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China Consulate in San Francisco, USA

Since May 30, 2023, the China visa fee for U.S. citizen will increase to USD 185 from original USD 140 (except for J1/J2 visa).

Detail Procedure for Application
(How to Apply - Processing Time - Visa Fees - Pick-up, etc)
For Children Born in USA with Chinese Descent Going to China

Consul General: Mr. Wang Donghua
Address: 1450 Laguna Street, San Francisco, CA 94115.
Tel: +1-415-852 5900
Office Hours: 09:00-12:00, 13:30-17:00, Monday-Friday (except holidays)
Email: chinasonsul_san_us@mfa.gov.cn
Website: http://sanfrancisco.china-consulate.org/eng/

Consular Office of Chinese Consulate in San Francisco

Tel: +1-415-852 5941 (service staff, 15:30-17:00 on working days)
Fax: +1-415-852-5940
Consular Protection Hotline: +1-415-852 5924 (working hours), +1-415-216 8525 (non-working hours)
Email: visa.sf@gmail.com
Office Hours: 09:00-14:30 Monday-Friday (except holidays)

Consular Districts

Northern California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska

If you don't reside in these regions, please contact the consulate in your region. Otherwise, your application will be delayed or even denied.

Important Notice

Please do not bring any audio/video electronic devices, such as camera, video camera and video/audio recorder, MP3s, or PDAs as they are not allowed within the Consulate. The consul also strongly advises that you do not bring large bags, such as backpacks, suitcases or packages as there are no storage facilities on Consulate grounds.

Means of Payment

On or after the pick-up date specified in the receipt, applicants can pay and pick up their passports themselves or by entrusted persons, travel agencies with the receipt.
1. Money Order, Cashier's Check, and Company Check made payable to "Chinese Consulate General".
2. Credit Card and Debit Card - ONLY Visa/Master Card are acceptable.
Please note: Cash and Personal check are not acceptable.

Mail Applications are not acceptable

The Consulate in San Francisco does not accept mailed applications. And the mailing back service is not available as well.

2023 Holiday Schedule

Festivals	Date	Day
New Year's Day	January 2	Monday
Chinese New Year	January 23 - 24	Monday - Tuesday
May Day	May 1	Monday
Dragon Boat Festival	June 23	Friday
Independence Day	July 4	Tuesday
US Labor Day	September 4	Monday
Mid-Autumn Day	September 29	Friday
Chinese National Day	October 2 - 3	Monday - Tuesday
Thanksgiving Day	November 23 - 24	Thursday - Friday
Christmas Day	December 25	Monday

Map of the Consulate General in San Francisco

How to Get to the Consulate General?

1450 Laguna Street is at the intersection of Laguna and Geary streets.

If you go Freeway 101, exit at Fell and Laguna streets, and then turn right at the first traffic light on to Laguna Street.

The consulate is about 0.6 mile ahead on your right hand side.

You can also take Bus No. 38 and get off at Laguna to reach there.

Recommended Tours:
China Tours from USA
China Tours from San Francisco

- Last updated on May. 17, 2023 by Kate Liu -

Questions & Answers on China Consulate in San Francisco

Asked by Mike Tu from USA | Jul. 07, 2023 08:36

permits to ship my father's cremains to Shanghai

My father (US citizen, born in China) was passed away in US.
1. How to apply permits to ship his cremains to China Shanghai?
2. Do you have special shipping company can help?
I have his death certificate, cremation certification, the destination is his daughter's home in China.

Thanks,

Answers (1)

Answered by Lara | Jul. 09, 2023 22:52

You are advised to contact the China consulate directly. AS I know, in addition to death certificate, cremation certification, the ID certificate of your father, like passport is also needed.

Asked by Hannah from US | May. 12, 2023 08:00

Picking up your Visa after 4 Business Days

Hello,
I was hoping someone could shed some light on the process at the SF Chinese Consulate after successfully submitting an in-person Visa application? I got a receipt for pay & pick-up with a date, however before I left for the day, I asked the security guard if I had to wait in that ridiculous line outside to pick up my visa and he said I would have to. For those of you that have picked up your visa, please tell me I can skip that line and go into the pickup window line? I would really appreciate details on what the visa pick up process is like at the SF Chinese Consulate. Thank you so much in advance!

Answers (3)

Answered by Bill | May. 14, 2023 23:35

As I know, you cannot skip the line and you have to queue up to get your visa.

Answered by Hannah | May. 17, 2023 07:16

Do you have to queue up in the long line outside the consulate? I thought that line was to apply for a visa? I'm trying to pick up my visa that I already submitted an application for.

Answered by Gloria | May. 17, 2023 18:41

No, picking up visa also needs to line up but it can be a little faster than the line of visa application.

Asked by Gabriel Mijares from UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | May. 03, 2023 18:47

Cancelling an appointment at the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco

I made an appointment at the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco but I need to cancel it. I went to the Consulate website, retrieved my appointment record but when I typed in my appointment number and my visa application number I got the following reply: "The visa authority you choose does not correspond with the one you've selected when filling the COVA form. Please check." I have checked and in my application I specified in seccion 9.1A that I was submitting my application with the San Francisco Consulate General and my appointment was made for the Consulate General of P.R.CH in San Francisco. Now what can I do? I cannot keep this appointment.

Answers (1)

Answered by Jenny | May. 04, 2023 01:16

I'm sorry but you have to make a new appointment.

Asked by Gabriel Mijares from UNITED STATES | Apr. 27, 2023 14:18

How long does it take to get my Visa?

I live in Seattle, WA so I would have to fly to San Francisco for my appointment with the Chinese Consulate. How much time should I plan on being in San Francisco?

Answers (3)

Answered by James | Apr. 28, 2023 00:36

Generally, you can complete the procedure on the same day but get your visa in 4 working days. If in a hurry, you can use express/same day processing service which takes 1-3 working days at additional cost.

Answered by Gabriel Mijares | May. 03, 2023 19:13

Does this mean that I will have to again fly down to San Francisco to pick up my visa?

Answered by Scott | May. 04, 2023 00:00

I'm not very sure about how things are going on in San Francisco consulate. But in Los Angeles consulate, people can entrust someone else to pick up the visa on their behalf and then have it delivered to their place.

BTW, some feedbacks indicate it takes more days than before for the processing because of increasing applications. Anyway, after lodging the submission, you will get a receipt telling on which day you can pick up your visa.

Asked by Gabriel Mijares from UNITED STATES | Apr. 19, 2023 20:31

Applying for Chinese Visa Online

Hi, I'm planning a trip to Shanghai in late May, can I apply and receive a Chinese Visa online? I've actually already filled out the online application on April 3 but have not heard anything back. How can I check the status of that application?

Answers (1)

Answered by Zoe | Apr. 20, 2023 20:18

After filling in the application form online, you need to print it out and sign it. Then make an appointment with China consulate in San Francisco to submit the form and other requirements.

You should know filling in the application form is just the step 1 and the consulate will not receive it even if you fill it online.