Guanzhou Consolate K1 Visa approval to receipt time

[RobBell 32]

We should have our interview this coming July. I am wondering if all goes well and the Visa is approved after the interview, is there a reasonably safe amount of time to book a flight afterward, maybe 10 days? I am planning to spend two weeks in China with the Visa interview at the beginning. We are hoping she can come back on the same flight with me, but don't know how reasonable that is to expect.

Thanks!

[JohnR! 5,495]

We should have our interview this coming July. I am wondering if all goes well and the Visa is approved after the interview, is there a reasonably safe amount of time to book a flight afterward, maybe 10 days? I am planning to spend two weeks in China with the Visa interview at the beginning. We are hoping she can come back on the same flight with me, but don't know how reasonable that is to expect.

Thanks!

You should never book a flight before your visa has been delivered, unless the airfare is refundable or you are willing to lose it.

[RobBell 32]

You should never book a flight before your visa has been delivered, unless the airfare is refundable or you are willing to lose it.

Yes I realize that, but trying to decide if gambling is worth it. I'm sure it would be possible to reschedule the flight with a small loss if something were to happen.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Yes I realize that, but trying to decide if gambling is worth it. I'm sure it would be possible to reschedule the flight with a small loss if something were to happen.

Understood! The best case scenario would allow 14 days for the visa to be delivered to the beneficiary after the interview.

[Sam and Fen 41]

The visa can take any where from 3 days to a week to have in hand. In some cases it has taken months specially if you get put in AP.

[RobBell 32]

The visa can take any where from 3 days to a week to have in hand. In some cases it has taken months specially if you get put in AP.

Yes that's exactly why I stated that the ticket would be purchased after the approval.

Edited April 24, 2013 by Rob & Lili

[Sam and Fen 41]

Yes that's exactly why I stated that the ticket would be purchased after the approval.

There have been instances where it has taken weeks to months to get the visa in hand even after the approval.That is why never make travel plans before you have the visa in hand.

[RobBell 32]

Okay, let me just clarify. I know some people have had bad experiences and I know that there are many worst case scenarios out there. Trust me, I've been on the VJ website long enough to know that people are very eager to point those out. But I am not interested in living my life in a state of fear. Its not that I'm planning a wedding on a certain date or planning a party when she arrives. I would never gamble on the approval, no way.

I just want to weigh the risk of purchasing a ticket once the visa is approved. Odds are that if they take her passport and don't give her any of the dreaded paperwork, that we she would receive the passport back in a few days time. Am I willing to take the risk of losing a couple hundred dollars in change fees to have my baby sit on the plane with me? of course! that's a no brainer, as long as the risk is reasonable.

So I don't know if two weeks (which would be more like 16 days with weekends) is reasonable and i just wanted to know based on others experiences how long they had to wait when everything well.

[Sam and Fen 41]

Okay, let me just clarify. I know some people have had bad experiences and I know that there are many worst case scenarios out there. Trust me, I've been on the VJ website long enough to know that people are very eager to point those out. But I am not interested in living my life in a state of fear. Its not that I'm planning a wedding on a certain date or planning a party when she arrives. I would never gamble on the approval, no way.

I just want to weigh the risk of purchasing a ticket once the visa is approved. Odds are that if they take her passport and don't give her any of the dreaded paperwork, that we she would receive the passport back in a few days time. Am I willing to take the risk of losing a couple hundred dollars in change fees to have my baby sit on the plane with me? of course! that's a no brainer, as long as the risk is reasonable.

So I don't know if two weeks (which would be more like 16 days with weekends) is reasonable and i just wanted to know based on others experiences how long they had to wait when everything well.

If everything goes smoothly then 2 weeks is more then enough time. It took us 3 days to get the visa in hand.

Good Luck.

[RobBell 32]

If everything goes smoothly then 2 weeks is more then enough time. It took us 3 days to get the visa in hand.

Good Luck.

Awesome, I hope it works out for us. In my past trips the plane has always been half empty on the way back. So I hope that's the case this time as well.

Where did you pick up the Visa?

Thanks!

[Sam and Fen 41]

Awesome, I hope it works out for us. In my past trips the plane has always been half empty on the way back. So I hope that's the case this time as well.

Where did you pick up the Visa?

Thanks!

We picked it up from the Post Office in GUZ.

[Pitaya 2,577]

It took about 9-10 days for my wife and stepson to receive their passports with inserted visas from the GUZ consulate at their home in Liaoning province, ~1,900 km away.

YMMV (literally…. )

Edited April 25, 2013 by A&B

[Big Baby 11]

I lost 3 airfares. Recommend you listen with your ears. However, this is the kinder, gentler GUZ. So, maybe you are golden.

[Operator 1,927]

My wife got her visa 16 days after her approval. It was delivered to her apartment 5 hours before her scheduled departure from PVG.

Two weeks might be enough time...then again maybe it won't.

I don't recall who it was but I remember one taking over 3 weeks from GUZ.