Korean Job Discussion Forums

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

How long does a Chinese visa take to process?

Post office screwed up and the whereabouts of my visa documents and passport are currently unknown. Wasnt couriered as Id asked (even though they kept saying it would be), and 11 days later the travel agent has not received the envelope.... Post office doesnt know where it is, I cant find the receipt.....

The people at the post office reckon it'll just be late cos of Chuseok mail....

If Im to head to China on Sep 30, what is the latest date my travel agent should receive the visa documents??

soviet_man · Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul

I would call the Chinese embassy and ask them to check their records.

But 11 days is not uncommon this time of year. I've waited 15 days for a Chinese Visa to be processed from the Seoul consulate - so it is quite possible that it will still turn up.

If you don't get a satisfactory response - I'd call your OWN embassy (or go and see them in person) and seek their advice.

You may be able to get a replacement passport. Then you would need a replacement Korean visa stamp (presumably) and a replacement Chinese visa. These items could take some time to be issued but it should be possible by September 30. If you have photocopies of the originals, that would obviously be very helpful.

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

No no the problem isnt with the embassy..... it has been 11 days in the mail getting to my travel agent - who will then organise the visa to be processed! Its the stupid postal service! The processing hasnt even begun yet!

EEEK!!! Now Im really worried! My travel agent said it would take 5 days to process, but I was hoping he was including days to get the visa back to me.......

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

If your passport turns up on the 28th, you can still go. They have urgent, same day service for twice the cost.

I would be more worried about whereabouts of my passport than whether I would get a visa or not, personally............

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

Cool thanks for that.

I AM worried about my passport, but it gives me extra time to find it at least. I paid 55,000 so hopefully that means only 2 days for processing.....

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

hmm.. you better check with the travel agent, cos they probably charged your 20k for the service.

You may want to just double check.

IrishJen · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Location: Gumi, Gyeongbuk

I need a Chinese visa for next week as well (30th also). So am I right in saying that you just need to get the right documents together and then post it to the consulate or embassy? You don't have to go in person?

And they mention a letter of invitation (if required) - does anyone know under what circumstances this letter is required?? They don't say anything more about it. I'm confuzzled.

Thanks in advance - I know the advice on here is always priceless.

soviet_man · Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul

A standard "L" type Chinese tourist visa (valid for 30 days stay) does not require a Letter of Invitation.

All you need:

One completed application form.
One passport-sized photo.
Your passport.
Payment.

That's it, just take it to them.

You only need a letter of invitation for Chinese work visas.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

I've done it twice - standard time it took me 4 business days each time.

But there are ways to expediate that with extra cash involved.

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

Hey, this thread shows promise! Has "5 pages" written all over it! We got an OP asking interesting questions, we got soviet man speaking on matters of which he knows, the ever-helpful tzechuk bringing her experience to bear on the subject, and there's ttomplatz too with his advice. (I don't know that poster much) And then we have:

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

Right.... Anyways, back on the topic at hand..........

Has anyone ever used an Emergency Travel Document?

These may only be available for NZers, Im not sure. They were made available when the embassies stopped making passports outside of NZ. Ive found a little info on it, but Im not sure if there have to special circumstances (ie, like a funeral) in order to get it. I have contacted the embassy but still waiting to hear back from them.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

The NZ Embassy was willing to issue me an Emergency Travel Document to go to China, but as it turns out, I cannot use it to get a Chinese visa anyway.

Thanks heaps for the constructive replies. My travel agent emailed today saying he has recieved my passport!! After 12 days in the Korean mail system, the wrong address, and a screw up at the post office - it finally arrived!