Travel visa · Tourist, business, work (Z) and flight crew
China Visa Services in Chicago, IL
Sameday Passport & Visa prepares and submits your China visa from the Chicago office, obtains the invitation letter where one is needed, and expedites the consulate processing. Every document is checked against the consulate rules before submission.
Rush or express
Sameday Passport & Visa expedite fee. The consulate fee is separate.
Or work through the full fee breakdown and all visa countries.
No guessing on the form
Sameday Passport & Visa completes the China Online Visa Application with you, reviews it, and handles the submission.
Tourist, business, work, crew
Each type has its own document set. Call (708) 360-7277 with your purpose of travel and the Chicago office confirms the list.
Apply online, then a call
Start the application online in 10 to 15 minutes. The Chicago team reviews everything and contacts you within one business hour.
Please bring your Chinese name, a copy of your citizenship certificate, your Chinese passport or Chinese ID, and, if your name has changed, your marriage certificate or court documents.
In short
Everything you bring for your China visa.
The list below is the tourist visa. Business, work (Z) and flight crew visas need extra letters, and those are further down the page.
Complete the application
Sameday Passport & Visa completes the China Online Visa Application (COVA) with you. Fill it out, the Chicago team reviews it, and the submission is handled for you.
Before you come in
Chicago office, 432 N Clark Street, Suite 203. Appointments are recommended, walk-ins welcome.
- Mon – Fri 8:30 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday 10 AM – 2 PM
- Sunday closed, phone answered
Every China visa needs
- Completed COVA application — filled out with the Chicago office and reviewed before submission
- Valid U.S. passport — current, undamaged, signed, two blank visa pages and six months validity from departure
- Copy of valid identification — driver’s license address must match the application, or add a utility bill
- Copy of flight itinerary — include it if you have one, and it is fine if you do not
- Visa photos — 2 by 2 inches, white background, no older than one month, taken in the Chicago office
How to apply
Tourist visa, everything you bring.
Complete application
Sameday Passport & Visa completes the China Online Visa Application (COVA) with you. Fill it out, the Chicago office reviews it, and the submission is handled for you.
Valid U.S. passport
- Current, undamaged passport with two blank visa pages.
- Signed and valid for six months from your departure date.
- Non-US passport holders present a green card at submission as proof of legal residence. It is not kept.
Copy of valid identification
- The address on your driver’s license must match your application.
- If it does not match, include a copy of a major utility bill: water, power, or sewage.
Copy of flight itinerary
- Include a copy of your flight itinerary or ticket if you have one.
- If you do not have a travel itinerary or ticket, that is okay.
Visa photos
- Passport photo services are available in the Chicago office.
- 2 by 2 inches on a white background, no older than one month.
Minors under 18
- Copy of the birth certificate.
- Copy of each parent’s passport information page or driver’s license.
- Minors not traveling with both parents need a notarized consent signed by the non-accompanying parent or guardian authorizing the consulate to issue the visa.
Service order form
Applying by mail? Fill out the service order form and send it along with your documents to the Chicago office.
Lost visa or supplementary form
Replacing a China visa you lost, or asked for the consulate travel-history supplementary form? Fill either one in your browser and print it.
Other categories
Business and work (Z) visas.
Applying for a business, work (Z) or flight crew visa? Those require a business or invitation letter and the requirements differ. Call (708) 360-7277 and the Chicago office will tell you exactly what to bring.
Business visa
Same COVA application and passport rules, plus two letters.
- Invitation letter from China — from your host company on company letterhead, stating purpose, duration and your contact details
- Business letter from your U.S. employer — on company letterhead, signed by a manager, stating your position, purpose of travel, and financial guarantee
- Copy of valid identification — driver’s license or state ID with matching address, or a utility bill
- Visa photos — 2x2 inches, white background, full face, under one month old
Work visa (Z)
For employment in China. The labor paperwork replaces the invitation letter.
