I. I have a ten-year valid, multiple-entry Chinese visa issued on February 14, 2019 and valid until February 14, 2029. Can I use this visa to go to China now?
Not at present. All multiple-year visas issued before March 26, 2020 and still in validity are still suspended. If such visa holders have the need to go to China at this stage, they can apply for a new visa. If you agree to cancel the multi-year visa to China issued before March 26, 2020, which is still valid, and pay the cost of a new visa, we will handle a new multi-year visa for you; If you do not agree to cancel or pay the fee, our library can provide you with a separate paper visa valid for two entries in six months for free.
II. I have a ten-year valid and multiple-entry L-shaped (tourist) visa, because it was issued before March 26, 2020. Although it is still valid, I know it is not available at present. Can I reapply for the L-shaped (tourist) visa?
No. At present, visas for travel to China and medical services are not accepted temporarily.
不可以。目前，赴华旅游、就医事由签证暂不受理。
III. I have noticed that the certificate hall of the Consulate General in San Francisco has resumed its business recently. Applicants can submit visa applications on site. Do you need to make an appointment for on-site processing?
三、我注意到前不久驻旧金山总领馆证件大厅恢复对外办公，申请人可以现场递交签证申请，请问现场办理是否需要预约？
There is no need to make an appointment at present. If you need to make an appointment in the future, please follow the relevant notices on our website and We Chat official account.
IV. When does the Consulate General accept visa applications on the spot every day?
四、请问总领馆每天什么时候现场受理签证申请？
The time for our library to accept visa applications on site is 9:30-14:30 (Monday to Friday, weekends and holidays).
V. I want to change my Chinese passport. Can I submit my application materials to the Consulate General now?
五、我想办理中国护照换发，现在是否可以到总领馆递交申请材料？
VI. If I have a valid residence permit for work, personal affairs, reunion or study, do I still need to apply for a visa?
六、如果我有有效的工作、私人事务、团聚或者学习类居留许可，还需要办签证吗？
Don't do it. The following personnel do not need to apply for visas to China:
不用办。以下人员赴华无需办理签证：
（一）适用各类互免签证协定的外国人；
(2) Foreigners holding valid Chinese permanent residence certificates;
（二）持有效中国永久居留证件的外国人；
(3) Foreigners holding various valid residence permits;
（三）持各类有效居留许可的外国人；
(4) 24-hour transit visa-free personnel;
（四）24小时过境免签人员；
(5) Foreigners with valid APEC business travel cards (excluding virtual cards) (please note that the United States and Canada are transitional members of the APEC business travel card program, and the APEC business travel cards issued by the United States and Canada do not have the visa function, so visas are required to go to China.)
Note: For the application of the 72-hour and 144-hour transit visa-free policy, please contact the border inspection authority of the proposed entry place directly.
注：72及144小时过境免签政策适用问题请径询拟入境地边检机关。
VII. Do you need to hand in your passport to apply for a visa? Do you have any requirements for your passport?
七、申办签证要不要交护照，对护照有什么要求吗？
To apply for a visa, you need to provide the original passport, which is valid for more than six months, and at least one blank visa page. Generally, the visa page of the passport will be marked with "VISAS".
申请签证需要提供护照原件，护照有效期要在6个月以上，而且需要有至少1张空白签证页。通常情况下，护照的签证页会标有“VISAS”字样。
VIII. Do I need to submit photos to apply for visa? What are the requirements for photos?
八、办签证要交照片吗？对照片有什么要求？
IX. If I submit the visa application form online, is it time to submit the visa application?
九、我在网上在线提交签证申请表，是否就是递交签证申请了？
no, it isn't. That's just completing the visa application form online. After completing the form online, you need to print out the confirmation page and a complete set of forms, and sign on the confirmation page and item 9 of the form. Minor applicants under the age of 18 should be signed by their parents or guardians.
不是的。那只是完成了在线填写签证申请表。在线完成填写后，还需打印出确认页及全套表格，并在确认页及表格第九项签名。未满18周岁的未成年申请人需由父母或监护人代签。
You also need to prepare the invitation letter and other application materials, and submit them together with the visa application form at the site of the certificate hall of our library.
您还需准备邀请函等其他申请材料，与签证申请表一并在我馆证件大厅现场办理时递交。
X. I want to visit my family in China. Is there any format requirement or reference template for the invitation letter he wrote to me?
十、我想去中国探望我的家人，他给我写的邀请函有格式要求或者参考模板吗？
The invitation letter has no fixed format requirements, but it is recommended to include the following contents:
邀请函无固定格式要求，但建议包含以下内容：
The inviter is XX, gender X, date of birth: XX, Chinese ID number number XXX (or foreign passport number XX, Chinese permanent residence certificate number XX), current Chinese residence address XX, contact telephone XX, e-mail XX.
I hereby invite the following relatives to visit their relatives (or live for a long time) in China, and plan to visit China on the day of X, with a stay of XX days. The invitee information is as follows:
本人现邀请以下亲属赴华探亲（或长期居住），拟X年X月X日赴华，停留期XX天。被邀请人信息如下：
Name XX, sex X, date of birth XX, nationality XX, passport number XX, and the relationship with the inviter is XX.
姓名XX，性别X，出生日期XX，国籍XX，护照号XX，与邀请人的亲属关系是XX。
I promise that the above information is true, and I am willing to bear all responsibilities if it is false.
