**********NOTE - all these pages will be updated for the 2011 tour shortly**********
**Contents of Main page of Tour Support:
1. ---CALLING to/from CHINA and how to figure the TIME DIFFERENCE
2. ---Basic CHINESE
3. ---CHINA VISA Information and Instructions for 2010 tour
2. ---Some BASIC CHINESE
Click on this to view and/or print:
BasicMandarinChinese.pdf
3. CHINA VISA Information and Instructions
Everyone must get a visa to go to China, but this is usually a simple and trouble-free process. We do NOT use a Group Visa. Each passport will be stamped individually with the China visa. The use of a Group Visa can cause enormous problems should one of the group need to separate from the group becuase of any personal emergency, etc.
You will need to complete a China Visa application form and submit it (with an official Passport-type photo attached). You will normally need to ship to us by about the 3rd week of Jan. prior to the tour, via a secure method, your passport along with the completed application form. We review all and then submit the batch collected from the group to our tour operator who also reviews all before presenting to the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco, CA for processing. Once they are processed and all other travel materials and documents are ready, we retrieve all from our tour operator and then ship everything to you, via Fed Ex or UPS with tracking and insurance, usually to arrive at the address you specify by the 3rd week of Feb. or sooner. Special arrangements can be made for those who have other travel plans that require a different schedule for the handling of the passports and visas. You may also opt to obtain your own visa but it is VERY important that you follow the instructions below:
***INSTRUCTIONS for completing CHINA VISA FORM***--Read carefully--
Complete one China visa application per person. [This is the most recent version.]
Fill in all boxes as applicable & follow guidelines below. ***PRINT legibly in all CAPITAL LETTERS
***or enter data in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS via computer by going to the link:
http://www.china-embassy.org/chn/hzqz/zgqz/P020070611087242661716.pdf
(click on "Highlight Fields" at top right to activate fill-in-format)
*** ALL dates are shown as YEAR first (4 digits), then MONTH (2 digits), then DAY (2 digits) ***
Example: YYYY - MM - DD equals 2011 - 03 - 13 (use 4 digits for the year, not 2 as the form shows)
Section 1.----INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELF
1.1 Refer to your passport for these entries so they match: For "Full Name", enter Last Name (Surname) - then Middle Name (or Initial if that is what is shown on your passport) where indicated - THEN enter First Name in next box (below) under "Given Name"
1.2 Check appropriate box (PS - This is NOT a Yes or No question .... ^_^ )
1.3 [Will probably not apply to many, if any]
1.4 Use "American" or "Canadian" or etc., as applicable.
1.5 Most of you will leave this blank. For gals who are now or who have ever been married before, do not enter those previous last names, including your maiden name - just leave this area blank.
1.6 This only applies to someone who was previously a citizen of a country different from the current one.
1.7 Your date of birth - don't forget to follow date example above. ( Y Y Y Y - M M - D D as in 1921 - 11 - 24 )
1.8 Give your State (California, or etc.) OR Province (Alberta, or etc.) AND Country - (U.S., Canada, or etc.) or use whatever shows in YOUR passport.
1.9 For most folks, check "Regular" box (just click inside box if using computer)
[The following four items are found on page 1 of your passport:]
1.10 Enter your passport number here (usually 9 digits for a US passport) -- ex. 123 456 789
1.11 Enter the date of issuance here - year 1st, then month, then day (ex: 2007 - 12 - 22 )
1.12 Place of passport issuance - State OR Province -PLUS Country [use whatever YOUR passport shows under Authority [such as "National Passport Center" or "United States Department of State"or etc.]
