DOCUMENT CHECK LIST FOR APPLYING CHINESE VISA
          Effective July 23, 2019 
  Check all items that apply NOTE: if an item is missing it may cause time delay and a $10 error correction fee
  Check
Y/N
Done ITEM FOR CHINA VISA OFFICE COMMENTS
1 These first 7 items are required for all types of visa
1.1 Y   Passport
护照原件
Original Passport
Must be valid for at least six months at the time of application AND have at least one blank visa page.
NOTE:
The endorsements page do not consider a visa page. Do not REMOVE any previous visa from your passport.
1.2 Y   Passport Copy
护照照片页复印件
Copy of passport photo page  
1.3 Y   Local ID Copy (Front and Back)
当地身份证复印件(正反面)
Copy of Local ID
Could be Driver's License/ Identification Card/ recently Water Bill/ Bank Statement etc. 
NOTE:
Just need to prove your residence. For kids, please send copy of parents'  Local ID.
1.4 Y   33mm(W)x48mm(H) Photo
照片  
33mm(W)x48mm(H) photo affixed  to Visa Form V2013
One(一张) for residence of none Washington serving area.
Two(两张) for residence of Washington D.C serving area: Washington DC, Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming.
please refer consular districts for latest serving area.
bare-head, full front face color photo on white background printed on photo paper and taken within last six months. Please note: the 2"x2" USA passport photo is NOT OK. Here's the requirement for the photo. We could resize your photo for $20 each.
1.5 Y   Visa Application Form
签证申请表
V2013 (4 pages) - Visa Application Forms from our website: http://www.freechinavisa.org/docs/V2013.pdf

Los Angeles & Houston version Visa Application Form
Resident of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Southern California, Texas, and Pacific Islands must use special version of V2013. 阿拉巴马,亚利桑那,阿肯色, 佛罗里达, 乔治亚, 夏威夷,路易斯安那,密西西比, 新墨西哥,俄克拉荷马, 南加州,德克萨斯,太平洋诸岛的居民,请使用洛杉矶和休斯顿领馆专用表格。
Must be typed in and completed, no handwriting. Remember to sign and date the form. Otherwise, your case will be delayed and we will charge $10 type in fee per form. 

V2013签证表格必须在计算机上填写后打印,小改动和表格中的中文信息可以手写。全部手写的签证申请会延误,我们还会收取每份$10的填表费用。
 
Please check 22 tips on our website: http://www.freechinavisa.org/visa-news.php (填写签证申请表22个注意事项)
1.6 Y   Employment letter
雇主证明/银行证明
If you apply through San Francisco Consular District (Resident of N-CAL, WA, NV, OR, AK), please provide one of following document:
Employment letter if you are employed;
Copy of business license if you are self-employed;
Copy of stundent ID if you are a student;
For others, last 3 month bank statements.

For now other consular districts do not require this document.
NOTE:
Consular may require additional documents case by case.
1.7 Y   Payment Check
付款
 Make check payable to "FreeChinaVisa"
For customer select Paypal or Zelle, we will send invoice after we receive your document.
Amount is shown on your invoice. Please write down your order tracking number on check.
1.8 Y   Supporting Docs
辅助文件
Every visa requires supporting docs, see item #3 below
各种签证都需要一个或多个辅助文件。

For Chinese origins/Chinese descent, 
see item #4 below.
华人和华人的孩子请参考第四项提供补充材料。


Resident of Houston serving area (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, Puerto Rico), if you are employed Job Description is required.
If the applicant is under age 18, please provide photocopy of the kid's Birth Certificate and photocopy of parents passport(and green card). If the application had China visa before, please provide a photocopy of previous China visa.

