Job Discussion Forums

baltomatt · Joined: 29 Sep 2009 Posts: 20 Location: Xi'an, China

I am going to DC tomorrow to get my visa. Since I am leaving at the end of the week I need to get same day service & pay extra. Here is what I am bringing:
- Passport
- Visa application & passport sized photo stapled on it
- Working permit from State Admin of Foreign Experts Affairs
- A form that says "Please apply forthwith for visa...", I think that is my letter of invitation
- Photocopies of the above 2
- Credit card

Am I forgetting anything? Thanks in advance.

Miasaurus · Joined: 05 Aug 2010 Posts: 24

They didn't ask me for my medical exam form at the LA consulate, I assume because it is now required to get the invitation letter in the first place, but maybe bring it with you just in case?

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

When you come to China, make sure any US cash you bring is PRISTINE. ANY wear and tear will be cause for rejection (they run it through a machine to verify that it's real).

baltomatt · Joined: 29 Sep 2009 Posts: 20 Location: Xi'an, China

Everything went without a hitch. But for some strange reason, on the visa, duration of stay is 000 days, and where it says full name, only my first initial and last name are there. I hope this doesn't cause problems when I arrive in China. I assume the embassy knows what they're doing.

Mister Al · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 840 Location: In there

Z visas always have 000 for duration of stay. In fact, once you land in China you have 30 days to go through the procedures and apply for your Residency Permit. It is the RP that allows you to stay and work and it will have an expiry date on it.

AdrianG4 · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 160 Location: Harbin, China

So you got you went to D.C. and got your visa the same day that you showed up ? Were you there right when it opened ??

I have a three hour drive to houston. Visa office at the consulate is open from 9 am to 1 pm ..

I have no intention of staying the night ..

baltomatt · Joined: 29 Sep 2009 Posts: 20 Location: Xi'an, China

I left Baltimore around 6AM to avoid traffic. Figured I'd have breakfast & coffee in DC. I checked out the visa office around 7:30, and there were already 3 people in line outside the door waiting for the 9:30 opening, so I just hung out there for a couple of hours & chatted with them. End result--my number was called almost right away & just wandered around DC waiting for 2:30 pm pickup time. Home by 4:30.

I highly recommend you stay in Houston overnight the night before, get to the visa office extra early & bring a good book. It will be worth it to you in terms of both time and stress level.

Best of luck.

AdrianG4 · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 160 Location: Harbin, China

Thanks, I'll be going to houston the night before Smile

One more question you went with the 1 day procedure .. or the rush procedure .. ? because in some consulates, the 1 day procedure and the "RUSH-SAME DAY" are seperate .. however in the houston consulate, the quickest it has is 1 day .. hopefully that means it can be done in the same-day Smile

Thanksss

baltomatt · Joined: 29 Sep 2009 Posts: 20 Location: Xi'an, China

I went with the one-day--it cost $170 total. If you drop it off by noon, you pick it up between 2:30 and 3:00. At least that's the way it works in DC. But then again, their hours are 9:30 to 3. Not sure how it would work in Houston.

AdrianG4 · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 160 Location: Harbin, China

thank you so much !!!

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

Miles Smiles · Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1294 Location: Heebee Jeebee

I did not send my medical checkup to the Chinese consulate in Washington, DC when I submitted my letter of invitation, visa application and passport because there was NO mention of it on the consulate's website. I checked with the courier to find out if I had to submit it, and I was told no.

I received my visa yesterday.

I DID, however, have to fax it to the recruiter in order to secure the letter of invitation. I was told that I would be required to submit it to the FAO when I arrived at my destination in China.

I have a feeling that the situation will be much as it has been in the past. I'll have to undergo another medical exam when I arrive. When I told my doctor this, he skipped the chest x-ray because of the possibility of my having take another x-ray in China. I had an x-ray last year, and it showed no abnormalities.

SandyG20 · Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 208

I am still waiting for the letter of invitation for the contract I signed.

Kept on sending out applications online for other jobs as well - they are asking me to sign and come over without a z visa - say there is no time to get one.

We do have to send our documents to the consulate we live nearest to - correct?

For me that would be Chicago - I actually think I will use a service to get mine - save me some hassle and time.