Looking to obtain a China visa right now? It might not be as easy as you think. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 28, 2020, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) suspended entry into mainland China by foreign nationals holding residence permits or visas. The PRC then proceeded to alter this ban on August 10, 2020, to allow entry of some nationals, but not citizens of the United States, according to the U.S. Department of States.
Even though there are currently travel restrictions in place when it comes to visiting China, we are happy to report that we recently have been seeing the Chinese consulates start to issue visas again, but only for certain people and circumstances.
If you’re someone who’s looking to travel to China in the near future, but aren’t sure if you can obtain a visa, here’s what you should know:
Can I Currently Get a Business Visa?
At the moment, the Chinese consulates are only processing certain business visas (M Visas and F Visas) with a “PU” invite from China. A “PU” invite is an official invitation letter issued by the China Foreign Affairs Office. The document is in Chinese and has a barcode at the top. Please note that most people are not eligible to receive this type of invite. If you do not receive this invite, you will not be issued a visa.
You can find out more about PU invites, here.
What About Work Visas?
The Chinese consulates are currently issuing Work Visas (Z Visas) with a special invite from China called, Notification Letter Of Foreigner’s Work Permit In The People’s Republic Of China. Unfortunately, without this invite, you will not be issued a work visa.
Another thing that you should be aware of is that prior to the coronavirus pandemic, work visas required a personal appearance by the applicant, but as of December 7, 2020, this is no longer a requirement.
Are the Consulates Issuing Tourist or Family Visas?
As of November 2020, the consulates are not issuing Tourist or Family Visas (Q1 Visas and S1 Visas), and unfortunately, there’s no telling when the issuing of these visas will resume.
What Else Should I Know?
- All consulates are now requiring appointments to submit a Chinese visa application.
- China is scrutinizing every single application before they begin processing.
- The China consulate in Houston is still closed, so all paperwork is now going through the embassy located in Washington, DC.
- Current processing times are anywhere between 7 to 10 business days.
If you have any questions in regards to obtaining a China visa, please don’t hesitate to contact us. One of our knowledgeable team members would be happy to help. Furthermore, if you find that you need assistance with document legalization services and are ready to begin the process, you can get started on your order, here.