18岁以下申请者请注意:
无论是否是第一次申请中国签证,必须提交出生纸的复印件,父母护照及绿卡的复印件;如果曾有签证, 请提供复印件。
         
2 NON-USA passport holder requirement
NOTE: Citizens of some countries must apply in person, like France, Turkey etc. call for details. 
      A legal document
allowing for stay in USA long term.
Such as Green Card, F/H/L or TN/TD work visa. This refers to a long term legal stay. Documents should be copied clearly. For Expedited service, must send us the original of legal document.
3 Required supporting documents by visa type
3.1        L Visa
旅游签证
See #3.9 below for Invitation details
Documents showing the itinerary including air ticket booking record (round trip) and hotel booking confirmation.

Or an invitation letter issued by a relevant entity or individual in China and photocopy of Chinese Resident ID of the inviting individual.
 
3.2        F/M Business visa
访问/商务签证
See #3.9 below for Invitation details
Invitation from China counterpart Invitation from China must be 1) on letterhead; 2) signed by a represantative; 3) bear the company red seal (stamp).
3.3        Q1 Visa
华人长期探亲签证
See #3.9 below for Invitation details
For family reunion, the following documents are required:
1) An invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen with a Chinese permanent residence permit who lives in China.
2) Photocopy of Chinese ID of the inviting individual or foreign passport and permanent residence permit.
3) Original and photocopy of certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate, certification of kinship issued by Public Security Bureau or notarized certification of kinship) showing the relationship of family members between applicant and inviting individual.

For
foster care, please refer to the consulate's website for details.
"Family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law.

Holders of Q1 Visa shall, within 30 days from the date of their entry, apply to the exit/entry administrations of public security organs under local people's governments at or above the county level in the proposed places of residence for foreigners' residence permits. 持证人入境中国后须在30日内向拟居留地县级以上地方人民政府公安机关出入境管理机构申请办理居留证件。
3.4        Q2 Visa
华人短期探亲签证
See #3.9 below for Invitation details
1) An invitation letter by a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen with a Chinese permanent residence permit who lives in China.
2) Photocopy of Chinese ID or foreign passport and permanent residence permit of the inviting individual.
NOTE: 邀请人是中国公民需提供身份证复印件,邀请函中的中国地址必须用中文填写。邀请人是外籍长期居留人士需提供护照和中国绿卡复印件。
3.5        S1 Visa
长期探亲签证
See #3.9 below for Invitation details
1) An invitation letter from the inviting individual (a foreigner who stays or resides in China for work or studies) which contains:
2) A photocopy of the inviting individual's passport and residence permit
3) Original and photocopy of certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate, certification of kinship issued by Public Security Bureau or notarized certification of kinship) showing the relationship of immediate family members between applicants and inviting individual.
"Immediate family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18, parents-in-law.

Holders of S1 Visa shall, within 30 days from the date of their entry, apply to the exit/entry administrations of public security organs under local people's governments at or above the county level in the proposed places of residence for foreigners' residence permits. 持证人入境中国后须在30日内向拟居留地县级以上地方人民政府公安机关出入境管理机构申请办理居留证件。
3.6        S2 Visa
短期探亲和私事签证
See #3.9 below for Invitation details
For visiting family members for a short period, the following documents are required:
1) An invitation letter issued by the inviting individual (a foreigner who stays or resides in China for work or studies) which contains:
2) A photocopy of the inviting individual's (a foreigner who stays or lives in China for work or studies) passport and residence permit
3) Photocopy of certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate or notarized certification of kinship) showing the relationship of family members between the applicant and the inviting individual.

For
private affairs, documentation identifying the nature of the private affairs should be provided as required by the consular officer. 
"Family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law.
 