1.13 Expiration Date - year first, then month, then day (ex: 2017 - 12 - 21 )
2.1 Check the first box “Tourism”
2.2 Check the last box “Multi-entry valid for 12 months.” (this is the maximum allowed for the lowest price charged)
2.3 Enter "2011 - 03 - 14" since this will be the date in China when you arrive (unless you are arriving earlier on your own in which you enter the date YOU arrive)
2.4 Enter “30” days even though it will be less
2.5 Enter the following: SHANGHAI WUHAN CHONGQING GUILIN XI'AN BEIJING
2.6 IMPORTANT **** LEAVE BLANK ****
Section 3.----YOUR HEALTH CONDITION and PREVIOUS OVERSEAS TOUR
4.1 Leave blank if retired, student or otherwise unemployed
4.2 Enter Daytime phone here (area code first) - home phone # for most folks if there is no work or school phone #
4.3 Leave blank if retired
4.4 Enter Nighttime phone here (area code first) - home phone # for most folks
4.5 Enter Home address here - use physical address - NOT P.O. Box, or etc.
4.6 Enter you main E-mail address here - or “None” if you don’t have one
4.7 Enter "C.I.T.S."
4.8 IMPORTANT **** LEAVE BLANK ****
4.9 IMPORTANT **** LEAVE BLANK ****
4.10 IMPORTANT ***LEAVE BLANK ****
Section 5.----OTHER DECLARATION
**** LEAVE BLANK ****
Section 6. ----APPLICATION FORM COMPLETED BY ANOTHER PERSON
**** LEAVE BLANK ****
Section 7.----IMPORTANT
Print out the blank or completed two-page document. Read and then sign after "Signature" and enter the date signed after "Date" using the same "YYYY-MM-DD" format (example: 2008-01-21 ) - the date CAN be entered on the computer before printing it out if you desire.
Additional Notes:
Re: Item 1.12 on the reverse side many newer passports will show "United States Department of State" or "National Passport Agency" or any number of other entries. It is OK to just enter "US" if it was issued in the United States (or enter whatever other country may be the country of issuance for your passport) - OR - you can enter exactly what YOUR passport shows for the issuing Authority to answer the "Place of Issue" question for Item 1.12 on the application form.
You will need to obtain and attach to your individual completed visa application form one current & OFFICIAL passport-type photo [2" x 2" taken within the past 6 months, not computer generated, no photocopies, no home-made digital shots, frontal views only [available from Costco, most photo shops, AAA offices, Kinkos, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, or etc.]. Print your Last Name & First Name ( as it appears on your passport) on the back of the photo BEFORE attaching the photo - then attach the photo to the space provided (top right) with either glue (a glue stick works great) or two-sided Scotch tape). Line up the 2" x 2" photo with the LEFT and BOTTOM edges matching the lines for the photo box (yes, the box is NOT 2" x 2")! Also, they had been requiring TWO photos but are now only needing ONE.
Send us the following items :
1. Your passport - be sure you sign it if it is new or recently renewed - valid thru at least 9/12/11 - must have 2 blank "VISA" pages (do NOT confuse these with the last few pages which are for amendments / endorsements only).
2. Your completed China visa application form - (one per person) - signed and dated - with one official type passport photo attached in the space provided - line it up along left and bottom lines as it will be larger than the box provided. Use a glue stick or double-sided sticky tape to affix it. Fold the application in third's (as if to fit in a business-sized envelope- then turn it 90 degrees and fold it in half again so that the final folded document fits easliy inside your passport.
Send these via secure mailing method with tracking and insurance (such as Fed Ex, UPS, or etc.) to our Travel Aire BUSINESS address below (which will cost you less than to a residence address):
Travel Aire c/o CAVU Enterprises, LLC, 21133 Jimmersall Lane, Groveland, CA 95321
[phone number if needed for label is (209) 962-5588]
Again, we do not recommend using the US Postal Service - and you will definitely want to have TRACKING.
We are scheduled on January 24th to fly the certified check for final payment along with all passports and China visa application forms received to date to our tour operator.
If you are traveling, or etc., and you cannot get your package to us by or before 1/23/11 at the LATEST, you should send your passport and completed China visa application form directly to our tour operator at:
Asia Holiday Travel, "Jobe's Group", 567 Pine St., Suite 203, San Francisco, CA 94108
[phone number if needed for label only is (415) 421-6630 [please do NOT call]
RETURN to the TOP
PDST +15 hours = local time in China (PDT: plus 16 hours before March 14th )