Visa for China

[auntiedodo]

Who is the best company to use to get visas for China?

[Heidi13]

For our last visit to China we used a local Visa procurement company. Next year we are using GenVisa in Washington DC. No idea if they are the best, but Viking pays for the Visa and this is the company they use.

[Philob]

You might ask on the board here that's dedicated to cruising around Asia:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/43-asia/

[jlp20]

This may be of interest to you:

News.Com Australia reports a confused couple was booted off their cruise and left stranded in South Korea — and thousands of dollars out of pocket — over a simple but profound error they made when booking their trip. And their mistake is a lesson for all of us, said Michelle Couch-Friedman from consumer rights group Elliott Advocacy, which was not able to get compensation for the devastated couple. American man William Coates and his wife had booked a 14-day Holland America Line cruise through Japan, South Korea and China on the Westerdam in October. “This is a trip we had planned for a long time. At 71 years old, we were looking forward to this adventure,” Mr Coates told Elliott Advocacy. The couple flew to Japan, where they boarded the ship at Yokohama and settled into the voyage as they cruised to South Korea. But on the third day of the 14-day trip, a member of the ship’s guest relations staff told the Coates they would be kicked off the ship when it reached the South Korean port at Pusan. They would have to gather their things and leave, their journey suddenly over. “She (the staff member) told us that it was our responsibility to get ourselves home. We couldn’t believe it,” Mr Coates said. The reason the Coates were told to leave the ship was because they didn’t have the necessary visas to enter China. Americans, like Australians, on cruise journeys have to have the right visas for all ports of entry on the voyage. And American and Australian travellers need visas to enter China, where authorities “strongly enforce penalties for entry and exit visa violations” according to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Mr Coates said that was the first time they were made aware of this. “Holland America removed us from the ship. They left us, literally on the dock,” he said. “It was up to us to find our way to the airport and then pay $US2400 ($A3320) for additional airfare to get home.” Last I traveled on HAL to a country where a visa was needed, we were told be the cruise line several times -- they were sure to let us know how to purchase a visa (through a compant from which HAL got a commission.

[Ashland]

Google for reviews of an online company as near to your hometown as possible. We live in Calif and easily have found a reputable company we have used. Just recently used them again for my daughters China visa. Once their online application was filled out and all needed documents were sent there was an approx. 4 day turn around and I didn't ask for expedited service. Yes you'll pay a bit more using an online company but well worth it. China is issuing 10 year visa's now.

[Florida_cruisers]

I used GenVisa as well. Easy and had no issues. 

[voyager70]

I've used CIBT to obtain visas.  Very pleased with them.