visa for china application form download here
Visa for China
Americans traveling to China, whether for business or pleasure, require a visa. You are exempt from this requirement if you travel and stay ONLY in Hong Kong. However, if you travel beyond Hong Kong, even for a few hours, you will need a China visa, which should be obtained in advance. Listed below are what we need to process your visa application, as well as answers to frequently asked questions.

What we need

Your passport (original, not a copy), which must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel, with at least two blank visa pages
(amendment pages and pages with bar codes are not acceptable for visa stamping).

One completed, signed Visa Application Form for each passport, with one passport-style photos (please contact Trans Pacific Express, Inc. to
obtain a current visa application form).

Visa processing fee: $ 50 for single entry $ 80 for double entry. Multiple entry visas require an invitation letter from an authorized company or provincial or municipal government in China. Please call for further information and rates.

Applicable rush service fees: It takes approximately 7 working days to process a standard visa application. If rush service is required, please add the following fees. (Note: all materials must be received in our office before 10:00 a.m.): $ 40.00 for next day service

$15.00 passport mailing fee: We will return your passport to you via FedEx standard overnight service (where available). You may waive this fee by supplying us with a FedEx airbill, your FedEx account number, or the account number of another trackable express courier service.

Payment for visa processing is accepted in the form of check or cash ONLY.

Make all checks payable to: U. S. Trans Pacific Express, Inc.

You must have a Passport which is valid for at least 6 months after the date of departure. To enter China, you'll need a China Entry Visa. T.P.E. Tours can help you obtain the China Entry Visa from the Chinese Consulate before your date of departure. If you wish to travel to another country (exiting China) and re-enter China, a double entry visa is required.

Airport departure tax in China is RMB50.00 (appx. US$6.50) for domestic flights, RMB90.00 (appx. US$11.50) for International flights. Airport departure taxes vary by location and are subject to change. Rate quoted here is valid at the time of travel. Please note airport tax are not included in your tour cost. Local guides will collect form you before your arrival at each local airport.

Within China, passengers are allowed one piece of check-in luggage per flight, up to 44 lbs and one carry-on baggage with combined total dimension not exceeding 45 inches around. Check-in luggage must have a lock and baggage tag showing the name and contact of the owner. Please use your T.P.E. Tours baggage tag for easy identification by our airport staff. Baggage without a lock may be refused for transport. To avoid overloading your suitcase, the less the better. Pack clothes for the weather: all-season jacket, raincoat or umbrella, and comfortable walking shoes are a must. Consider including one night's essentials in your carry-on bag to avoid inconvenience in case of loss are delayed flight.

Important: T.P.E. Tours representatives cannot enter the luggage claim area. Luggage Carts are available in all airports (free of charge), please do not hesitate to use them. After collecting your own luggage, please proceed to the exit area and join your T.P.E. Tours guide/representative. They will then collect your luggage for transportation to your hotel. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience; however we do not have any control over the China Airport procedures.

Foreign visitors are allowed to bring one carton of cigarettes, one 750 ml bottle of alcohol. No limit on self-use medicine, money, camera/camcorder or film. Professional camera or camcorder without a permit is not allowed. Illegal items such as drugs, pornography, weapons, inflammable and explosive items are not allowed. Merchandise labeled as "cultural relic" may not be take out of China without evidence of official approval for export. Save all currency exchange vouchers and all receipts for major purchases as these may be required for presentation at exit and also when exchanging Chinese currency back into U.S. dollars.
Keep travel documents, passport, personal necessities and valuables with you at all times. Remember NOT to pack them in your check-in luggage.

As of August 2001,
US $1 = HK$ 7.799
US $1 = RMB 8.267

Chinese currency is called Ren Min Bi (RMB) and is issued by the People's Bank of China, the state bank. It is suggested you carry part cash ($1, $5, $20) and part traveler's checks. It is not suggested to bring only traveler's checks, for only 50% of the exchanged value can be changed back to US$. Only major banks and large hotel will accept traveler's checks and traveler's checks must be converted into RMB before using.

No limit is set on the amount of foreign currencies brought into China.

Credit cards are not widely accepted in China but are becoming more popular in major cities. they are usually accepted in hotels, department stores and locations visited by foreign tourist. Cash advance by credit card is not common and is only possible at a few assigned banks.

China's electrical system operates at 220 volts. However, most deluxe hotels provide 110 volts socket at the bath room for westen visitors. Please bring your own voltage converter and adapter if you like.

Three meals a day are included in China. For the comfort of our clients, we have included a variety of Chinese and Western style meals. Please note that most meals are set menus with about 10 people per table. With the included dinners you may have 1 glass of local beer or 1 glass of soft drink. Also included are tea and water. Bottled water and additional soft drinks or beer will be at an additional cost to you. The severs will also advise you of this before they serve you the additional drink/water and will collect money at the same time (appx. 2-3 RMB). Tap water is not drinkable in China. Drinking water and other drinks can be purchased from stores and hotels. Hong Kong: breakfast only, unless specified otherwise on the itineraries.

China has 31 provinces and 28 major dialects; but the official Chinese language is Mandarin. To make your trip more interesting and fruitful, you may want to learn some of the more useful phrases in Mandarin by visiting the Let's Speak Mandarin page.

No special shots are required with the exception of anyone traveling to or via an infected area. Due to the length of the trip and diverse geological conditions, it is best to consult your doctor before departure. In case of illness, you may contact a doctor on call by the hotel.

Please note that TIPS were not included in your tour cost. They are customary and not mandatory. Our guides in China try their best to accommodate and make your trip trouble-free. Please show your appreciation to the local guides, throughout guide and drivers. In order to avoid any confusion while on tour, T.P.E. Tours offers the following suggestions:

T.P.E. throughout guide
USD$2 per person per day
(You may tip the throughout guide at the end of the tour)

Local guides
USD$1 per person per day
(You may tip the local guide at the end of the tour in each city)

Drivers
USD$1 per person per day
(You may tip the local guide at the end of the tour in each city)

Yangtze River Cruise
Tipping is separate from the above. For the recommended amount, please refer to the tipping suggestions provided by Victoria Cruises on board the ship.

IDD code of China:0086
Police:110
Fire:119
Emergency:120
Time: 117
Weather:121

For more information about how to apply for a new U.S. Passport or a Passport renewal, please check out the goverment's website :
www.travel.state.gov