Posted 4/25/2008

Citizen Ambassador,

Within the last 72 hours, there have been significant process changes and requirements with regards to obtaining any visa for entry into China pre-Olympics. If you have already obtained your visa, please disregard the below message.

If you have not yet applied for your visa, do so quickly, taking note of the following recent changes. This information is current at this time but is subject to change and unfortunately outside of our control. From the Embassy Website:

Tourist Visa (L Visa) is issued to an alien who comes to China for sightseeing or visiting family members or friends.

Please submit the following documents with your application:

1. Passport: Your valid passport must have at least six (6) months of remaining validity with at least one blank visa page in it.
2. Application form: One completed Visa Application Form.
3. Photo: One passport photo (black & white or color is acceptable) glued or stapled on the application form.
4. Non-U.S. passport bearers shall provide documents that entitle them to reside or work for an extended period of time in the U.S.
5. An applicant who was born in China is required to submit his /her Chinese passport or last foreign passport with a Chinese visa when he/she applies for a Chinese visa with a new foreign passport.
6. Tourists to China shall provide round-trip air tickets and hotel reservation.
7. Applicants visiting friends and family members shall provide round-trip air tickets and certificates of kinship.

In addition to the above, we were provided further clarification from the Chinese consulate in New York yesterday on the additional items they are now requiring. Please note that each consulate office around the U.S. may have slightly different procedures and requirements, and the interpretation of your materials is subject to the agent processing your paperwork.

Attention: Zierer Visa Service, www.zvs.com, and It’s Easy Passport, www.itseasypassport.com, are experts in passport preparation and application.

1. Proof of Vacation by Employer: Letter from your employer showing you have the time off of work for the specific date range of your visa application and a job awaiting you when you return! If self employed, someone else in your company must draft something on your behalf (another co-owner or management personnel). If retired, a note saying you have retired and from where (and when).
2. Certificate of Financial Guarantee: A copy of a bank statement showing you have a minimum of $500 (assume $1000.00 if you are a couple traveling together and applying for your visas together). Provide as current a copy as you can obtain and black out your account number to protect your privacy. Make certain it is on bank/credit union letterhead/logo paper and clearly lists the name(s) of the person applying for the visa- along with a balance of your account clearly noted.
3. Hotel and Flight Confirmation: Our office can provide you with additional details (attached) on the day-by-day itinerary that includes hotel information and data on entry/exit dates for your travel. Please contact us at 877.787.2000 if you need additional information or further assistance. You may also access our website, http://www.citizenambassadors.org for information regarding your travel program.
   
   We can also provide you with flight information on our letterhead to serve as proof of your flights by emailing Jill Plager (jill.plager@ptpprograms.org) or Julie Miller (julie.miller@ptpprograms.org).This flight information will be final or, if prior to actual ticketing by our office, will be the most final information we have available from the airline at that time. They can also be reached by calling our office at 1-877-787-2000.
4. Name/Address and Contact Information for Inviting Organization: Please leave this section BLANK on your visa application instead of filling in Star Professional Programs as originally instructed in previous materials. We have been told by a variety of visa agencies that to expedite the tourist class visa, delegates should just indicate N/A in this portion of the application.

Thank you for your attention to these matters. We apologize for any inconveniences these changes may cause and offer our support in every way possible.