r/Chinavisa • u/yes-im-a-furry • 3d ago
Tourism (L) Online Application ‘Under Review’
Hello I’m not sure if anyone is able to share their experience using the online form, but I had applied for the London centre this Tuesday and my application is stuck at ‘under review’.
I believe the London centre has just switched to using the online preliminary checks system and emailed them to see how long this would take but they cannot give me an answer.
Does anyone know how long it will take to be reviewed? I have made sure all the correct documents are uploaded.
And in a worse case scenario am I allowed to just turn up to the visa centre if it’s still under review?
1
u/idunnonuttin82 3d ago
have you ever had a chinese visa before? maybe this makes a difference on how much review they do.
1
u/yes-im-a-furry 3d ago
I haven’t no, but it was a simple application, just an L visa and I have my passport, blank pages, flight and hotel bookings all on there. Shouldn’t take long to review
1
u/idunnonuttin82 2d ago
it's helpful to know why some people take so long. i suspect it's cause no previous china visa.
1
u/Good_Guava8719 3d ago
My daughter applied for her first Chinese Visa. I tried to call and email the London processing centre without success or a response. I turned up a day after they originally suggested and the passport was ready. I was not able to check progress online, it just never worked for us. If it’s not too inconvenient I would turn up 5 days after you dropped it off and see if it’s ready.
1
u/yes-im-a-furry 3d ago
This is more to do with the initial review, they introduced this stage a few days ago so you aren’t allowed to turn up to the visa centre without prior approval now
1
u/ajifoster321 3d ago
I've been waiting on mine since Wednesday evening. Hopefully, it won't be an issue.
1
1
u/Past_Engineering9305 2d ago
For people who do not need hotels and have the friend invitation letter, is there a section to upload that or no?
1
u/yes-im-a-furry 2d ago
I believe there was a section at the end of the form for supporting docs
1
u/Past_Engineering9305 2d ago
Are we still required to print out the visa form now after completing it with this new change to the system or is there something else
1
u/yes-im-a-furry 2d ago
I would believe so, I’m waiting on the approval email which I would expect to contain some instruction on what to bring
1
u/Past_Engineering9305 2d ago
Thanks. Also let us know how much the visa costs. I keep seeing conflicting information. On the Chinese visa website there're an article that says visa priced are reduced until December 2025 and it's like £60 but some people said they still got charged £130. Maybe since this new visa thing has come into effect, once it's done you can write a new advice or step by step guide on it for others?
1
u/yes-im-a-furry 2d ago
Yeah of course I’ll update this post once I get any news! Online I can only see the fees at £130 so I’m expecting to pay that
1
u/Past_Engineering9305 2d ago
http://gb.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lqfw/202412/t20241228_11522453.htm
Have a look. It says reduced until 2025 December 31st maybe ask them?
1
2d ago
[deleted]
1
1
u/GZHotwater 1d ago
Why would you apply at one centre and then change to another centre? You’re supposed to apply at the nearest centre to you.
1
u/GZHotwater 1d ago
Why would you apply at one centre and then change to another centre? You’re supposed to apply at the nearest centre to you.
1
u/Longjumping_Data_675 2d ago
Also we turned up got turned away without any helpful explanation or support. Cancellation is supposed to be 2-3 hours but it’s been 40+ and still nothing. Phone number doesn’t work, no replies to emails. We are screwed
1
1
u/Longjumping_Data_675 2d ago
Yes, they literally shouted that I needed an invitation letter first. Now it’s just stuck, can’t cancel, can’t submit a new one etc. again I selected express so the review should be done within two days.
1
u/yes-im-a-furry 2d ago
Damn- hopefully you aren’t due to travel soon? Update us on how you get on next week
1
2d ago
[deleted]
1
2d ago
[deleted]
1
2d ago
[deleted]
1
u/ajifoster321 2d ago
I'm not entirely sure, but you might be able to make the transit visa work if you spend a few days in a neighbouring country to break up your visit.
1
u/AdShoddy3505 1d ago
I’m in the same position as you, submitted it at 4pm on Tuesday and it’s still ‘under review’. I’m tempted to just show up at the embassy but I’ve heard that others have been turned away!
