Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles - Los Angeles, California

Timothy Stewart

I arrived at the consulate about 10 minutes before it opened and there were already two long lines that formed; one to pickup their passport and visa and the other to submit the visa application. After getting through the initial security check the line moved pretty quickly. It took about 40 minutes before my number was called. This was largely due to agencies bulk processing passports and visas being the first in line. The window that I was called to was occupied by one of these agencies from the moment I entered until my number was called. Nonetheless, the workers at the consulate were friendly, they go over all of your documents to make sure you didn’t miss anything and then provide you with a slip to return and pick up your passport/visa a few days later. Very smooth experience.

Valerie

Open weekdays Monday-Friday 9am-2pm, located on the 3rd floor of a corner building (corner of Shatto and 5th Street) at 500 Shatto Place. There is metered street parking on Shatto Place for 1-2 hours, free residential parking on 4th street next to the public park.

No appointments necessary and a much easier process now post 2024 as you no longer need to have your trip itinerary details or where you are staying.

Come prepared with all your documents:

1. Printed copy of Completed online COVA application (8-9 pages China Online Visa Application) with signature and date
(Online app requires you to Upload a digital photo of yourself, format to correct size with white background using free passport photo apps)
2. Printed Copy of confirmation page with signature and date
3. Physical passport (to be left at embassy for 4 business days for processing visa)
4. Photocopy of complete bio page of passport
5. Photocopy of proof of residence (Driver’s license/state ID, utility bill, or bank statement)
6. Copy of any previous visas to China or old passport with China visas
7. Copy of any documents with name changes, etc.

Located on the 3rd floor right in front of the elevator.
The longer line to the left of security check entrance is for submitting applications, shorter line on the right is for pick-ups. You have to pass through security check, where they x-ray your belongings and metal detectors.

After security check, you’ll wait in a short line to be issued a number (show your completed app or confirmation page or pick up Pink slip), where you’ll sit and wait for your number to be called. There is a display screen which will list and call out your number and which window to report to when it’s your turn.

I arrived on a Monday and got into line at 8:40am shortly before opening and there was a moderate line. Finished turning in my application by 9:45am, came back 4 business days later to pick up the visa with my pink slip (arrived for opening and was done by 9:15am) and was able to pick up a passport for someone else with their physical pink slip.

$140 cost per visa, paid by credit card on pick up day. I got the tourist L visa valid for 10 years and 90 day stay per visit.

There is a photocopy machine in the waiting room that takes credit card payment for a cost of $1 a page if you find yourself needing it. I There is also an agency down the hall called Able tours (suite #330) which has photocopy services and pick up service for a fee, if you are unable to return for in-person pick up. They will pick up the visa with your pink slip and mail it to you.

I saw the sign advertising the tour company while waiting in line near the elevators. Fairly easy process if you come prepared with the right documents and variable waiting times.

Lisa

Not a very pleasant experience.
I went there around noon time. First, I could not find a parking space (later I learned they had taken a break the previous week). The waiting time was extremely long—it took 3 and a half hours before I was called.
When my turn finally came, the visa lady asked me to go to a paid copy machine to make a copy of my old visa, even though there was no mention of this requirement on their website when I reviewed the tourism visa application instructions.
Additionally, the visa officer's attitude was unfriendly. This was my first experience at this office, and it was bad. Next time, I’ll be using a travel agency for my visa application.

Isaac Cepeda

Very efficient consulate in comparison to other consulates I’ve visited. Very speedy process and you are not kept waiting for hours. All requirements for the Visa requirements are listed online and what you need to bring when submitting your required paper work. The L tourist visa I got is valid for 10 years and it was $140 dollars and you can pay by credit card. The visa was ready for pickup in 4 days. I was very impressed by the cleanliness and well organized system they have the DMV could never be this efficient nor the Mexican consulate which is always chaotic and not very clear in their website.
I came all the way from San Diego for my visa and was happy everything turned out great.

kat white

I would like to detail my process in case it helps anyone else - for an out of state applicant who paid a service to pick up my passport for me.

We had to travel from Colorado to apply here - they recently moved the Colorado jurisdiction from Chicago to Los Angeles (this is inconsistently updated during the VISA application process).

Because we wanted to make sure our VISA application was smooth, we flew to LA to hand off our application. And we paid a company to pick it up for us upon our return.

Our application consisted of:
1. COVA application - signed in two places
2. A photocopy of our passport
3. A photocopy of the front and back of our driver's license
4. the "Where you stay" form

We arrived 30 minutes early and there was already a small line. Arriving early is definitely best. The line consists of people dropping off their applications and people picking up their passports/VISAS. I saw several people with large stacks of applications - I believe these are services that do bulk processing for a fee.

When they open, promptly at 9, you file in, grab a number and sit down to wait for your number to be called. This is like a DMV, where you sit and wait for a teller's availability.f you need to - you can pay to use their photo copy machine. I found the employees very polite and efficient and heard them answering many questions. When your number is called, you walk up to the teller and they check your paperwork. For example, I forgot to write my middle name. They reminded me and handed me a pink slip with a date to return and pick up my passport and VISA. True to their word it was 4 business days later.

Because we did not intend to stay in LA that long, we walked down the hall way to Able Tours where three very nice ladies took our information and charged us a fair price to pick up our passports for us and overnight them to our house. The even send me an email the day before with a tracking number. Their office didn't appear the most organized in the world - but they were very organized, and kind.

All in all, I found the process to be very intimidating and sometimes confusing. But after the fact, it was actually quite simple. You just need to be prepared and organized. The consulate's website obviously isn't great - so I learned a lot of why I needed to know from these google reviews.

earnienew

Has visited here to submit visa/travel doc applications for my family where my spouse's case is special since she is Taiwanese and other 3 cases are foreign L visa thru COVA which are easy. We brought all the materials we could think about and front desk helped us to fill all the forms needed. The call number waiting list is long( about an hour), but the process itself is very quick which 4 cases took 15mins only. The whole process was smooth and friendly. Pretty impressive. The only question is parking. The building parking lot is not available for the visitor, but few blocks away within 5mins walking have street parking available.

Marty Backe

Since I arrived at 11:30 a.m. I did have a 2 and 1/2 hour wait to submit my VISA application. I think if you were there when they open at 9:00 a.m. your wait will be less.

The person that helped me was friendly and helpful enough.

Nik

It is idiotic that the consolate for the most populated country in the second biggest city in the US has FIVE workers processing people. There should be 20 windows open at least. It makes absolutely no sense.