How I Got My Chinese Visa
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- This is how I got my Chinese visa. I got a 10 year Chinese tourist visa. This travel documentation how-to video lays out all the documents I had to provide and chronicles the process I used which included using a third party processing service and the total cost.
Check out Don's video:
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getting the 10 year is the cost mine is good unto Feb 2020 and cost $130 CAD but hey your all set for 10 years now :)
$130 CAD is about $98 USD so you got yours for less than 1/5 of what Tony paid.
I wish they had that option for US passports. Like a 5 year for half the price.
@@jetstream6389 It was during the Obama presidency back in 2014. www.chinaodysseytours.com/news/10-year-chinese-visa-for-us-citizens.html
Don, whenever you need to fill out any forms, Make sure you check over Tony's forms, or he may just not make it on or off the ship with you!
@@paulgrable7096 But Don went to the consulate....Tony used a "service".
I think I would go to countries where a VISA is not needed
But Chlna has beauty that is not present in any other countries. China was great. I learned so much.
Can't wait to see the video of you guys together!
Sometimes the cost is worth the price so there is no problems, plus it is for 10 years so not too bad.
Single entry for me is $7 and its good for 3 month. So $14 for double entry. Besides, I can do it in Shanghai upon arrival.
I recommend Mr Marcus Magee to everyone here who's in need of a Chinese Visa to contact him and request for his assistance. I got my tourist visa through him.
He's on Wechat as
Marcus_247
@@mauriziourraro7857Thank you sir for this, I just contacted Mr Marcus, I need an M visa to meet my business mate
Well consider this a life learning lesson. Oh! Oh! Don't forget your passport!! Hehe! For that price it should be signed in gold. Thanks for sharing..that was very informative and with your usual personality glee.
Wow Tony, that is a lot of money! But you're definitely going to have the time of your life. So look at it as an investment in fun!
Tony, you and Don are going to have a good time. It’s only money and you do what you have to do. Expensive, yes, but will be worth it. Enjoy your trip!😎
Too much of a hassle, I don't think I will be visiting China . Thanks for enlightening us of the process.
China wants you to visit. They already printed the T-shirt’s every Chinese person will wear in your honor. It says “Jimp 194spd is our new God”. So you gotta go!
Excellent description of your process....wow...almost as much as the cruise. With that cost I hope you’re planning to go back within the next 10 years. I’m Canadian so I’m off to look at Don’s video....thanks
@Megan - I think Don is actually first flying from Ottawa to Vancouver- then cruising from Vancouver to Japan - then flying from Japan to China to catch up with Tony (spending a few nights in a hotel in China) - then cruising from Shanghai to Japan & back to Shanghai & then a few days in China (Shanghai Disney - maybe?) & finally flying back to Ottawa - so his whole trip might actually be $18,000.00 - but Don certainly deserves to treat himself - he’s been through so much with his health issues & cancer treatments- he’s now living his best life!
There is nothing in China I would want to see badly enough to go through that mess and money
Spent 8 months in Shanghai..$550 aint nothing to see this beautiful city
The one benefit of living in Virginia. I'm a 2 hour drive from the Chinese (and basically every other countries') embassy in DC. I'll save that $370 on preparation fees and go to the embassy myself if I need a visa. Sorry, but that's just not worth my money.
Wow Tony, sorry you were had. The administration fees is almost three times the cost of the Visa. I think it only cost Don 130 to 140 Canadian dollars.
I would have love to go to other countries but if I have to pay extra after paying for a passport looks like there’s going to be some countries that I won’t be going to.
10yrs multiple visit is $140, you need an insider in DC.
Had a great time in China it was an amazing country. The people are so friendly. Stand out for me was the north of the country. It is worth all the hassle. Just remember big brother is watching. 😃😃😃
seen Don's video sounds like you got the higher bill, omg that's wrong. but at least your going to China
If you not happy Tony , wait until you have to immigrate to another country and you pay a few thousand dollars ...I would pay happily with a smile....😀😀..take lotsa money for China cause you gonna shop til you drop.....learn a little manderin for the bartering .....and ENJOY...
we canceled india this year january and china cause the process sucked and i was just not up to doing that - but who needs one for 10 years lol for us one visit will be enough lol! see the world don't stop twice.
