My Solo China Visa Journey: A Hilarious Tale & Travel Diary
Everyone said getting a China visa was a breeze. Lies! Honestly, it felt more complicated than my previous Australia visa. I swear, wrestling with that application aged me five years! :))
I even booked my flight before getting the visa – talk about optimistic! I figured three months was plenty of time. Turns out, diving into the application process was a headache. To be safe, I forked over extra cash for flexible tickets (an extra $75 USD for two round-trip tickets).
The Visa Application Adventures
- CT07: The Mystical Document. Getting this felt like divine intervention. Unlike other services on the National Public Service Portal, there's ZERO confirmation – no email, no SMS, nada – to say you've even applied! I was convinced I'd submitted it, but saw no pending status. I thought, "Did the internet glitch? Is the website broken?" Frustrated and slightly bored, I re-did it multiple times… still nothing! Finally, I gave up. A week later, a family member checked with the local police, and BAM! Ready for pickup!
- Timing is Key. I wanted to apply early, just in case. Nope. China visa rules dictate you can only apply about a month before your trip. Fine, I waited.
- The Elusive Photo (with bizarre size ratios). Google this part. Seriously. You'll need this photo for the online form AND a printed copy.
- Passport: Make sure yours is valid!
- The Dreaded Online Form: Visa Application Form. When I started, the website was a confusing mess. Thankfully, they updated it, making the process much smoother.
- Financial Proof: The visa center kept only my savings account statement (over $7,800 USD equivalent). They didn't need monthly statements. I stubbornly submitted copies of my credit cards too, which wasn't necessary.
- Itinerary: Even though I listed travel dates on the form, they gave me another form at the center to detail my daily plans. Easy! I whipped out TripAdvisor, searched for "Top 10 things to do in Suzhou and Shanghai," and wrote it down.
- Child Travel Consent: Near the end, after initial review, fingerprinting, and photo, the staff patiently waited while I drafted a consent letter for traveling with my child. I was worried because online legal info was unclear about whether I needed consent from the other parent. I winged it, and it worked!
- Invitation Letter from China: I scanned a copy from my host after arriving and printed it. Find the template here: Invitation Letter Template
- Original & Copy of Your ID: Bring this to the center! Otherwise, it's 5k VND per copy.
- Original & Copy of Child's Birth Certificate
- No Appointment Needed (October 2023 onwards): Just head to the center. But go early – it's packed! I saw travel agents lugging passports in HUGE baskets. Located at: 16th floor, Saigon Trade Center, 37 Ton Duc Thang, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Fees: 690k VND per visa (initial payment). Then, on your pickup date, you'll pay another $45 USD. Here's where I messed up: the receipt and cashier stressed the vintage of the USD. I thought I HAD to pay $90 for two visas, so I exchanged larger bills for smaller ones! The second time I went, I learned that they give change even if you pay with a $100 bill.
Pro-tip: Read the English instructions! The English and Vietnamese translations differ. For example, the Vietnamese version said birth certificates needed to be notarized, but the English version clarified that notarization wasn't required if the birth certificate was in Vietnamese or Chinese. Ha!
The form asks about invitation letters and who certified them. I had an invitation, but wasn't sure what to write in the "certification" field, so I skipped it.
Another Crucial Tip (and a lesson learned!): When filling out the form for my child (under 3), the form (the same one for adults) wouldn't let me select "N/A" or "non-applicable" for fields like "marital status" or "work history." I had to enter "N/A" or "0" for dates. Super annoying! I rage-quit for weeks! Eventually, I found a hidden FAQ that said to use "N/A" for missing info. Moral of the story: check the Q&A tab when you're stuck!
After all that exhausting work, I saved $20-30 per visa compared to using an agency. But honestly, I'm not sure if it was worth it considering the printing, photo, bank fees, and celebratory drinks!
China Travel Tips: Lessons Learned
- Alipay is Your Friend: Download Alipay before you go. Get a local SIM card too! I learned the hard way and spent the first few days begging for Wi-Fi (few people speak English and free mall Wi-Fi requires a local number for SMS verification). I still couldn't register for WeChat by the time I left, but it didn't matter. With Alipay and a linked Visa card (or money from a friend in China), I was set.
- Essential Apps: Download Translate (text and image translation), Apple Maps (Google Maps doesn't work!), and Astrill VPN (for Facebook, Zalo, etc.).
Personal Reflections on the Trip
- Contactless Ordering is a Dream! Scan the QR code on Alipay, browse the menu, pay, and your food arrives. (Downside: the servers are less friendly, they seem colder). I kept saying "xie xie" and "thank you" but rarely got a smile or "you're welcome" back.
- BYO Toilet Paper: The rumors are true – public restrooms often lack TP. You can pay through an app to get some but what if your phone has no service?! I brought my own or grabbed some from the sinks beforehand.
- Bring Good Lotion: If you're going somewhere cold, pack heavy-duty lotion. My skin got dry, cracked, and itchy. Coconut oil turned into a solid block!
- Eating is an Adventure! Before going, I worried about food safety. But I ate everything! Especially the mangoes – long, thin, with a super thin seed. The oily food wasn't as bad as I expected. But portions are HUGE. I consider myself a big eater, but one dish there felt like two dishes anywhere else.
- Coffee Culture Needs Work: I gained a newfound appreciation for Vietnamese coffee culture. Every few steps, there's a coffee shop! Starbucks matcha lattes are pricier than in Vietnam, and the taste is different. The souvenir selection is limited too.
- Suzhou SIP: A Green Paradise! I loved the green spaces – trees and flowers everywhere, clean and beautiful parks, wide lakes with clear water. This countryside girl was in heaven!
- Popular Spots: Overrated! I visited Pingjiang Road and Humble Administrator's Garden, but they were too crowded. Nice to see, but not particularly memorable. Yangcheng Lake was my favorite. This massive lake serves as a public scenic spot (no entrance fee!). The sunset was incredible, and I even saw a bullet train whizzing by!
If a restaurant doesn't accept Alipay, the staff will help you scan their WeChat QR code, and you can transfer money back to them through Alipay.
Alipay integrates with Didi, a ride-hailing app like Grab. The prices are great. You can also buy train tickets on Alipay (under "Transportation"). Scan the QR code at the gate to enter/exit. If you're too slow, you'll be stuck (like me!). Go to the service counter for help and insert your entry card.
Thanks for reading! If you have any questions, feel free to message me! I'll answer if I can. :)
This photo was taken at Yangcheng Lake.
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