u/dilovesreddit

Good morning. This subreddit was invaluable in my application so I wanted to share my experience. If you find anything useful, the info came from Reddit posters before me so thank you collectively:

1. I applied online on June 17th. I travel to Japan on 7/15 from NYC and I enter Beijing through Tokyo on July 22nd. I am a Chinese-born American citizen who was approved for a Chinese visa before on my American passport. My minor daughter is American by birthright and this was her first application.
2. I used https://ishotaphoto.com/documents__china-visa-online for the free pictures. You can get 1 free photo per email address. I luckily have 3 email addresses because one photo was rejected once. The Cova website will tell you the results instantaneously.
3. I knew my general details but never had to share specific bookings in China. I am doing 45 days abroad and there were enough spaces for me to input every city/country I was visiting.
4. By 6/23, I was lucky that I checked the website for updates. I had to explain my Turkish travels and upload a passport for my ex husband. I uploaded my itinerary from summer 2025 to explain my tourist activities in Türkieye and stated my ex husband does not have an active U.S. passport (American citizen by birthright).
5. Based on the Reddit feedback, I decided to email the Consulate (at the address listed on the application) to ask if I should upload my ex’s driver’s license or birth certificate. I offered the birth certificate because I thought it would prove his citizenship and not cause delays. I was a little nervous about my timeline. The next day, I received a response and the ex‘s documents were unnecessary (he went to China with me in 2011 so maybe they had his records). The status online told me to drop off my passports.
6. I went without my daughter on June 25th. I walked from Grand Central to the Consulate and it was 30 minutes down the same street. I arrived around 10:30am and was out by 10:48am, including a bathroom break. I printed a whole book of anything you could’ve asked me for except the photos. The agent did not request anything from me. I was overly prepared but relieved. I asked if I could pay for expedited service. She recommended regular and said I pay at pick up. She advised me to check the website for status. On my pick up slip, I noticed a projected date of June 30th.
7. On June 30th, the website status changed.
8. On July 2nd, I went to pick up my passports. This time, I rode the M42 bus for $3 (paid by ApplePay) both ways. I went in around 9:30am and left around 10:20am. There was a line to take a number (separate from the drop off service) then a line to pay during the actual pick up. I paid $280 using a Visa card and don’t recall any additional fees.

Overall, I am grateful for my experience. If I had to redo it, I’d start earlier. Thank you to fellow Redditors and the NYC location for excellent advice and great service. I thought the process was very efficient, even though it appeared intimidating and unfriendly at first. Best of luck to every applicant. I’ll see you in China!💕