To further facilitate foreign nationals’ travel to China, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in the U.S. will provide walk-in visa application services starting from October 23, 2023. Visa applicants can log on to the China Online Visa Application (COVA) website (https://cova.mfa.gov.cn) to fill in the form and then go to the visa office of the corresponding Embassy or Consulate-General to submit the hard copies of visa application documents. There’s no need to make online appointment beforehand.

A surge of applicants may cause prolonged waiting time at the initial period of appointment-free arrangement. Applicants are advised to arrange their time for submission according to their travel itinerary. At the visa office, please follow the instructions for security check and queue-number pickup.  

Applicants who have already completed online appointments will be given priority for submitting their documents within the corresponding time slot at the appointment date by presenting the AVAS confirmation page upon arrival.

Please click the following link “Notice on Visa Application Requirements” http://sanfrancisco.china-consulate.gov.cn/eng/lszj/zgqz/202303/t20230314_11040155.htm for the latest information on visa application.

Address of the Visa Office of the Chinese Consulates-General in San Francisco:

1450 Laguna Street, San Francisco, CA94115 (Entrance at Geary Blvd)

Office Hours:

9:30-14:30 (Monday to Friday, except weekends and holidays)

Inquiries:

Email: sf_visa@csm.mfa.gov.cn

Hotline: 415-919-6008 or 415-872-9091 (Monday to Friday 9:00-12:00, 13:00-14:30, except weekends and holidays)