Tourist Visa To China - Invitation Letter - What Qualifies?

[TerraplaneGuy]

Hi All,

I see that since last year the Chinese embassy in Bangkok (and elsewhere) has required, for a tourist visa, "an Invitation Letter for Tourist Group or Tourist issued by a Duly Authorized Tourist Agency. Or an invitation letter issued by a non-authorized Chinese unit." Does anyone know if a hotel reservation confirmation will suffice? If not, how does one get an "invitation letter" for the simple purpose of visiting China while staying in a hotel?

Thanks,

TG

[Tomtomtom69]

Yes, a hotel reservation qualifies. An invitation letter, written by a Chinese national or foreigner living in the PRC will remove the hotel reservation requirement. If you know anyone there, or if not a travel agency can also write you a letter, it must contain details regarding the applicant's name, passport number, purpose of stay, approximate dates of entry (not binding but put them down anyway), details of accommodation and method of entry into China (for example, flight details or overland entry points).<br /><br />

[tingtongfarang]

Things have changed at the chinese embassy since june last year, Situation used to be that there were quite a gang of thai guys outside trying to snatch your passport and paper work off you and do all at a price, They were,nt needed and are now gone,

Now even if you arrive early it will be an all day thing and likely going back 2-3 times when they request different things which ar,nt on the list each time, Talking to others there it seems to take 2 visits when applying then go back the third time to pick up your passport with the visa,

Flight ticket

hotel reservation

copy of bank statements

passport copy and photos

proof of employment and income

invitation letter

and of course all forms filled

I had all that on the first visit just after chinese new year but still they gave me stress...i got the visa on the 6th visit. many gave up..others just went to HK to get the visa saying it was much easier.

Edited April 7, 2013 by tingtongfarang

[impulse]

On a related note, has anyone stayed in Beijing in transit (up to 72 hours) without a visa?

That new rule was supposed to come into effect on Jan 1, but it would not be the first time a proposed loosening did not happen as announced.

[TerraplaneGuy]

Things have changed .......

Flight ticket ..

Thanks - do you have to have a paid flight ticket in advance? How about an Expedia itinerary? I'd hate to pay for the ticket only to be denied a visa.

Also, did you try paying for rush service? The visa application form has several rush categories ("rush" for 1 working day, "express" for 2-3 working days) and I wonder if that could reduce the 3-visit runaround ...

Edited April 7, 2013 by TerraplaneGuy

[TerraplaneGuy]

.....

Flight ticket

hotel reservation

copy of bank statements

passport copy and photos

proof of employment and income

invitation letter

and of course all forms filled

I had all that on the first visit just after chinese new year but still they gave me stress...i got the visa on the 6th visit. many gave up..others just went to HK to get the visa saying it was much easier.

If you had all that the first time (which seems a complete list), what could they have demanded that made you go back 6 times?!

[KhunHehe]

I was at the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok today. I did not see one westerner get a Visa approved in my line. They turned away 3-4 people just in front of me.

These were not backpackers but older, middle-aged travelers. Some with Thai spouses.

The comments on this thread do not surprise me.

If you go to Hong Kong, it's not an instantaneous process. It could take a day or two--even with rush service.

Good luck.

PS I was turned away, too, and I researched, called, filled out the forms, had the passport photocopies, visa, photos--everything. They wanted a bank statement and letter of invitation from the Chinese government. I had an invitation from the Canton Fair in Guangzhou. They didn't even look at it.

[Tomtomtom69]

Things have changed .......

Flight ticket ..

Thanks - do you have to have a paid flight ticket in advance? How about an Expedia itinerary? I'd hate to pay for the ticket only to be denied a visa.

Also, did you try paying for rush service? The visa application form has several rush categories ("rush" for 1 working day, "express" for 2-3 working days) and I wonder if that could reduce the 3-visit runaround ...

Only itinerary is OK. Anyway, Chiang Mai was easy enough in October last year. Same requirements as Bangkok but if your documents were in order, you would get the visa. 4 days turnaround is enough. Flight tickets aren't necessary if your letter states you will be travelling overland and/or you explain that you will travel overland to their satisfaction (it's better to have this explained in a letter though, as I did).

[taxout]

Rather than fly to HK, Americans might find it easier and cheaper to send their passports to an agency in the US, where they will normally get a one-year multiple entry visa. Visa cost for Americans is the same regardless of length or entries, so the extra cost is the courier and agency fees.