China is now open for tourism. This is great news! For many visitors, a visa is required and must be obtain prior to leaving your country. We are heading to China this November and used Chinese Visa Express LLC out of Raleigh NC as our representative at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Washington, DC. You must either go in person yourself with the required documents or hire someone to represent you going in your place. We chose to use the services of Chinese Visa Express to represent us. We were not disappointed. The owner Ping Zhang kept in contact, reviewed our application prior to finalizing, and kept in contact with us throughout the 2 week process. Consider using Chinese Visa Express for your Tourist (L) needs.
Here are the steps:
Step 1: Make sure you have a 2 x 2 passport like photo ready to upload before starting step 2. Review the Chinese Visa Photo Requirements. We didn’t see this until logging into the application. We went to CVS and have the photos taken adding them to a USB drive. Be sure that you use only a solid white background
Step 2: Once you have your photos ready for upload, complete the COVA Visa Form. Please log on to https://cova.mfa.gov.cn to fill out the form online. You must do this part before moving on. Stop at review. We did this and send Ping Zhang the application number (chinesevisaexpress1@gmail.com or 919-345-0110)
Step 3: Ping will review the application letting you know if anything needs revised. Make a colored copy of the bio-page of the passport (including the signature page)
Step 4: Once the application is ready, go back in the application (you will need the application number and passport number) to get back into the original application. Otherwise, you will have to restart the application process again. This is why its important to save the original application number (see sample image above).
Step 5: Complete this form: Where You Stay Form be sure to print this form and use original handwritten signature. Don’t sign electronically!
Learn more about the hints for filling out the COVA visa form by reviewing Annex 1
Additional Hints:
a) Get your 2 x 2 passport quality photos ready before starting the application process. Review this: Chinese Visa Photo Requirements
b) When listing where you will be in the China in the application, keep it simple. List arrival city (i.e., Shanghai) and departure city (Beijing). Don’t list every city that you plan to visit.
c) Print the application in color and sign page 1 and page 7. Watch dating the application. It’s in day, month, year (03, Feb, 2024) format.
d) You will need to send your original passports and all the above documents to Chinese Visa Express. Chinese Visa Express will give you the address once Ping feels its ready.
We were hesitate at using a visa service, but not disappointed in this process.
Chinese Visa Express was recommended by a friend and owner of a local restaurant here in Wilmington NC who has used their services several times. This saved us spending days in DC waiting for the process.
Contact info for Chinese Visa Express, LLC:
Email: Ping Zhang at chinesevisaexpress1@gmail.com
Phone: (919) 345-0110
Thank you reading,
Dr. Nick
drnicktravels.com 