obtained Chinese visas before and want to apply for a new Chinese visa, with a renewed foreign passport that does not contain any Chinese visa, you should present the original previous passport containing the previous Chinese visa.

If your name on the current passport differs from that on the previous one, you must provide an official document of the name change.

*If you do not possess the previous foreign passport, containing the previous Chinese visa, you must follow the same procedures as Former Chinese Citizens attempting to obtain their first China visa in a foreign passport.

*Photocopy of previous foreign passports containing China visas are not acceptable.

Documentation for a child with Chinese descent born in the USA

A child with Chinese descent born in the USA applying for a visa for the first time should provide the original and a photocopy of either parent's foreign passport or green card and Certificate of Birth besides other regular materials.

The consulate will review the documents and determine if a visa can be issued or if an in-person interview will be needed.

A child with Chinese descent born in the USA applying for a visa who has had a Chinese visa before should provide the previous passport and visa.

Documentations for a child with the USA or foreign citizenship, born in China, obtaining their first China visa may require an in-person interview at the consulate.

The consulate will review the documents and determine if the parents should visit for an interview; AND if the child(ren) will be required to be present.

In addition to the required documents, applicants should be prepared to provide all originals of those documents, especially those regarding birth in China and establishment of U.S. citizenship.

A child with the USA or foreign citizenship, born in China, obtaining a new China visa should provide the previous passport containing the previous China visa; in addition to the regular required documents.

If you do not possess the previous passport and China visa, you will have to follow the same procedures as obtaining the first China visa for your child(ren).

Please Send One Completed and Signed Application
For a guide to completing the Chinese Application please Click Here (Recommended)
Note: Application form MUST be typed, hand written applications will NOT be accepted. All questions MUST be answered, do not leave any question blank, type N/A if need be.
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.