Preventing Processing Delays for Chinese Visas 14 September 12

With Chinese consulates becoming increasingly strict about the enforcement of visa requirements, it’s more important than ever to make sure that the documents you submit meet their guidelines.

The greatest problems we are seeing are with business visa requests, which require a very detailed and specific letter from the company to be visited in China.  At the consulate in Houston, which already has the slowest processing because they have eliminated all rush processing options, some applicants are having their processing times doubled without warning.  Consular officers have been attempting to telephone the contact person listed on the Chinese invitation letter, and if the contact does not answer — which is quite likely, given the time difference between Houston and Beijing! — the visa processing time will be extended from five business days to ten.

We believe that the best way to avoid this type of processing delay is to ensure that all of the required details are included on the business letter from China.  All of the following details must be included.

Details about the applicant:

• Full name
• Gender
• Citizenship
• Passport Number
• Date of Birth
• Job Title
• Company Name

Details about the trip:

• Entry and Exit Dates
• Purpose of the Journey
• Cities to be Visited
• Requested Visa Duration
• Requested Visa Type
• Requested Number of Entries
• Financial Guarantee for Applicant’s Expenses

Details about the contact person in China:

• Full Name
• Job Title
• Company Name
• Company Mailing Address
• Business Telephone Number
• Mobile Telephone Number
• Email Address

This letter should be on letterhead, and must show both a signature and a personal seal from an executive of the company to be visited.  The personal seal is a small ink stamp; all Chinese executives will have their own stamp, which is used in conjunction with their signature on checks, contracts, legal documents and important letters.  Faxed or scanned letters are accepted.

A sample of a business letter is provided below.  This sample also appears in all of our visa instruction PDFs.

June 1, 2012

Consulate General ofChina

Consular Section

 

Dear Visa Officer,

We are cordially inviting Jeremy Simmons (male, citizen of USA, US Passport Number 123456789, born 25 December 1960) [Insert your name, gender, citizenship, passport number, date of birth], Vice President [Insert your position], International Public Policy, East Coast Promotions, Inc.  [Insert the name of your company] to visit China on Monday, August 3 through August 17 [Dates of your trip]. During this trip he will meet with a representative of our company to discuss the sale and distribution of our products. Meetings will take place in Beijing and he will also tour our factory in Shanghai [specify places to be visited].

His agenda is to meet and discuss business with Mr. Li Wei, Director of International Sales, [Insert Name of Contact and Job Title] at:

Company Name

Street Address

City, Country, Zip Code

Telephone Number

Mobile Phone Number

Email Address

(It is important to list full contact information for the individual you are going to visit.)                                                                                                                            

East Coast Promotions, Inc.[Insert Company Name] will assume all financial responsibility for any debts incurred by Jeremy Simmons while traveling on business in China.    [The letter must include a financial guarantee for the applicant.]

We request that you issue a single entry business visa valid 30 days [specify number of entries and duration].  I appreciate your attention to this matter.

 

Sincerely,

 

[Letter must have the signature and seal of a company representative.]

Zhang Jin

Executive Officer

Overseas Company, Inc.