1. Documentation and application form:
   
   1. passport valid for at least six months
   2. completed application form (The People's Republic of China Visa Application form)
   3. one recent passport size photo
   4. vaccination - International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever required if arriving from infected area within five days
   5. Person suffering from mental disorder, leprosy, AIDS, venereal diseases, contagious tuberculosis or other diseases shall not be allowed to enter China.
2. Methods of application:
   Applicants can appear in person or by designated representatives to apply for a visa at the Chinese Embassy or Consulates. Applicants can apply by mail.
3. Processing time:
   It takes a minimum of five working days to process a visa. Applicant can request expedited processing. Rush/Express/Special Express is available only with the approval of the consular official and additional rush service fees of $30 dollars for same day service will be charged.
4. Visa fees. (The Embassy & Consulates does not accept personal checks. Please provide cash, money order, or company checks.)
   
   

   Number of Entry	Validity	Duration	Visa Fee
   Single	3 months	30 days	$30
   Double	3 months	30 days (each entry)	$45
   Multiple	6 months	30 days (each entry)	$60
   Multiple	12 months	30 days (each entry)	$90

1. Business Visa (F Visa)
   An official invitation from relevant Chinese government agency, companies /organizations authorized by Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue visa, if double entry visa, include their 4 - digit reference number entries granted are single, double or multiple - entry visa.
   
   
2. Tourists Visa (L Visa)
   A tourist visa invitation from a Chinese travel agency; You may be required to provide actual airline tickets showing departure from China. Entries granted are single, double, or multiple.
   
   For travel to Tibet, please contact the Tourist Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region to obtain approval before applying for a visa. Tel: 86-891-6834313 Fax: 86-891-6834632
   
   
3. Employment/Work Visa(Z Visa)
   An official invitation issued by a Chinese government agency, a company authorized to issue visa
   
   A Foreign Specialist's License issued by Chinese Foreign Specialist Bureau when invited to work on an academic and scientific research project, or to provide professional assistance
   
   For foreigners staying in China longer than one year, you must also submit a notarized health certificate. If this health certificate is initiated in the U.S., in order to make this legal in China, it must be notarized by your local Notary Public, legalized by the Secretary where the document was notarized
   
   
4. Transit Visa (G Visa)
   A valid visa of the country of destination, or an invitation, and an airline ticket/travel itinerary showing transit through China
   
   
5. Group Visa
   A tourist group of seven and above can apply for a group visa if they plan to enter and leave China at the same time. The group must provide an invitation from a Chinese travel agency, photocopies of the information pages of their passports with related amendments, and three properly completed Group Visa Application Forms
   
   
6. Visa Applications or Entry Permit for China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region:
   U.S. citizen who possesses a valid U.S. passport going to Hong Kong for business or leisure may stay in Hong Kong for three months without a visa. If they plan to stay in Hong Kong for over three months or if their purposes are for employment, study, training, residence, or visiting relatives, they must apply for a visa.
   
   For more information about Hong Kong Visa Application, please visit
   
   www.info.gov.hk/immd ; Tel: 00852-28246111; Fax: 28777711

The loss or theft of a U.S. passport can bring an American traveling in China much trouble for he will need to have a valid passport to travel and register in hotels within China as well as to exit the country. The loss or theft of the passport should be reported immediately to the local police and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. In order to obtain new Chinese visas, travelers must first get a police report regarding the theft and at least 2 working days are required to get a new passport and exit visas.

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