NOTE: 邀请人是中国公民需提供身份证复印件,邀请函中的中国地址必须用中文填写。邀请人是外籍长期居留人士需提供护照和中国居留许可复印件。
3.7        X1/X2 Visa
长期/短期学习签证
1) Admission letter from a school;
To apply for X1 visa, you also need to provide:
2) Visa authorization letter from a government office (JW201 or JW202).
Original documents are needed and will be returned.
3.8        Z Visa
工作签证
1) Foreign Expert work permit.
2) Visa authorization letter from a government office.
Starting from April 3, 2017 all Z Visa applicants need to go to the San Francisco Chinese Consulate in person to have finger print collected.
Original documents are needed and will be returned.
3.9 Invitation letter should include:
                                       邀请函须包含以下内容
1)  Applicant's personal information: name, gender, date of birth, passport number, etc;  
被邀请人姓名,性别,出生日期,护照号码等;   
2)  Information about the trip to China: purpose of the visit, date of arrival and departure, places  visiting, relationship to the inviter, and  who will bear the cost of the applicant's trip cost in China;   
被邀请人访问信息:来华目的、抵离日期、访问地点、与邀请单位或邀请人关系、费用来源等;    
3)  Information of the inviter: If Company, letterhead, contact info, seal, and legal representative’s signature; if  individual, personal info (address, phone, etc) , and ID card copy.
邀请单位或邀请人信息: 邀请单位名称或个人姓名、电话、地址、单位印章、法定代表签字等。中国境内个人出具邀请函时, 包含地址电话等个人信息,并提供身份证件复印件。  
For sample invitation letter please refer to (& (邀请函样本参见):  www.freechinavisa.org/docs/invitation.pdf
4  For Chinese origins or Chinese descent  签证表的第1.2项, 华人必须填写曾经用过的中文姓名。 (Including those who were born in Taiwan, H.K., or Macau)
4.1     签证表的第1.2项;, 华人必须填写曾经用过的中文姓名。
4.2     签证表的第2.8项,, 说明邀请人的姓名, 关系, 地址, 电话等信息, 用中文填写。
4.3     原中国(台湾,HK)公民(及华人孩子) 必须按顺序有以下任何一种:  
4.3A         现行护照里有旧的中国签证 -OK;
4.3B         旧护照里有旧的中国签证: 要旧护照原件 + 最近一次签证复印;
4.3C         首次申请: 最近的中国(台湾.HK)护照原件 +照片页(及延期页) 的复印;
          如果中国护照的过期时间在美国入籍前,请电话咨询所需文档。
4.3D         OR, 海外出生的华人孩子首次申请: Birth Certificate复印;
           +父母护照首页复印(如果是中国护照,也要绿卡复印件)            
5 22 tips for filling out Visa Application Form V2013    签证申请表注意项目
  填写签证申请表22个注意事项:Please check 22 tips on our website: http://www.freechinavisa.org/visa-news.php
   
6  Error proof tips  - our experience shows the following items are most often problems:
  6.1 Visa Application Form: Most often missed items while it is required:  
       Chinese Name: If the applicant was ever a Chinese citizen in the past.  
       Contact & Inviter in China; a MUST for business visa: an organization with contact person’s name, address and phone.  
               For Q2/S1/S2 visa:  May be a family member, relative, friend, with name, address, and phone.  
     Signature, a MUST.  For children under 18 years old, a parent / guardian needs to sign both part 4 and complete part 5 
  6.2 Timing too tight & risk too high.  
        Regular processing takes about 7 working days. The SF Chinese Consulate stopped all Rush/Express services.   
        Keep in mind that we need 1-2 days to process documents. Unexpected delays can occur.  Always plan with extra days if possible.
  6.3  Short of supporting documents.  Read the checklist above in detail, you are assured all will be right.  
  6.4 Photo does not meet requirements  
       Photo is one of the most often rejected items, especially self-taken pictures. No problems when taken at a photo service shop.
       It must be “PASSPORT STYLE” photo, bare head, full front face, white background, print on photo paper.
7. Sit back and relax while waiting for your passport & visa to come back safely - if you did everything correctly.
Or, in the unlikely event that something is wrong, we will email you and assist you in correcting the problem.

P.S. Visa policies may change without notice.  What was done before does not assure the same for the next.