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Which COVA Pages Should U.S. China Visa Applicants Print and Sign?

Current U.S. instructions distinguish the barcode information page, the full generated COVA form and the separate Visa Application Statement. Use this checklist before passport submission.

Direct answer: Prepare the barcode order information page required by the current U.S. passport-submission list, and also follow the official COVA form-filling tips linked by the Embassy: print the complete generated form and hand-sign and date the confirmation page and the signature page identified in the form instructions. The separate Visa Application Statement is another document; the current COVA guide says to complete it, print it and upload it, and the statement itself contains an applicant or guardian signature line. Do not rely on a report from another country or assume that online submission replaces every handwritten signature. The exact feedback from the U.S. office handling the case controls if its package instructions differ.

Keep three documents separate

The order information page shows the case status and application barcode. Current U.S. requirements name that page, together with the original passport and any specifically required originals, for the physical passport stage after COVA displays “Passport to be submitted.” Print it clearly so the barcode and status can be read.

The generated COVA application is the multi-page record of the applicant's answers. The Visa Application Statement is a separate Embassy form covering U.S. residence, previous Chinese visas and certain nationality-history questions. Similar names cause applicants to sign one item and overlook another, so label them before assembling the package.

Print and sign the generated COVA form

The official form-filling tips hosted by the Embassy say the complete generated set should be printed. They identify handwritten signature and date fields on the confirmation page and on the signature page of the application form. Page numbering can change with the generated document, so use the labels and signature blocks in the applicant's actual output instead of signing a blank template from another person.

Sign in ink only after checking names, passport number, visa category, travel purpose, dates and declarations. Do not use a pasted signature image or let an unauthorized person sign as the applicant. Keep a scan of the final signed set. If the online record is returned for modification, regenerate and review the corrected output rather than attaching a signed obsolete version.

Handle minors and form preparers correctly

The published COVA tips state that a guardian signs for an applicant under 18 and also signs the form-preparer field when applicable. The separate Visa Application Statement says a guardian may complete and sign for an applicant under 16. These age references apply to different documents, so follow each form's own printed instruction rather than combining them into one universal rule.

A person who helps type COVA should be disclosed in the declaration when the form asks who completed it. Assistance does not transfer responsibility for accuracy away from the applicant or guardian. Confirm the preparer's name and relationship and avoid leaving a signature line blank merely because an agent organized the submission.

Run the passport-package check

Wait until the status authorizes passport submission. Then verify the original passport, readable barcode information page, signed generated form, completed Visa Application Statement, any old passport with a still-valid Chinese visa or residence permit, and category-specific originals requested by the office. A package accepted by a courier or front desk is not proof that every legal or consular requirement is satisfied.

eChinaVisa can prepare and review COVA, identify the current print and signature pages, audit the passport package, follow preliminary review and coordinate submission and tracked return. We cannot sign for an adult applicant, ignore a direct office instruction or guarantee approval, validity, entries or processing time.

Frequently asked questions

Is the barcode information page the same as the full COVA form?

No. The barcode page identifies the order and status; the generated application contains the applicant's full answers.

Can I use an electronic signature image?

The official form-filling tips call for handwritten signatures and dates in the specified fields. Follow the responsible office's current instructions.

Who signs for a child?

Follow each document's printed rule: the COVA tips address guardian signing for applicants under 18, while the separate Visa Application Statement mentions applicants under 16.

Related guides

Use one managed application workflow

eChinaVisa can help identify the visa category, pre-review documents, prepare and check COVA, follow online preliminary review, and coordinate passport submission and return. We are an independent application assistance service, not a government website or government agency; approval, validity, entries and official processing time are decided by Chinese authorities.

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Sources

  1. Chinese Embassy in the U.S.: current passport-submission document list
  2. Chinese Embassy in the U.S.: official COVA printing and handwritten-signature tips
  3. Chinese Embassy in the U.S.: current COVA upload and passport-stage guide
  4. Chinese Embassy in the U.S.: separate Visa Application Statement and signature line
  5. Reddit signature question from another jurisdiction; used only as a question signal, not an official rule for U.S. applicants

eChinaVisa is an independent visa application assistance service operated by Dragon Byte Design Inc. It is not a government website and is not affiliated with any Chinese embassy or consulate.