- Work permit notice — issued by the Chinese labor authority for your position and employer
- Employment contract — signed by both you and the Chinese employer
- Copy of valid identification — driver’s license or state ID with matching address, or a utility bill
- Visa photos — 2x2 inches, white background, full face, under one month old
Flight crew
Crew visas, and what the consulate checks.
Flight crew files are the shortest document set of the four, and the two airline documents do most of the work.
Flight crew visa
Airline-issued documents replace the invitation and business letters.
- Crew member certificate — issued by your airline, confirming your crew status and flight schedule
- Airline letter — on company letterhead stating your position, routes, and request for crew visa
- Completed COVA application — filled out with the Chicago office and submitted for you
- Valid U.S. passport — two blank visa pages, signed, six months validity from departure
Four things that hold files up
All four are checked in the Chicago office before submission.
- Address mismatch — the address on your ID must match the application, or bring a utility bill in your name
- Photo age — 2x2 inches, white background, no older than one month. Photos are taken in the Chicago office
- Blank pages — two blank visa pages are required, so a full book is refused at the counter
- Minors — notarized consent from any non-accompanying parent or guardian
Pricing
Visa fees and processing times.
Consulate fee + Sameday Passport & Visa service fee + optional FedEx return. Current consulate processing is 7 to 10 days; call (708) 360-7277 for today’s exact timeline before you travel.
Consulate fee
Twelve months, multiple entry. Set by the consulate, not by Sameday Passport & Visa.
Sameday Passport & Visa service fee
Preparation, document check, submission and collection by the Chicago office.
FedEx return
Optional and fully tracked. Your passport comes back with the visa in it.
Consulate fee + Sameday Passport & Visa service fee + FedEx return
What the total covers
- COVA application completed with you and reviewed line by line before submission.
- Document check against the current consulate rules, including photo and ID address checks.
- Submission and collection handled by the Chicago office at 432 N Clark Street, Suite 203.
- Invitation and business letter guidance for business, work (Z) and crew files.
- A prepaid return label of your own means no FedEx charge from Sameday Passport & Visa.
- Give a FedEx account number and Sameday Passport & Visa generates the air bill for a flat $5.
Important notice to our customers
Sameday Passports and Visa Expedite Services has ONE Chicago office location only.
Sameday Passport & Visa is not affiliated with any other business using a similar name in the Chicago area, including businesses appearing under similar names on Google, Google Maps, social media, or online advertisements.
Before making a payment, submitting documents, or visiting an office, please verify that you are contacting us through the official phone number and website listed on this page.
If you are unsure whether you are communicating with Sameday Passports and Visa Expedite Services, please call us directly at (708) 360-7277 for verification.
Our official location
432 N Clark StreetSuite #203
Chicago, IL 60654
Suite 203, one floor up. Call (708) 360-7277 if you need directions from your side of the city.
Verify by phone: (708) 360-7277Directions & parking info
Landmark432 N Clark Street, Suite 203. Take the elevator to the second floor.
Good to know
China visa questions from Chicago clients
How fast can I get a China visa in Chicago?
What documents do I need for a China tourist visa?
Can I walk in to apply for a China visa in Chicago?
Can I apply for a China visa by mail?
What is the consulate fee for a China visa?
What if I lost my previous China visa?
I am a Chinese citizen applying in Chicago. What else do you need?
Does the address on my ID have to match my application?
China wants one blank page and six months of validity past departure. If your book falls short, Sameday Passport & Visa can renew it in Chicago first, then file the visa against the new passport.
Schedule a free consultation
Send your travel date and visa type and the Chicago office will confirm the documents and the fastest option.
Walk in today
432 N Clark Street, Suite 203Chicago, IL 76011
Passport photos are taken in the Chicago office. Bring your ID, and the address on it must match your application.
Related services
Other Sameday Passport & Visa services in Chicago.
Other offices
Not in Chicago? Sameday Passport & Visa has eight offices.
Ready to apply for your China visa?
Call the Chicago office with your travel date and Sameday Passport & Visa will tell you the visa type, the documents, and the fastest option.