Re: Chinese Visa Application Process

Re: Chinese Visa Application Process

The “Visa ApplicationProcess” involves (1) completing an official Chinese Visa Application, (2) gathering,and as needed, copying personal information and documents, and (3) submittingthe application,copies and actual documents and fees in a secure manner to The Gladney Center for Adoption (if using the messenger service – ask if available for your area) or to your designated Consulate. A detailed description of each of these requirements is outlined below.

1)Visa Application (V 2011A): Each travelermustsubmit a completed visa application form.Download the form to your computer: for downloading are at:

PLEASE NOTE: the instructions for completing the application form are specific and must be adhered to carefully - complete the application in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, and then printthe completed form from a computer; handwritten forms will NOT be accepted! For children adopted from China, fill in the Chinese name in Chinese characters in box 1.3 on the visa application form. Contact Gongzhan or Lydia if you need assistance with this part of the application.Sample visa application forms can be viewed at the Gladney Asia website(

***For all children (under age 21) traveling, whether adopted from China or not, you must submit a copy of their birth certificate with their visa application.

2)PassportPhoto:For each visa application, attach an official passport photo of the applicant to the visa application.Please do not use personal photos cut down to size or make photos of yourself using a digital camera.Many stores, including most photo stores, offer a passport photo service.

3)Fees:The Chinese Consulate requires a $140 application fee for each single-entry visa application.Feesmust be paid via certified check made payable to the: Chinese Consulate General. In addition, applicants are required to pay a messenger service fee of $45for each application. The messenger fee*should be paid by cash or personal check made out to: PUMAYYY.

*The Chinese Embassy and Consulate General in the United States ceased the mail service (including express delivery) for application of Chinese visas as of May 1, 2003.Applications must now be presented in person by you or via a messenger service.

4)Your Passport:You should submit your original passport that is valid for at least 6 months past your planned return date, with at least one blank visa page anda photocopy of the passport's information/photo page.Processing time, during which time you will not have your passport, may take approximately 3 – 4 weeks.

***Note: For children adopted from China, you will need to send their Chinese passport along with their U.S. passport to obtain the visa. It will be returned to you with one corner snipped. Additionally, you will need to send copies of the Adoption Decree or court documents regarding the child’s name change from their Chinese name on their Chinese passport to their American name on their U.S. passport.

***If you have traveled to China before and the visas are not in your current passport, you will need to send copies of all visas from prior trips to China along with the signature/photo page of the passport(s) with the visa. Note: If the prior visa was stamped in, you must send the actual passport.

5)Submitting Your Application Using Gladney’s Messenger Service:Please submit theChinese Visa Application, photos, forms and documents in a secure, traceable envelope (for example, Fed Ex or USPS) to: Mr. Gongzhan Wu, The Gladney Center for Adoption, 48 Wall Street, Suite 703, New York, NY 10005.

For the secure return of your passport and other documents after processing, please also include a self-addressed prepaid traceable shippinglabel (for example, a label from Fed Ex or USPS).