1. The Chinese Embassy and Consulates take authentication applications sent by mail, but do not take visa applications sent by mail.

• For visa applications, if the applicant is unable to come to the visa office himself, he can send someone else or a travel/visa agent to come to the visa office for the application process.

2. Please read the relevant application instructions, e.g. AUTHENTICATION INSTRUCTIONS before submitting your application.

3. Applicants are required to submit applications to the corresponding visa office of the Embassy or Consulate -General according to consular district jurisdiction.

• Please check the Consular districts of the Embassy or Consulate -General, and be sure the application goes to the correct office. Otherwise, it will be returned without processing.
• Mark your envelope with "Authentication Application" or "Consular Application".

4. Due to technical reasons, the Consulate General in San Francisco can not accept Certified Mail, Registered Mail or mails requesting Return Receipt.

5. It takes 7-10 business days to process mail applications.

• No rush service is available for mail applications.

6. In addition to the application fee, a $5 handling fee per envelope/package shall be charged. This handling fee is not return postage.

• Pay by Money Order only.
• Please make the money order payable to Chinese Consulate.
• All payments can be written on one money order.

7. A self-addressed stamped return envelope must be included. 

• Meter stripe postage, Certified Mail or Registered Mail or Fedex envelope cannot be used as return delivery.
• Sender address can not be the visa office of Embassy or Chinese Consulate General. 

  The applicant shall put his/her name and address as the SENDER on the RETURN ENVELOPE instead of the Chinese Embassy or Consulate.
• Applicants are solely responsible for the correct address and postage provided on their return envelopes.
• Notice: The Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General is not responsible for any postage or delivery fee failed to pay by the applicant.

8. To facilitate your application, please provide a cover letter with a list of the items being mailed, and your daytime telephone number.

9. Do not make any inquires regarding the status of your application if it is less than 15 days old. Should you need the status in case of real emergency, please fax us the name of the applicant, nature of the application and the telephone number through which we may reach you. We'll get back to you as soon as possible. The fax number of the Consulate General in San Francisco is 415-852-5940.

10. Application is not withdrawable while it is being processed.

11. The Visa Office is not responsible for the loss, damage, and delay or mishandling of your passport and documents caused by the delivery services.

About the Consulate Districts

Only those documents are executed in Northern California, Oregon, Nevada, Washington and Alaska can apply to the Visa Office of the Consulate General of the P.R.C. in San Francisco.

Mailing address:

Visa Office
Consulate General of the P.R.C.,
1450 Laguna Street,
San Francisco, CA94115

Note: For all our mail applicants, please note "Consular Application" in obvious place on the front side of the envelope