Hope you aren't in trouble with Jenny for that price :)
So my only question is you were in DC not long ago. Why didn’t you plan a day get your stuff together and spend an extra day doing this. My wife had a point. You could have bought round trip airfare to DC did it and flown back possibly with a hotel stay included in that price.
Is there a window of time before you travel to China that you have to get your Visa?
Lucky I live near enough to a consulate. Could you have travelled to Embassy in DC for less than $300, probably should have gone in yourself if yes, you're fine if not.
About 6 hours to Atlanta would have had to make the trip twice. Would have saved $300. - Tony
@@LaLidoLoca
Except China makes you go to an Embassy or Consulate based on state of Residency, so for you (NC resident) it's DC.
www.china-embassy.org/eng/zmzlljs/t84229.htm
Tony, I had to apply for a US Visa for my upcoming cruise. I am not good with using online services so I decided to go to the US consulate. After standing in line for 45 minutes then going thru security screening I was finally told by a very uncaring attendant that I MUST apply online. I was directed to a passport photo business down the hall where a very busy young lady was assisting others with their visa applications. I finally reached the front of the line and there it was. A computer for me to use. Only one with an ever growing line behind me. I slowly filled in the required information only for the whole system to crash and lock me out. I pressed some damn button which was not supposed to be pressed. I start over more than 3 times and eventually some frustrated person who was waiting in line rescued me and used the machine and helped me. This whole process has taken 90 minutes by now and I was beside myself. I found that it crashed because I typed retired when it asked for my occupation. It needed to know what I did for a living. I had to tell this confounded machine my last job. I was frustrated just like you are now reading my comments. Outcome?: I was accepted at a cost of $14 and headache tablets. No trip to China for me. I need a nap now. Happy sailing Tony.
Hey hey hey Tony,.........Unless I completely missed it,are you going on this trip without Jenny?????
Stupid tax - pay it all of the time. I think of it as my tuition for life lesson. Started small time with “library user fees” - (euphemism for late fees).
How about movie rental late fees. Yikes :) - Tony
The standard drug store photo worked fine. I just trimmed it to the size required.
I saw the fees on their website. Chump change! Really people? You can afford a cruise but can’t afford $260-$550. Common! $260-550 is chump change! Sheesh!
It sounds like it's confusing .
Just saw Don video now to see yours👌
Wow!!! Thanks for detailing the process. Looking forward to seeing your vids
Of course it was expensive, now you have to buy something nice for Jenny. And don’t say another cruise because you know that’s for you! LOL 😂 great video thanks we love it! 💖👍🏼
I have been to China twice and had a company do most of the work for me. It wasn’t as expensive, but it was about 7 years ago. Scariest part is sending off the passport. I remember reading the instructions over and over. I visited Shanghai and Beijing and it was worth he effort and cost. Good luck on your trip!
If you got a Chinese Visa in 2014 and it's good for 10 years, why did you have to do it again?
The 2014 was a 2 entry business visa. Expired :(
You way overpaid, I have worked for 3 expediters including CIBT. They got you bad. The photo from Walgreens, CVS would have worked. I haven't looked at their form for a while but I think that passport replacement is automatic unless you request it to be removed. That fill in your travel information so they can do the application for you is again a fee that's really unnecessary especially for China. I know that application looks onerous, but it really is not a difficult application to fill out.
For tourists they are very exacting on exactly what you need to do. The reason being is many people do it wrong.
Usually when you get a business Visa you have people at your company that assist you. So it's correct before it ever goes to the expeditor.
It should of been between $200-300 for your Visa.
The good thing is although you're only a tourist in China the trip will be a working trip for you since I'm sure you'll be filming, and that makes it a tax deductible since that your business now.
So it could have been worse totally out of your pocket. Can't wait to say your adventures on that trip.
So how did this trip go? Did you get stuck there during lockdowns? Im planning on going now in 2023 that it opened up. The travel agency Ive been working with isnt that helpful.
Thank goodness I have no interest in going to Mainland China! What a chore. At least you are good for 10 years. Very informative video, I’m sure this will help a lot of people.
I can’t wait to see the videos of your trip and maybe you will change my mind about Mainland China.
Is your passport valid for 10 years from the date of your visa? If not, it’s valid only for the balance (less six months) from your existing passport. The visa doesn’t transfer to a new passport. It expires upon expiry of your passport.
