The Yellow Roadtrip: Juan's Guide to applying for a Chinese Tourist Visa

First of all, let's make it clear that I'm no expert on applying visas whatsoever. It just so happened that we recently got approved of a Chinese Visa. So as a way of helping others, I'm posting the procedures we've done.

Scenario:
1. Two Philippine passport holder who are Filipino Nationals by birth.
2. Aiming for a renewal of Chinese Tourist Visa (meaning we've been to China before).

You might ask why won't I just post the procedures we took when we applied for the first time. That I cannot tell you because I don't know. Hehe. Seriously, the process was handled by our previous company's HR. They just asked for our passports, then a few days later they returned it with a sticker visa. Nice eh? It was all work-related though. Aww. But I'll try to put all I learned from my research here. If you find my guide with incomplete information, you can always check the blog posts of Paul and Fran. Both are very helpful. Anyway, Let's start with mine!

STEP 1: PREPARE YOUR DOCUMENTS

Tourist or Family Visit Visa (Category L) Requirements (and tips!)
1. Passport
- Original passport that is valid for at least another 6 months with at least one blank visa page
- Photocopy of the passport's information/photo (first) page
- Photocopy of the passport's Emergency Contact Page.

2. Visa Application Form
- Download the form HERE.
- As indicated in the form, use a black ballpen and write in block all caps letter. The PDF can be filled up, you can do so before printing.
- Do not leave any field blank. Write N/A if the question does not apply to you.
- For the Local ID Card Number, use this format - Card type/Card No. Example: SSS/34********

3. Photo
– Affix one color photo on the Application Form. The photo should be recent, front view, white background, in 48mm x 33mm size (passport size) without head covering. Glue the photo to the appropriate field. Stapled/taped/clipped/detached/scanned photos will not be accepted.

4. Invitation Letter
– Invitation Letter for Tourist issued by an Authorized Travel Agency or other travel agencies in China, or an invitation letter from your relative/friend who must attach his/her personal ID copy.
- If you can not acquire either of them, you must submit printout of round-trip airline ticket and hotel reservation.
- I've read somewhere that the consul can deny your application because of incorrect invitation letter format so I searched the net for samples. Travel agencies have their own formats (with letterhead). But for those who's inviters are private individuals, a normal letter will do as long as the details are complete and the signature are handwritten (not scanned). Here's the invitation letter we submitted. We were approved so I guess it's good enough.

5. Previous Chinese Visa (in new or old passport)
– Photocopy of the original passport's information/photo page and the page containing the previous Chinese visa and entry/exit stamps.
- Only sticker visas are accepted. Stamped Visas (very old visa) are not accepted. If you have the stamped one, who have to apply as first-time visa applicant.

NOTE: We only provided these first five requirements.

Additional Requirements for First Time Applicants:

6. Income Tax Return (ITR) Statement (BIR 2316)

7. Certificate of Employment

- Indicating your salary and your length of employment.

- For business owners, submit your business registration certificate.

- For licensed professional, submit your professional ID.

8. Proof of financial capacity

- Original bank certificate with receipt or original passbook,

- Updated within the month that you are applying

- ADB of 100k for the past 6 months ("Show money" that you have funds for your travel)- According to some sources, if a company or an individual will sponsor the trip (regardless of whether they're based in China or in the Philippines), you should provide their bank statements instead. You'll have better chances if you'll provide proof of your relationship. In our case, our trip will be sponsored by a friend but we only provided his invitation letter for us and a copy of his passport. We do not have his bank certificate yet we were approved. Maybe it's because we've been granted visas before so the rules were lenient to us? To be safe, just prepare everything.

Others Cases:
9) Certificate of Name Change
- If the name in the new passport is different from that of the old one where your previous sticker visa was attached, the official document (birth certificate/marriage contract) issued by authorities for name change must be submitted.
- In my case, even though I recently got married, I did not use my husband's name yet. I still have 2+ years left before my current passport's expiry so I'm planning to utilize it. In short, I'll be travelling using my maiden name. As per my research, it's completely acceptable. I'll just bring along the necessary documents on my travel to be on the safe side.

