Links
Chinese Embassy & Consulates
There is one Chinese Embassy in the United States and several Chinese Consulate Generals. Fortunately all of them notarize documents via mail service and all except Chicago take same day walk-ins. Even though the information here for each embassy is correct. I highly recommend visiting the Embassy or Consulate General web page that applies to the area you live in. You can find the Embassy or Consulate General that has jurisdiction to the state you live in by visiting the Washington Embassy webpage.| Location | Washington | Houston | New York |
| Hours of Operation | 10:00am-12:30pm | 9:00am-11:30am | 9:00am-12:00pm |
| 1:00pm-3:00pm | 1:30pm-3:00pm | 1:00pm-2:30pm | |
| Monday-Friday | Monday-Friday | Monday-Friday | |
Authentication Forms |
download form | download form | download form |
| Location | Chicago | San Francisco | Los Angeles |
| Hours of Operation | 9:00am-12:00pm | 9:00am-12:00pm | 9:00am-12:00pm |
| 1:00pm- 2:30pm | 1:30pm-3:30pm | 1:00pm-5:00pm | |
| Monday-Friday | Monday-Friday | Monday-Friday | |
Authentication Forms |
download form | download form | download form |
- There are several Chinese holidays throughout the year when the Embassy and Consulates are closed.
- Hours of operation are in their respective time zones.
- The Chicago Consulate does not have same day walk-in service. The nearest time would be next day.
| Location | Washington | Houston | New York | ||||||
| Authentication Address | Visa Office of the Chinese Embassy | Visa Office | Passport and Visa Office | ||||||
| Room 110 | Chinese Consulate General In Houston | Consulate General of China in New York | |||||||
| 2201 Wisconsin Ave, NW | 3417 Montrose Blvd. | 520 12th Ave. | |||||||
| Washington, DC 20007 | Houston, TX 77006 | New York, NY 10036 | |||||||
| Wait Time | Mail-In | Express Mail | One Day | Mail-In | Express Mail | One Day | Mail-In | Express Mail | One Day |
| Business Day | 7-10 | 2-3* | yes* | 4 | 2-3 | Yes | 10-15 | no | no |
| Fee (per doc) | $20 | $40 | $50 | $20 | $20 | $30 | $20 | ||
| Website | Website | Website | |||||||
| Location | Chicago | San Francisco | Los Angeles | ||||||
| Authentication Address | Consulate General of China | Visa Office | Passport & Visa Office | ||||||
| In Chicago | Consulate General of the P.R.C. | Chinese Consulate | |||||||
| 100 West Erie St. | 1450 Laguna St. | 443 Shatto Place | |||||||
| Chicago, IL 60610 | San Francisco, CA 94115 | Los Angeles, CA 90020 | |||||||
| Wait Time | Mail-In | Express Mail | One Day | Mail-In | Express Mail | One Day | Mail-In | Express Mail | One Day |
| Business Day | 10 | no | no | 10-15 | no | no | 7-10 | no | no |
| Fee (per doc) | $20 | $20 | $20 | ||||||
| Website | Website | Website | |||||||
The prices above are per document. So if you have your birth certificate, police report, and unmarried status documents to have notarized the price would be $65.00 if you used the regular mail-in service.
*Washington
NOTE: The Washington Embassy website has contradictory information on it's webpage
concerning Express & One Day mail-in service.One page says they
have it and one page says they don't have it.
Write 'Authentication Application' on the package.
Provide a cover letter in your package.
The documents to be authenticated, and a photocopy
of the paper where the notary public and certification officer signs and
Stamps.
One filled out authentication application form
A $5.00 handling fee
is charged for each package sent to the Embassy or Consulate.
Include a pre-paid self-addressed stamped envelope for your return
documents. FedEx, UPS, Express Mail are acceptable but metered,
certified, or registered mail returns are not.
Pay by Money Order,
Cashier’s Check, or Company Check. Personal Checks are not
accepted. Make Money Order or Cashier's Check out to 'Chinese
Embassy'.
Houston
Include a cover letter with daytime telephone number.
Include a photocopy of the applicants passport.
Include a an authentication form.