I’d suggest anyone travelling to China look into a 144 hour visa. I’ve used it when I entered China and left on a cruise out of shanghai. A second one was issued when I returned to shanghai on that same cruise. I later used one 144 hour visa on another cruise. This one was a reposition cruise from Hong Kong to Tianjin. I was issued that 144 hour visa on entry to Tianjin port and then flew out of Beijing a few days later. Very little documentation needed and FREE.
Covered it in the video. The visa is valid after your passport expires. You have to take you new and old passport with the visa in it for entry. - Tony
It was expensive!! You didn’t pay for it all the views you get from you tube paid for it. Us viewers. Talk about being negative. You be more grateful and say Thank You to us.
Lots of hoops to jump through and a lot of money, but at least it's done, with less stress than if you had done it yourself.
Don is the man!!!! only 2nd to your channel for sure!!! You will have so much fun!!
I bet the flight and the cruisers if they're expensive to go over to China
That's the cost of a cruise lol. Wow
Please keep up on the protest in Hong Kong. Several cruise ships have cancelled stops there.
Shouldn't be an issue Shanghai is 1200km from HK
Good info, all said and done I think it was worth the extra money to have them help with the form. Having paid the money, I would take advantage of it as many times as feasible.
Personally, I think I would first do ports like Hong Kong that don't require a Visa.
How much to drive to DC and do it yourself? That's a bucket of money lol
Nope, Don had a much easier process and it cost him a lot less... But hey, your going to China... I had a great two weeks in China a few years ago... Enjoy!
Wow lots of hoops to go thru. But you got it and for 10 years. Glad it is behind you. Another box checked!
$550 WWWWWWWHHHHAAAAATTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tony think you got scammed just watched Don`s and his was a lot cheaper wow
Ya but Don lives in the capital of Canada.
Stephen G. Dons visa runs out in six months though.
@@teresasheets9553 Ya that seems weird. Everyone I know gets the 10 yr visa. They say it's the same price as the other ones.
The sad thing is you paid for the first ‘free’ Fed ex sticker, trust me they added that cost into your fee. Glad your happy with the whole thing though , that is what counts.. Don paid a lot less, and in Canadian Lol! You used a service and he did it all himself, so he spend more of his time (time is money) doing everything himself. Go have a blast!
Money well spent! You and Don are going on a once in a lifetime trip. In the end it’s not a life changing amount of money but you will have memories of this trip forever.
Jenny didn't get one are you leaving her home?
Do either of you speak Mandarin?
Quite entertaining for me to see a foreigner getting a Chinese visa as I don't need such a visa to enter China.
Share your itinerary so we can see where you are going if you can
I thought Don said you were flying into Japan for a few days before your cruise. If that is true, then a 144 hr transit without a visa WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED because you would be going from Japan to Shanghai and then back to Japan for your first port of call. It must be 3 separate countries. (A-B-C not A-B-A)
Wow well you are good to go!
Seeing you and Don together on this adventure is going to be AWESOME! Don had a much easier time (and cheaper) than you with the visa process, but apparently he was lucky enough to go straight to the consulate in his city. Also, does it benefit the average tourist to go through all of this for 10 years? Why 10 years specifically? Isn’t China more of a once in a lifetime experience for the normal traveler? (although you and Don travel much more than the usual tourist) Genuinely curious. But now that it’s over, you are probably relieved 😅 and can handle getting Jenny a visa if you two ever decide to revisit China, or even take her to Disney! Can’t wait to see the adventures!
IMHO, Waste of money and on top of that, going to Disney in China? What’s wrong with Disney in both coasts at home? Great Wall may be a better choice for both of you since you already spent that kind of money.
Every Disney is different :)
China has long time been off my bucket list for many reasons, this being one of them. Just not worth it!
Wow! I don’t see China in my future.
Dang!! That is expensive.
Is your wife going on the trip? Did she need a China Visa as well for the same amount?
She's not going with them
I can't wait to see your travel vlogs when you finally set sail--especially the trip to Disney!!
I think that's short money when you think about having a certain peace of mind and getting a 10 year visa. I'd pay that if I was going to be doing all that you are. Can't wait to see the videos! Thanks, Tony!
As I'm in Seattle, I googled and found TravelVisaPro.com.
As for the part about your job - what do they do if you are retired?
I believe they want to know what you used to do. Doctor, lawyer, salesman etc.