10). For students
- Photocopy of student ID. Students should present sponsorship letter and sponsor's bank certificate/statement since they are expected to have no personal money yet.

11) Former Chinese Citizens and Citizens Born in China

- Original Chinese Passport

- Photocopy of the information/photo page of the passport (and extension page, if applicable).

12) Non-Philippines Nationals

– Valid proof of residency, employment or study in the Philippines.

- Temporary visitors should apply for Chinese visas in their own countries, for special cases and if the applicant can provide valid proof of ID and employment, approval though will be on case-by-case basis. A Supplementary Visa Application Form of the People's Republic of China is also needed.

Important Notes:

- Personal appearances are required only based on the consuls demands. Naturally, other people can apply on your behalf as long as you authorize them.

- Requirements change from time to time. To be safe, always double check what you will be reading here to the official Chinese embassy website. You can also check the requirements for other categories in that site also. What's written here are for Category L only.

STEP 2: SUBMIT YOUR CHINESE VISA APPLICATION

You have 2 options - either you submit it personally or pay a travel agency to do it for you. Others testified that it is easier to process your visas thru accredited travel agencies. But of course, it comes with additional charges.

We processed our visas ourselves. Here's some tips from us -

- Head to the Chinese embassy early. I read comments that the lines there can get very long. So on the day of our application, we were already at the front of the building at 7 am. I thought we were too early but we were 9th on the line already. Don't worry about the parking. Makati Business District has a lot of parking spaces (there's one across the building). This is as long as you arrive early. I can't say the same if you arrive past 8 am when the employees are also parking their cars.

Here's the embassy's address -

Address:

2^nd & 3^rd Floor The World Center,

330 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue, Makati City, Metro Manila,

Visa Office Hours:

09:00 am to 11:00 am (Monday to Friday, Except for Legal Festivals and Holidays )

- Take note that the Visa Office Hours is from 9 to 11 am only. We arrived at 7 am then we were told by the building guards to fall in line outside the building. Around 8 in the morning, we were already ushered to go up the Embassy. Upon entering, you will be given a number by the guards. For two applications, they said we only need one number. So that makes us 5th in line. Yey! By quarter to nine, the first five number were called to line up at Window 3 (But normally, you have to wait for your number to flash on the screen). By around 9:05, we were done already. Such breeze!

- Although we were at number 5, we were the first to have a 'favorable' encounter with the consul. Here's what I noticed from the ones before us -
(1) No photocopy of the passport's Contact In case of Emergency page - There is a photocopy machine near the guards but it was not working when we were there so the girl went outside. Which is very sad because once you were turned down by the consul you have to move out of the line then get a new number when you come back. By the time the girl went outside, the line's already at 110+. Waste of time!
(2) Incomplete Documents - A chinese couple in front of us were turned down because their documents were incomplete according to the consul. It doesn't help that they look very Chinese and they also speak Chinese.

- So you might wonder what questions do the consul usually ask. It might vary depending on your documents, but for us it's these questions - "How do you meet your Chinese friend?", "How long are you staying in China?". The consul that day did not speak much. In the woman before us, she just reviewed her documents and told her that it's incomplete.

- After the short interview, a pink slip was handed to us. I was ecstatic! I read that if the form given to you is pink and if there is a definite claiming date on it, you are 90% approved. Although some said that someone called them a few days after to inform them that they are denied. Some others knew about the sad news when they turn up to pick the visas.

STEP 3: PAY AND CLAIM YOUR PASSPORT

If a travel agency processed your visa, you only have to wait for them to update you if the passport is ready for pickup. But if you're doing it personally, you have to head to the embassy again. Same as how you apply, you have to go there early also then get a number from the guard. Then pay at the cashier (window 7). Here's the current fees -

Single-entry Visa: Php. 1,400
Double-entry Visa: Php. 2,100
Multi-entry with 6 months validity: Php. 2,800
Multi-entry with 12 months validity: Php. 4,200

Rush fee: Additional Php. 1,100 on top of your visa fee.

Check the receipt number located right below the word RECEIPT. Line up and wait for your turn to claim your passport at window 6.