NIV General Information
How to Apply for a Visa
1) Make an Appointment
a. Buy a pre-paid PIN card from China CITIC Bank or visit the Visa Information Call Center website to purchase a PIN number online. PIN cards cost 54 RMB for 12 minutes of phone time or 36 RMB for 8 minutes. Any unused minutes can be used at a later time or transferred to another party.
b. Call the Visa Information Call Center to make an interview appointment or ask specific questions about the visa process. Please ensure that you know the following information: applicant’s full name, passport number, ID number, contact information, purpose of travel, place of residence, whether s/he was refused before, etc. All long distance charges are the sole responsibility of the caller, and all calls are generally answered in less than 30 seconds.
Call Center Numbers:
Within China: 4008-872-333 (toll free)
(021) 3881-4611 (Shanghai local number)
Outside of China: (86-21) 3881-4611
Hours: Monday-Friday from 7:00 AM –7:00 PM
Saturday from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Pre-recorded visa information is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You may also pay the visa application fee (RMB 930) at China CITIC Bank. Please note that this fee is non-refundable and the original receipts are valid for one year.
2) Complete Visa Application Forms
a. The English DS-156 Electronic Visa Application Form must be filled out online. Please print out all pages (including the bar code page-3 pages in total) and submit them at the time of the visa interview.
b. Other non-immigrant visa application forms can be downloaded from the Embassy’s website or can be obtained for free at a local branch of China CITIC Bank.
c. Glue one 2 X 2 inches color photograph to the English DS-156 form. The photo should be less than 6 months old, have a white background, and be a full frontal view of your face. Click for more information on Photo Requirements.
3) On the Day of the Interview
a. Bring all supporting documents with you for the visa interview. For information on the required and suggested documents, please check the non-immigrant visa types. Non-Applicants are not allowed to enter the building with the applicant. During the interview process each applicant must present their case individually. Applicants need to be prepared to talk about their ties and their travel motives without the accompaniment of other family members or legal representation. The only exceptions are children under the age of 13 and applicants with disabilities may be accompanied under some circumstances. Please fax such requests to 6532 3178 and state the reason for the need to have a person accompany the applicant.
b. Arrive at the embassy or consulate to line up approximately 30 minutes before the appointment time.
c. Go through the security check—Do NOT bring electronic devices, including cellular phones. Backpacks, suitcases, attaché cases, and strollers are also not permitted. Applicants should only bring documents relevant to the visa application.
d. Submit visa application forms and required documents at designated window, and then wait for fingerprint scanning and the visa interview. Be prepared to wait 2 to 3 hours.
e. If your visa application was approved after the interview, your visa will be placed in your passport and your passport will be mailed to you within 5 working days. Expedited pick up is available two working days after the interview date from the China Post Office located in the Chaoyang Government Visa Service Center near the entrance to the Visa Section of the Embassy. Special circumstances, such as the need for administrative processing, incomplete applications, and/or fraud investigations may influence the processing of individual cases and delay visa issuance.