Hi! I’m in Seattle as well and planning on going to China in two months. Did that site work for you?
I know it was very expensive but I think you did all the right steps
I was waiting for this! Thanks for doing this video! :)
Did Jenny make you sleep on the sofa that night?
Tony you are a dedicated traveler and I think thats good.
Good info!
Would like to see a video with both of you on the cruise
I'm sure they both will vlog it
Sounds like a lot of work but well worth it for a 10 year visa
You used the same Visa place I use! 😁
Wow...that's was expensive!
Wow Tony, I hope Don and you have a great time!!
👀👀👀, Never!!!
Thank you for the very detailed information.
Now you have your visa, happy travels🚢
that is a lot of money even for a 10 yr visa
Very informative and detailed video.
Is Jenny going with you?
That was really really interesting!!
I am reading that you can stay in China for up to 6 days without a visa with some restrictions. If you're just flying in to get on a cruise ship, does it make sense to bother with the hassle of a visa?
I think you would be fine. At the time I wasn’t sure if I would be in country longer than that or not. - Tony
www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/visa-application/144-hour-visa-free.htm
Great info!
this is great, thank you! I used their services as well including expedited services. I had been looking at different visa services many of which just file on your behalf but don't verify your info or help prevent mistakes. I am expecting it to be rather pricey... about 200$ for vis applicaiton fee, about 200$ for the filing fee, 450$ for the premium services plus expedited shipping 65$ anticipating it coming in around 1000$. I would have likely done less if I wasn't up on a time crunch where I can't afford to have a mistake (and thus a delay) due to me getting my passport later then expected.
Will you do a video from your cruise ?
We would like to know about the experience.
We was advised not to do any cruise around China and Japan as it would not fulfill our expectation.
When we was advised not to do cruise around there, was it when we cruised from Abu Dhabi to Japan with MSC YC.
I guess if you spread it out over 10years $542 is not Bad! I once had to get travel documents for a 10 country round the world trip ... iuseda service like the one you mention ... not sure it would have been worth my time trying to figure it all out. Wish I was going with you and Don!
Whoa! passport panic! Great save.
Ouch my wife is Chinese we have a visa centre in my city so it is easy, I've been to China 8 or 9 times. I can't get a 10 year visa not American...
The application form is intimidating lol but I've always filled it out myself never had a problem... Still better than NO VISA
Sure a few things you could have done to cut costs. You could have gone to Washington and walked it thru yourself. BUT when you put a price on your time, would that have been worth it? You're gonna have an amazing time! BTW will you vlog from cruise or after you get home? Cant wait to watch!!!!
WOW!! With the costs you incurred, I think I would have taken a trip to Atlanta or DC to actually SAVE money (plus I'd rather have someone guide me IN PERSON).
Hi have a great day
I don’t think I paid as much but I went directly to the consulate. You can do so much online it’s much faster. I love China. My first trip in ‘89. I hope you plan to go to Xiam to see the the terra-cotta soldiers. Amazing. China is a country with 5,000 years of culture, Have a great time! If you go once, you’ll be back and you will be glad you have that 10 year visa.
I just got my China visa through Visa Central at similar cost. Terrible at disclosing pricing up front. The “replacement fee” was in tiny type at very bottom of the page. It was assumed you wanted that service so billed for it unless you specifically opted out. Again, very sneaky! Plus I had to pay for shipping in both directions with no choice of service type. Had plenty of time so would have selected 2-day vs priority overnight if I had an option. Bottom line, read everything very very carefully and expect to pay upwards of $400 if you use a service vs going to an embassy to handle yourself.
I believe you made a good decision yes it was expensive but you would never have gotten the Visa in time for your trip. If you had lived closer to the consulate office in the United States and you probably could have saved money. You did the right thing. Have a great and a safe vacation! ( I stole that saying!!!)
I would always remember when you ask for convenience and someone to “ help you” you are going to pay for it! I would save the money and do the legwork myself and blow the cash on my cruise. Just saying yes...I would slow done and TAKE THE TIME.
Honestly you did not getca bad deal. Considering you used a service and it is a ten year visa. Think of it as costing $50/year where as Don spent double that for six months. My sister-in-law is from Macau and they go to China quite often. The only problem is be aware of the pollution in the cities. Some people have a hard time with the air.