Getting China tourist visa in Bangkok - new Service Center

[TerraplaneGuy]

Hi All,

For the past few years I've been getting my China tourist visa at the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok near MRT Rama 9. But I see on the embassy website that there's now a Chinese Visa Application Service Center on New Petchaburi Road with new procedures like making an online appointment. Questions:

- Has anyone tried the new Center yet? Experience to share?

- Does anyone know whether the Embassy is still accepting applications or have they completely delegated that to the new Center?

Any information much appreciated!

Cheers,

TG

[BlueScouse]

I went last October for a visa. Had to fill in application form on line and print it out.

Booked an appointment to hand in documents. Paid extra for priority service.

Arrived early in the morning, about 10 am. Handed in documents. Paid fee.

Picked up next day.

Very easy, not too busy.

[TerraplaneGuy]

I went last October for a visa. Had to fill in application form on line and print it out.

Booked an appointment to hand in documents. Paid extra for priority service.

Arrived early in the morning, about 10 am. Handed in documents. Paid fee.

Picked up next day.

Very easy, not too busy.

Thanks! Were you applying for a tourist visa? If so, did you give them an invitation letter, a hotel reservation, or both? I ask because in past years it was unclear if you needed both or whether they were alternatives. The document list on the website says "or" so it seems you don't need an invitation letter if you've got a reservation, but I'd like to make sure.

[taxout]

For a tourist visa, the normal procedure at Chinese missions worldwide is to ask for either a ) room reservations and in-and-out tickets or b ) an invitation with supporting documents of the inviter.

Edited April 17, 2016 by taxout

[Halfaboy]

So what to do if you want to visit the country as a single tourist. In that case there will not be an inviter.

Thanks....

[taxout]

You provide round-trip air tickets and hotel reservations. Hotel reservations are not a problem, since rooms booked in China on ctrip and elong can usually be cancelled without penalty.

Note that for anyone passing through Hong Kong first, the Chinese Visa Office in Hong Kong is traditionally less bureaucratic and easier to deal with than most embassies in the region, especially in terms of accepting applications from those without local residency papers.

Edited April 17, 2016 by taxout

[mpyre]

Good information...but what if you intend to travel overland to China, say by train or bus from hanoi? Hotel reservation no problem, but return on train not likely. Is hotel alone good enough?

Edited April 18, 2016 by mpyre

[taxout]

You'll have far less difficulties if you just figure out a way to give them what they want. You're free to change your mind and your itinerary after you get your visa.

[sandyf]

When I went 2 years ago it was tickets, hotel and bank statement. I did myself and my wife at the same time and it was certainly cheaper and easier than a visa for the west.

[Negita43]

Thanks for the useful info.

However I plan to fly BKK to Bejing then go to Xian and then get the train to Lhasa (Tibet) then to Katmandhu Nepal then return to BKK

And so my air tickets will show BKK to Bejing return Katmandhu to BKK

I understand that there may be complications with the Tibet bit If it's applied for at the same time as the China visa.

Anyone have any experience of this?

Thanks