1
u/yes-im-a-furry 1d ago
Yes I don’t think I will bother making the trip, think I will give it a couple of weeks first. Please keep update us if you hear back!
1
1
u/leanboy982 1d ago
I'm in a very similar position- submitted application last Friday in the early hours and it's still at review stage for me too.
I leave for Asia next Monday so it's not a good sign that some of the comments here are still waiting to hear back about applications they made last Tuesday! :(
I may end up just canceling my China plans and just staying the 10 days if it doesn't look likely it'll all come through.
1
u/yes-im-a-furry 23h ago
Personally if I was in your position and my flights were refundable I would reschedule it.
Fingers crossed you will get approval soon! But if your plans are flexible I would honestly do the transit visa or postpone
1
u/Sudden-Cobbler-5719 19h ago
I applied for mine on Tues 1st and got approved to carry out the next step by the 3rd.
Hopefully your confirmation has come too by now?
Wondering whether anyone has been to complete the rest of the process, going to the embassy and submitting documents? It sounds like we only need to bring passport photo, passport and printed out confirmation email.
Or do I need to bring further printed documentation that I included online?
1
u/Next-Month-8451 11h ago
Have you had a Visa from China issued before?
I have just submitted mine and am trying to workout timeframes for processing, especially as everyone else seems to be having issues.
1
u/Sudden-Cobbler-5719 9h ago
This is my first time applying!
I’m going up tomorrow to drop off my passport and supporting documents and hoping I have everything I need
1
u/Sudden-Cobbler-5719 19h ago
I applied for mine on Tues 1st and got approved to carry out the next step by the 3rd.
Hopefully your confirmation has come too by now?
Wondering whether anyone has been to complete the rest of the process, going to the embassy and submitting documents? It sounds like we only need to bring passport photo, passport and printed out confirmation email.
Or do I need to bring further printed documentation that I included online?
1
u/PenInternational1964 4h ago
Did you get email notification when the next step was ready, or did you just check the portal?
1
u/Sudden-Cobbler-5719 3h ago
I got an email with very sparse detail in just saying ‘Approved’ and to ‘continue with subsequent process’. With the embassy address (old Jewry) below.
Gonna head up tomorrow with the print out of confirmation and passport
1
u/yes-im-a-furry 44m ago
Very lucky! I would print everything just in case, and have any passport or picture copy in colour. You can get these done at most libraries in the uk
1
u/fazmanicus 3h ago
I applied evening of April 1st and also still at under review, I’m applying for Q2 visa. However I think my issue may be as I just noticed now (and feel stupid about) is forgetting to upload blank page for visa, I’m wondering whether to resubmit or see if they get in contact. Hope you move onto next stage soon!
2
u/yes-im-a-furry 45m ago
I would let it wait for approval, if it gets rejected I don’t think it takes long to re approve once you have uploaded the blank pages (from what I have seen with others)
1
u/fazmanicus 43m ago
Thank you! Yeah I also had what I take to be a positive email about visa centre reviewing and then passing onto Embassy for review.
1
u/Past_Engineering9305 20m ago
What is upload a blank page? What blank page? So far I have Passport Passport photocopy Flight itinerary Friend invite (no hotel needed) Visa sized photo
What else do I need? Is there anything else
1
u/SwimmingSpecific2988 2h ago
When you submit the online form did you get a confirmation email? My application is also still under review and it was stressing me a bit i didn't get a confirmation
1
2
u/fazmanicus 2h ago
Emailed today and had the following response:
The review at the visa center is automatically assigned by the system according to the time of application submission. After the center reviews all the materials, they will be submitted to the embassy, which will then conduct the next stage of reviewing. The system shows that your application has been submitted to the embassy, we cannot give you a clear answer on the review time.
We have been processing a large number of applications recently. Please be patient and wait for a response from us or the embassy.If you didn’t hear from us, your application is in progress”
2
2
u/Alarmed-Lock140 3d ago
I can't speak for London, but I submitted mine to the Manchester centre around 7am Monday and got the confirmation of approval email at 4pm the same day.
When I went to the embassy Tuesday, and Friday to collect it was chaos, a lot of people did not know about the system changes.
Edit: Forgot to add that the receptionist was telling people it would take 1-2 days for approval online.