COVA Travel History and the 60-Month Record Form
Travel history must be truthful and consistent; a consular office may request the separate past-60-month travel-record form.
Read guide →CHINA VISA APPLICATION GUIDES
Answers for China visa applicants in the United States
Clear, practical guidance for preparing documents, completing the online application, submitting a passport, and receiving it back safely.
When to Apply for a China Visa: COVA's 90-Day Entry Window
Current COVA guidance says the system accepts applications for intended entry dates within the next 90 days.
Read guide →What “Passport to Be Collected” Means in COVA
Wait for the online “Passport to be collected” status, then collect or coordinate return and inspect the issued visa immediately.
Read guide →China Visa Express Service: Timing, Eligibility and Costs
Understand the official three-business-day express option, when it may be accepted, the current $25 official surcharge and the time it does not cover.
Read guide →China Z Visa Degree Documents and Apostille Planning
Separate employer work-permit degree requirements from the Z visa stage and plan apostille, qualification and original-document checks.
Read guide →China Visa Application in the U.S. for Non-U.S. Citizens
Documents non-U.S. citizens need to prove lawful U.S. residence when applying for a China visa through COVA.
Read guide →China 10-Year Visa: Validity, Entries and Duration of Stay
Understand what a requested 10-year China visa means and why validity, entries and duration of each stay are separate decisions.
Read guide →China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit for U.S. Travelers
Check third-country transit, eligible passports, confirmed onward tickets, designated ports and permitted areas under China's 240-hour policy.
Read guide →China Visa or Travel Document for a U.S.-Born Child?
Understand why a child's status at birth and the parents' nationality and permanent-residence status determine whether to pursue a visa or travel document.
Read guide →China Visa Applications in the Washington, D.C. Jurisdiction
Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and Delaware; plus Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas and Puerto Rico, formerly served by the Houston consulate.
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