| FAQ of Chinese Visa |
| 2007-11-30 |
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Frequently Asked Questions (Not suitable for Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan) do I need to make an appointment?
1. How do I apply for a visa to visit Tibet Autonomous Region of China? You need to acquire prior approval from Tourism Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region, of which the telephone number is 86-891-6834313, and the fax number is 86-891-6834632. Or you may join a tourist group. For details, please contact a local travel agent. 2. When should I lodge the visa application?
Please apply for the visa only 1 to 2 months before your planned date to enter China. Generally, the validity of a single-entry visa is 3 months, counting from the day of application. So please make sure you are going to use it before it expires. 3.Do I need to make an appointment to lodge an application?
No, you do not need to make an appointment to lodge an application or collect your visa. 4.How can I obtain a visa application form before coming to the consulate?
You can download the form this website. Or you may fax your request to the consulate at 08-9221-6144. 5.Can someone else submit the visa application or pick up the visa (and passport) for me? Yes. Visa applications can be submitted by a travel agent, or anyone you ask to. But you need to complete and sign the Visa Application Form yourself. Anyone who presents The PICK UP FORM to the consulate can collect your visa and passport. You are kindly advised to keep the form in a safe place. 6.What is "PICK UP FORM"? What if I lost it? The PICK UP FORM is a pink receipt which is given to you when you lodge the application, yet it is not available when you apply by mail. It is the only proof for collection of your passport and visa. When lost, only the passport holder himself with proper photo ID can retrieve his passport. 7.Can I apply for a visa by mail? Mailing service is available for lodging application and collection. In doing so, you are kindly requested to provide a return envelop duly self-addressed and pre-paid, as well as documents for the specific visa type and most importantly, your passport. An additional 10 Australian dollars per mailing package are charged. The consulate strongly advises that you submit the application through a representative or travel agent due to the fact that loss or damage of passports may occur. 8. Can I make modifications about the application after it has been lodged? No. Change of application details is not possible after lodging, especially of the visa type and number of entries, duration of stay, etc., due to the fact that a visa is printed by computer, and any change on it voids the visa. Therefore you are kindly advised to make sure of everything before you lodge. If change has to be made, it is the only way that you lodge a new application. However, you still need to pay for the previous visa. 9. Can I ask for return of the documents lodged with the visa application? No. If you need to keep any documents for reference, please make copies beforehand. No supporting documents will be returned once lodged with the application. A visa CATEGROY means the type of visa granted to you relating to the purpose of your traveling. L: tourist, visiting relatives or friends; F: business or studying for less than 180 days. X: student visa; Z: working visa; G: transit visa; C: crew visa; J: journalist visa. 11. What are ENTRIES of a visa?
ENTRIES of visa vary from single, double and multiple. A single entry visa enables you to enter and exit China once, while a double twice, and multiple countless. However you need to enter China before the validity date of the visa. On the visa, single entry is printed as 01(壹), while double as 02(贰), and multiple as M(多). 12. What is ENTER BEFORE of a visa? ENTER BEFORE indicates the validity of a visa during which length of time you may enter China since its issuance. On the visa, the date printed after ENTER BEFORE is the last day you may enter China. A single entry visa is usually valid for three months, while a double-entry for six months, and a multiple-entry for 6 months or for 12 months. 13. What is the DURATION OF EACH STAY? The DURATION OF EACH STAY shows how many days you may stay from the day you enter China. It is not necessarily connected to the validity of a visa. You may exit China even after the ENTER BEFORE date. However, overstaying is punishable in China. On the visa, days to stay are printed after DURATION OF EACH STAY as 030,or 060, etc, which allows you to stay 30 days or 60 days respectively. 14. Can I extend the duration of stay while in China? For single or double-entry of CATEGORY of L or F visa, you may apply to the local Security Bureau for and extension of duration of stay. However, approval is left to the bureau's discretion. 15. What are the consular districts served by PRC missions in Australia? The consular districts of the Embassy of PRC in Australia are ACT, South Australia, and Northern Territory. The consular district of the Consulate General of PRC in Sydney is New South Wales. The consular districts of the Consulate General of PRC in Melbourne are Victoria and Tasmania. The consular district of the Consulate General of PRC in Perth is Western Australia. The consular district of the Consulate of PRC in Brisbane is Queensland. |