Non-Asian Passport Holders

Everyone traveling to China (except certain Asian passports such as China, Taiwan & Japan) are required to have a visa prior to entering the country. The number of entries will depend on which tour you decide to join. If you cancel your tour for any reason and your visa to China has already been obtained by us, the visa processing fee is 100% non-refundable.

Single Entry Visa ($150 per person)
If you join a tour that does not include Hong Kong, you are only required a single entry visa.

Double Entry Visa ($150 per person)
If you join a tour that includes Hong Kong, you are required a double entry visa because once you enter Hong Kong, you are considered leaving Mainland China. A second entry is necessary to continue your tour from Hong Kong to Guangzhou. You must have at least six (6) or more months left on your passport in order to apply for a double entry visa.

Multiple Entry Visa ($150 per person)

A multiple entry visa allows you to re-enter China multiple times within a one year span. This requires your passport to not expire for at least one year from the day you depart the U.S. None of our tours require a multiple entry visa; however, if your passport falls within this guideline, we usually obtain a multiple entry visa for you since it is the same price as a single or double entry. We see it as an added convenience to you in case you decide to go back to China within a year. You don’t have to worry about the hassle of going through the entire visa process again.

Visa Application Procedures

Effective as of May 1, 2003, all Chinese Consulates no longer accept visa applications by postal mail due to security purposes. Therefore, if you do not live close to a Chinese Consulate, you may either mail your passport to us for processing or go to a nearby agency that supports this type of service as we do. HOWEVER, YOU SHOULD NEVER MAIL YOUR PASSPORT(S) DIRECTLY TO ANY OF THE CHINESE CONSULATES/EMBASSY! THEY WILL BE REJECTED AND WILL CAUSE A DELAY IN OBTAINING YOUR VISA TO CHINA.

Effective as of May 1, 2008, all Chinese Consulate will now require copies of your hotel information and flight itinerary in order to be approved for a visa to enter the country. This is an updated security measure in preparation for the 2008 Olympic games this August. For those who have purchased complete packages from us, we will provide you with the information you need to obtain the visa. For those who chose to join the land only portion or booked their own add-on', we strongly advise you to take advantage of our visa handling services for only $150/person (only $20 more than what you'd pay to get it on your own plus the fee includes our shipping & handling fee already). Especially since the visa process is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain on your own.

If you choose to use our services, it's best to send everything to us with your final payment, which is due 50 days prior to your departure date. Be sure to send your passport either by Federal Express, UPS, DHL or Express Mail through the post office so that you may track your package. China Focus is NOT responsible for any lost passports. You must also be signed up on one of our tours in order to use our visa services. The following 3 items are required to obtain an individual visa (single, double, or multiple):

1) Actual U.S. Passport (For NON U.S. passport holders, send your actual passport AND a copy of your Resident Alien card).

• MUST BE SIGNED in order to be valid! Parents/Guardians may sign for minors.
• Must be valid for at least one year from the date of your departure from the U.S.
• Must have one full blank page (pgs. 7-21) for the visa: How to add pages. 
• Amendment/endorsement pages do not count (anything beyond p. 21).
• If your passport is expired: How to renew your U.S. Passport.
• Other Passport Services and information. 

2) One Photo (color or black and white passport size, which is 2" x 2").

• Must have a completely white/light background with no obstructions (people, furniture, trees, etc).
• Must be taken within the last 6 months. 
• Must have a full front view of your face. The consulate will not accept a side view. 
• Pictures CANNOT be scanned! If taken with a digital camera, it MUST be printed on glossy photo paper. 
• DO NOT affix (glue, tape, staple) the photo to the visa form. We will take care of it.  

3) Completed Visa Application Form for each passenger. You need Acrobat Reader to view the form.

• Instructions on how to complete the visa application form will be sent with your tour confirmation.
• The passport with the attached visa will be sent to you address (No P.O. Boxes) two weeks before your departure date. If you wish to expedite the process please read section below.

Expedited Visas for Late Sign Ups
If you are joining a tour within 16 days of the tour departure date, you will need to expedite the visa process. The extra fee for a rush visa is $35 per passport and you will need to send your passport, application form plus one passport size photo to our office immediately. The $35 fee only covers our standard 2-day FedEx shipping of your passport(s) and final package. If you need it sent by standard overnight or Saturday delivery, please contact our office for a price quote.

If You Need Your Passport(s) Back Early
There is an additional $20 fee per passport if you need to receive it more than 14 days before your China Focus tour departure date. The $20 fee covers the express handling plus shipping cost by 2-day FedEx. This service is good for those who wish to have their passports early for another trip outside the country, such as going to Canada and Mexico, or will be away during the two weeks before the China Focus tour. This service must be requested and paid for before we will send out the passports early. If you wish to have this service, please indicate the date and address you wish for your passport(s) to be sent to along with your application. If you have already sent your application, please submit something in writing. This service is not the same as expediting the visa. Please refer to the paragraph above about expediting your visa through the Chinese Consulate.