China Travel Forum

[lilow]

I'm looking for advice for people who have gotten visas at the Chinese consulate in New York. I'm leaving for China 8/31 and need a double-entry tourist visa for my US passport. I'm trying to decide whether to send my passport to a visa courier service now, wait until I am in NYC on 8/29 to get the visa, or send the visa and application to NYC with my overworked boyfriend who doesn't have much time to stand in line. I'm a little sketched out by the fact that 1) when I called the consulate this morning the phone just rang on, and on, and on... and 2) their website appears to be nonfunctional. So, I have the following questions:
-Is one likely to face a long wait at the consulate to submit the passport/visa application?
-Does the premium-priced "same day" service actually happen the same or next day? Would I risk not getting the visa in time if I brought it two days before departure?
-Are they cool with just a random person bringing my passport in, or does it have to be a courier?
-I currently reside in Boston, but my passport lists an address in Texas - will they refuse it on the grounds that I should have sent it to the consulate in Houston? There's something weird on their website about jurisdiction over visas being geographic.
-If a courier is best, any recommendations for who to use?

[kamal]

Do NOT send it to Texas if the address you plan to write on your application is Boston. The address in your passport is NOT what they look at. They use the address that you write on your application to determine at which consulate you should apply. If you live in Boston, then you apply in NYC.
I found the wait in the consulate here in DC to be less than 30 minutes both times I went but I have no idea about NYC. I didn't need express service so I can't tell you from personal experience but generally same day means that you turn in your paperwork before a certain time and can pick it up the same day after a certain time.
Anyone can bring in your paperwork. just the person needs to be at the correct consulate for the address on the application. They don't check the person who brings in the application.

[lorra]

Use the courier and be on the safe side by sending it to Houston. Check with your travel agent for suggestions. Know anyone in Houston who could call around and find a courier for you? The cost is reasonable and they go through the troubles.
Don't bother calling the consulate as they don't answer.