Frequently Asked Questions

No. Since January 1, 2024, US citizens applying for a China tourist (L) visa no longer need an invitation letter, flight booking, or hotel reservation. Just your passport, photo, and proof of US residence.

不需要。2024年1月1日起，美国公民申请中国旅游签证（L签）不再需要邀请函、机票或酒店预订单。只需护照、证件照和美国居住证明。

It depends on your nationality and current visa status. If you're a Chinese citizen with a valid US visa (not a US passport), you may need a different process. Contact us via WeChat with your specific situation for guidance.

取决于你的国籍和当前签证状态。如果你持美国签证（非美国护照），申请流程可能不同。请通过微信联系我们，说明具体情况，我们会给你指导。

If your Chinese passport is expired and you need to travel to China, you need to renew it first at the nearest Chinese consulate. We can help you with both the passport renewal and the visa application. Note: you typically need to be physically present at the consulate for Chinese passport renewals.

如果中国护照过期，你需要先到最近的领事馆更换护照。我们可以同时帮你处理护照换发和签证申请。注意：中国护照换发通常需要本人到领事馆办理。

Yes. Every traveler, including infants and children, needs their own China visa. A child's visa application follows the same process as adults. Both parents typically need to be present at the consulate, or provide notarized consent from the absent parent.

是的。每个旅行者，包括婴儿和儿童，都需要单独的中国签证。孩子的申请流程与成人相同。通常父母双方都需要到场，或提供缺席方公证的同意书。

Your state of residence determines which consulate handles your application. Los Angeles covers California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Guam. San Francisco covers Washington, Oregon, and northern California. New York covers New York, New Jersey, and eastern states. Chicago covers the Midwest.

居住州决定领事馆。洛杉矶领区：加州、亚利桑那、内华达、新墨西哥、夏威夷、关岛。旧金山领区：华盛顿州、俄勒冈、北加州。纽约领区：纽约州、新泽西等东部州。芝加哥领区：中西部各州。

Standard processing is 4-5 business days after your consulate appointment. Expedited service (2-3 days) is available for an additional fee. The total time from first consultation to receiving your passport is typically 1-2 weeks.

标准办理是面试后4-5个工作日。加急服务2-3个工作日（需额外费用）。从首次咨询到收到护照通常需要1-2周。

COVA (China Online Visa Application) is China's official online visa application portal launched in September 2025. All visa applicants must complete the COVA form before visiting the consulate. We fill out the entire COVA form for you — you just answer a few simple questions.

COVA（中国在线签证申请系统）是中国2025年9月推出的官方在线签证申请平台。所有申请人都必须先完成COVA表格才能去领事馆面试。我们帮你填写整个COVA表格——你只需回答几个简单问题。

Yes, in some cases. Visa extensions are handled by the Exit-Entry Administration of the local Public Security Bureau in China. The process and approval depend on your specific situation. Extensions are generally possible for L and Q2 visas but not guaranteed — it depends on the reason for extension and当地公安局的决定。We can advise on extension strategy before you travel.

可以，部分情况下。中国境内的签证续签由当地公安局出入境管理局处理。是否获批取决于你的具体情况。L签和Q2签通常可以申请延期，但需提前了解公安局要求。我们可以在你出行前提供延期策略建议。

For L and Q2 visas, the interview is very brief (1-3 minutes). The officer will verify your identity, check your fingerprints, and ask basic questions about your trip (where you're going, how long, who you're visiting). The interview is in Chinese but very simple questions. We prepare you beforehand so you know exactly what to expect.

L签和Q2签的面试非常简短（1-3分钟）。签证官会核实身份、采集指纹，询问旅行基本信息（去哪、待多久、看谁）。面试用中文但问题很简单。我们会提前帮你准备，让你胸有成竹。

Government filing fee: $140 (standard) or $165 (expedited). Our service fee starts at $399 for L visa, $499 for Q2 visa. These are separate costs — you pay government fees directly, and our service fee covers our work.

政府费用：$140（标准）或$165（加急）。我们的服务费：L签$399起，Q2签$499起。这些是分开付的——政府费用直接付给领事馆，服务费是我们的工作费用。

L (Tourist) visa: for casual visits, sightseeing, visiting friends informally. Max stay 60-90 days. No invitation letter needed since 2024. Q2 (Family Visit) visa: for visiting Chinese family members for longer stays. Max stay up to 180 days. Requires invitation letter from your Chinese family member. Better for multiple visits per year.

L（旅游）签证：休闲旅游、探访朋友。最长停留60-90天。2024年起无需邀请函。Q2（探亲）签证：探望中国籍家人。最长停留180天。需要邀请函。适合一年内多次往返。

L visa: typically 90 days from issue date. Q2 visa: typically 6 months from issue date, allowing stays up to 180 days per visit. M and other visas vary by type and entry frequency. The visa must be used within its validity period — you can't 'bank' it for later.

L签证：通常签发后90天内有效。Q2签证：通常6个月有效，单次可停留最长180天。M签等类型根据签证种类和入境次数不同。签证必须在有效期内使用，不能「存着」以后用。