本人承诺上述情况属实，如有虚假，愿承担一切责任。
Signature and date of the inviter
邀请人签字和日期
The invitation letter can be faxed, copied or printed, and must be signed by the inviter. Email body is not accepted as an invitation. If necessary, the consular officer may request the applicant to provide the original of the invitation.
邀请函可以是传真件、复印件或打印件，且必须有邀请人的签名。不接受电子邮件正文作为邀请函。必要时，领事官员可能要求申请人提供邀请函原件。
XI. How should applicants born in the United States with Chinese descent under the age of 18 prepare materials when applying for visas?
十一、在美国出生的有中国血统未满18周岁的申请人申办签证时应该如何准备材料？
It depends on whether such applicants apply for Chinese visas for the first time. If applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, in addition to the conventional application materials, the applicant's birth certificate (the original or copy will be different according to the type of visa application), the copies of the passport personal data pages of both parents, and the documents proving the status of the parents' foreign permanent residence held at the time of the applicant's birth (such as the "green card" of the United States) should also be submitted. If the applicant has previously applied for a Chinese visa, it is required to provide conventional application materials (including the copy of the original visa).
要看此类申请人是否为首次办理中国签证。如首次申办中国签证，除常规申请材料外，还需提交申请人出生证（原件或复印件将根据申办签证类别有所区别），父母双方的护照个人资料页复印件，证明父母在申请人出生时所持有外国永久居留权状况的文件（比如美国“绿卡”等）。如申请人此前已申办过中国签证，需提供常规申请材料（含原签证复印件）。
XII. I have completed the Chinese visa, but I have changed my travel plan due to air ticket and other reasons. Can I change my visa or extend it at the Consulate General?
十二、我已经办好了中国签证，但因机票等原因改变了旅行计划，可以在总领馆改签或者延期吗？
Once the visa application is approved, it cannot be changed or extended, and the fee will not be refunded. Before receiving the visa issued by the Consulate General, it is recommended not to buy tickets to China. The possible losses arising therefrom will be borne by the applicant himself.
签证申请一经批准，不可更改，也不能延期，费用不予退还。在未收到总领馆颁发的签证前，建议不要购买赴华机票。由此可能产生的损失，将由申请人本人自行承担。
XIII. Why is the type of visa issued to me different from that I applied for?
十三、为什么发给我的签证种类跟我申请的不一样？
The consular officer decides whether to issue a visa, as well as the type, validity, duration of stay and number of entries of the visa according to the application case.
领事官员依据申请个案决定是否颁发签证、以及签证的种类、有效期、停留期限和入境次数。
XIV. How do I know if my visa has been completed? How long is it appropriate for me to apply for a visa in advance?
十四、我如何知道我的签证是否已办好？我提前多久申办签证比较合适？
After submitting the application at the window of the certificate hall, the staff will write the date of obtaining the certificate on the "certificate collection form", and the applicant will come to our library to collect the certificate according to the date of obtaining the certificate.
在证件大厅窗口递交申请后，工作人员会在“取证单”上写明取证日期，申请人按取证日期来我馆取证。
Generally, it is recommended to submit visa application about one or two months before the planned entry into China.
一般情况下，建议在计划入境中国前一两个月左右递交签证申请。
XV. When I go to the Consulate General to collect evidence, do I need to "get the number"?
十五、我到总领馆取证时，是否需要“拿号”排队？
You need to show the certificate collection form at the entrance of the certificate hall, and stand in a separate line (different from the applicants who submit the application). After entering the hall, you need not "take the number" to line up in front of the No. 1 window to collect the certificate.
需要在证件大厅门口出示取证单，单独排一队（有别于递交申请的申请人），进入大厅后，无需“拿号”直接到1号窗口前排队取证。
XVI. Now that I am in China and the visa stay period is approaching, can I send my American passport to my friend in the United States, who will then submit a new visa application to the Consulate General on behalf of me?
十六、我现在人在中国，签证停留期快到了，能把我的美国护照寄给我在美国的朋友，再由他代为向总领馆递交新的签证申请吗？
No. First of all, you must leave the country before the expiration of your visa stay, or consult with the local exit and entry management department whether you can apply for extension of stay or residence time on the spot. Secondly, when applying for a visa to the Consulate General, the applicant must be "in the United States".
XVII. I am most afraid of trouble at ordinary times. The visa application form seems to have a lot of contents. I don't want to provide some information. Just fill in it casually?
十七、我平时最怕麻烦，签证申请表看起来内容有点多，有些信息我不想提供，随便填一下就行了吧？
No. According to the relevant provisions of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of Exit and Entry, a visa will not be issued if there is fraud in the process of applying for a visa, or if relevant materials cannot be submitted as required by the visa authority. If a visa is not issued, the visa authority may not explain the reasons.
XVIII. Can I pay the visa fee by cash, personal check or credit card?
十八、签证费我能交现金、个人支票或者用信用卡支付吗？
No. At present, our library only accepts money orders or cashier's checks. For the payee, please write: Chinese Constant, please do not write Visa Office. Do not sign on the back of a bill of exchange or cash cheque.
不能。我馆目前只接受汇票（Money Order）或现金支票（Cashier’s check)，收款方请写：Chinese Consulate，请不要写Visa Office。汇票或现金支票背面不要签名。
XIX. Do I pay the visa fee when I submit the application or when I collect the certificate?
十九、签证费我是在递交申请时交，还是在取证时交？
It shall be submitted at the time of obtaining evidence. Please prepare a draft or cash cheque according to the amount stated on the "Certificate Collection".