Types of Visa

• There are numerous visas available in categories including tourist, business, study, employment, and transit.
  
  

Considerations

• Consider how many times you need to enter in a one-year period. A multiple-entry visa will allow you to return within the year on the same visa. But you might only need a single-entry visa, which is valid for up to six months.
  
  

Requirements to Apply

• Before applying for the visa, make sure your passport is valid for at least six months and has a blank page available for the visa to be affixed. You will also need one recent passport-sized photo to accompany the application form.
  
  

Applying For The Visa

• Find the location of the nearest consulate office. Take the visa application to the Chinese consulate for processing or have someone take the documents for you.
  
  

Time Frame

• The standard processing time for a Chinese visa is approximately four working days. But for an extra cost, this can be expedited to two working days.
  
  

Cost

• The cost of processing any of the visas is approximately $130 as of September 2009. Expediting the application will cost approximately $20.