Getting a China travel visa in Pittsburgh (York, Penn: suburban, office)

[pwiegman]

Anybody know a Pittsburgh office to get travel visas for China?

[ferraris]

There's a consulate in NYC and Chicago, and the embassy in DC. You can apply by mail, so it would probably be a waste of money to pay anybody in Pittsburgh to submit the application for you.

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by ferraris

There's a consulate in NYC and Chicago, and the embassy in DC. You can apply by mail, so it would probably be a waste of money to pay anybody in Pittsburgh to submit the application for you.

No, it is no longer possible to get a visa by mail:
"8. Can I apply for a visa by mail? Could you mail the passport with visa back to me?
Answer: No. The Chinese Embassy or Consulate General do not accept mailed visa applications, or mail back your application materials, or mail back your passport with the visa on it.
Applicants may entrust others to submit visa applications or get the visas on a voluntary basis, and applicants should take all responsibilities arising there from."

http://www.nyconsulate.prchina.org/eng/lsyw/lszjx/sbqz/fap/
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/t169582.htm

You can have an agent handle it for you(unless you have to be interviewed), here is a link with several that must be legitimately registered:
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/yisq/t169580.htm

Pennsylvania residents are under the jurisdiction of the New York consulate.

[ferraris]

Thanks for the correction, doo dah. Sorry for the misinformation. I must not be getting enough sleep after all I totally misread the embassy's website.

[Velvet Jones]

No way to do it by yourself, have to use an agency as linked above. I've done it a couple of times, first time took something like six weeks, the others were a bit quicker. They do seem to be very thorough about checking you out. I know for a fact that they verified my employment.

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by ferraris

Thanks for the correction, doo dah. Sorry for the misinformation. I must not be getting enough sleep after all I totally misread the embassy's website.

Oh, someone asked me about it about two months ago, so I had to look into it (it's not a thing we do at work). I had no idea my self until then!

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by Velvet Jones

No way to do it by yourself, have to use an agency as linked above. I've done it a couple of times, first time took something like six weeks, the others were a bit quicker. They do seem to be very thorough about checking you out. I know for a fact that they verified my employment.

Did you use an agent or go to NY yourself?

[cheezit34141988]

Use an agent. The few hundred bucks is worth it in terms of PITA-ness if you can part ways with it.

The extra $100 or two for expediting as well...you'll get it in a week or so and not wait months.

[SuburbanPioneer]

Agencies typically charge $30-60 on top of consulate fees. Travelling to NYC is significantly more expensive, not to mention the hassle of standing in line outside the Chinese consulate to submit your application. Believe me, if you can pay ~$50 for someone else to do it for you, it's totally worth it.

Here's a pretty accurate account of what to expect at the consulate:

http://blog.wandr.me/2011/10/the-cha...-chinese-visa/

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by SuburbanPioneer

Agencies typically charge $30-60 on top of consulate fees. Travelling to NYC is significantly more expensive, not to mention the hassle of standing in line outside the Chinese consulate to submit your application. Believe me, if you can pay ~$50 for someone else to do it for you, it's totally worth it.

Here's a pretty accurate account of what to expect at the consulate:

The challenges of acquiring a Chinese Visa | Wandering Aramean

Okay, my contact used a company called Travisa, and was satisfied, his was a business visa, but they also handle other types. I am not usre if I am permitted to link, but easily looked up.