u/AccomplishedCat3939

or do they just check that you have the page printed out stating that you passed the online review and it says “passport to be submitted”?

i fly out may 22nd morning, but i’m still waiting for my online visa application to be approved so that i can go in person to submit the documents. am i fucked?

- i applied for chinese tourism (L) visa on april 1st since everyone online said to apply a 1-2 months before you fly out (may 22nd)
- but i can’t go in person until im back in nyc may 7th
- i thought it’s chill since im flying back may 7 and ill just go to the chinese consulate that morning at 8am, submit my documents and get the visa in 4 business days
- after i land, i sign into my application to print it out and it says my application expired (i never got ANY email about it and i never thought about checking it since i thought there would be some notification system)
- i thought it’s chill as long as i reapply and still go in that day BUT i learned that day that you have to wait until the online application gets approved before you go in person with all your printed paperwork
- i read online that the online application approval can take anywhere from 5 business days to 2 weeks and that doesn’t even count the 4 business days it takes for you to get the visa after submitting your paperwork
- i freak out and ask every chinese person i know what i should do. my uncles tell me im fucked and that i should’ve only booked my flight after i gotten my visa (BUT U NEED THE FLIGHT INFO TO APPLY FOR A VISA)
- still freaking out and i rly don’t want to push china because im only approved by my work for those dates and im only allowed to work abroad 20 business days a year (i can’t push it back because of a conference where i have to be in sf with my company after my trip)

should i just go into the chinese consulate tomorrow and beg and see what they can do?

or should i wait longer? today is may 11 and my flight leaves in 11 days. i’m freaking out…

every chinese visa agency i call tell me it’s impossible to get it in 10 days, im running out of hope. do i just go to china for 10 days since my flights are booked and leave china for 1 day to return back and renew the 10 days visa-free policy?