Include a photocopy of the documents to be authenticated along with the
original documents.
A $5.00 handling fee is charged for each package sent to the Consulate.
Include a pre-paid self-addressed stamped envelope for the return
documents.
The following next day arrival trackable return delivery is recommended: FedEx, Post Office Express Mail, Airborne, UPS or DHL,
etc.
Meter stripe postage, Certified Mail or Registered Mail can not be used
as return delivery.
Put your his/her name and address as the SENDER on the RETURN ENVELOPE instead
of the Chinese Embassy or Consulate.
Pay by Money Order, Cashier's Check, or
Company Check. Personal Checks are not accepted. Make Money
Order or Cashier's Check out to 'Chinese Consulate'.
New York
NOTE Concerning Walk-Ins: If your application is
submitted before 12:00pm, it may be expedited depending on quantity of
applications on that day, but applicants should pay the additional rush
fees: $30 for same-day pick-up and $20 dollars for the next day or the
third day pick-up.
Applicants are required to mark 'Document Application'
clearly on the envelope and designate 'Passport and Visa Office' as the addressee. Mail that fails to meet these requirements will be
returned on the spot.
Include original documents to be authenticated.
One photocopy of the complete documents to be authenticated. Photocopy
includes the page authenticated by the Secretary of State, the page
notarized by a Notary Public and the original document.
One legible and completely filled out Application form for
Authentication or Notarization.
An extra handling fee of $5 per package should be included.
Only the following mail services are excepted for return: 'Express Mail, Priority Mail, FedEx, UPS, and DHL'. Applications
using other mail or delivery service than the above-stated service will
be delayed or rejected.
One fully prepaid, self-addressed return envelope with yourself as the
sender and recipient.
They only accept money orders for applications sent by mail. You
may use one money order for one package.
The money order should be made payable to 'Chinese Consulate General in New York'
Chicago
NOTE Concerning Walk-Ins: You may request expedited service
if you can provide necessary supporting documents to prove your request,
or a reasonable explanation. Any request for this service can only be
processed with the permission of the consular officer.
Expedited Service - (24 hours/next day) $30, (48 hours/two day) $20.
Include the original documents to be authenticated.
One legible and completely filled out Application form for
Authentication or Notarization.
An extra handling fee of $5 per package should be included.
Enclose a pre-paid self-addressed return envelope.
Money order or Company Check payable to the 'Chinese Consulate in
Chicago' are the only forms of payment for mail-in service.
San Francisco
Note: I find nothing on the webpage that deals with
walk-in service.
Write 'Application' on the front of the envelope.
A cover letter with daytime telephone number and a list of items mailed.
Include an Authentication Application form.
Each document must have a photo-copy attached to the back of the
document or it will be sent back.
Include a $5 mail handling fee for each package.
Include a self-addressed and stamped envelope.
You may use DHL, UPS, Airborne, Priority and Express mail envelopes.
If using FedEx, only return envelopes with account numbers are accepted.
Return envelopes with meter stamps are not accepted.
The only payment accepted is Money Order which is made out to Consulate
General of the P.R.C.
Los Angeles
Note: Nothing on the webpage about walk-in service.
Enclose a cover letter with daytime telephone and a list of items
mailed.
Write 'Authentication' on the front of the envelope.
Include an Authentication Application form.
There will be a $5 mail handling charge for each packaged sent.
Include a self-addressed pre-paid return envelope.
Use a trackable mail-service like Express Mail and Priority Mail.
Do NOT use UPS, FedEx, Airborne, etc...
Certified, Registered or Metered Mail is not accepted.
Money orders and Back Checks are accepted.
Make the check payable to the 'Chinese Consulate'.
On this site you will find these needed items: Chinese Visas, International Marriage
- K3 Visa Forms
- Why you need an Affidavit of Single Status.
- The difference between a Hukou and a Ming Zhen Ju.
- How to obtain a Police Report or Gold Seal Letter Visa.
- American government forms needed for K3 and K1 Visas.
- Visa Interview questions.
- What you need to bring to the K3 Visa interview at the Chinese Consulate.
- First hand accounts of people who have actually married in China and gone through the Visa interview process from start to finish.